Getting laundry completely dry can be surprisingly difficult when the weather is cold, rainy, or humid. For people living in apartments or homes without a dedicated laundry room, drying clothes indoors can become an everyday challenge.
But there is a simple way to remove more water before you hang your clothes up.
Instead of immediately transferring wet laundry to a drying rack, you can use the washing machine’s spin function to extract additional moisture. In some situations, a clean, dry towel can also be used during an additional spin cycle to help absorb some of the remaining water.
The important point is that a washing machine does not replace a tumble dryer by producing heat. Its spin cycle works mechanically by forcing water out of the fabric. The clothes will still need to air-dry afterward.
Why Clothes Sometimes Take So Long to Dry
After a normal wash, clothing can retain a considerable amount of water.
If you immediately hang heavily saturated clothes indoors, they may take many hours to dry. Thick fabrics such as:
- towels
- jeans
- sweatshirts
- bedding
- cotton trousers
usually hold more moisture than lightweight shirts.
Indoor drying can also increase humidity, especially in a small room with poor ventilation.
That is why removing as much excess water as possible inside the washing machine first can make a noticeable difference.
Step 1: Finish the Normal Washing Cycle
Start by washing your clothes according to the care instructions on their labels.
Don’t use an unnecessarily aggressive cycle simply because you want the clothes to dry faster. Different fabrics tolerate different washing and spinning conditions.
For delicate garments, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 2: Separate and Untangle the Laundry
Once the washing cycle ends, open the machine and loosen clothes that have become tightly wrapped together.
This matters because tangled clothing may not distribute evenly during another spin.
Shake out larger items such as:
- shirts
- trousers
- towels
- sheets
before placing them back into the drum.
Step 3: Use an Additional Spin Cycle
This is the most important part of the method.
Select an additional spin-only cycle if your washing machine provides one.
A higher spin speed generally removes more residual water, which means there is less moisture left for evaporation later. ENERGY STAR specifically recommends using a high-spin or extended-spin option when appropriate because it can reduce the amount of moisture remaining in clothes.
However, don’t automatically choose the maximum setting for every garment.
Delicate materials may require a gentler spin.
Step 4: Try the Clean-Towel Method
For suitable loads, another commonly suggested trick is to add one clean, dry towel to the damp laundry before running an additional spin.
The idea is straightforward: the towel can take up some moisture while the drum spins.
The original viral-style method describes using a dry towel during the spin cycle.
However, this should be viewed as an optional household trick rather than a guaranteed replacement for a dryer. The amount of water removed will depend on the machine, load size, fabric types and spin setting.
Do not overload the washer simply to use this trick.
Step 5: Remove the Clothes Immediately
When the spin cycle finishes, don’t leave the laundry sitting in the drum for hours.
Take everything out promptly.
Give each item a good shake before hanging it. This separates layers of fabric and can also reduce wrinkles.
For larger garments, spread them out rather than folding them over themselves.
Step 6: Choose the Right Drying Location
Where you hang your clothes can make almost as much difference as the spin cycle.
Choose an area with:
- good airflow
- reasonable warmth
- enough space between garments
- low humidity
Avoid packing clothes tightly together on a small rack.
The more air that can move around each garment, the easier it is for moisture to evaporate.
If outdoor drying is possible, it is often an excellent alternative to machine drying. ENERGY STAR notes that air-drying clothes can save energy and may help clothing last longer.
Step 7: Improve Air Circulation Indoors
If you have to dry laundry inside, ventilation is important.
A crowded drying rack in a closed room can trap moisture around the clothes.
Instead, consider:
- Leaving enough space between garments.
- Opening a window when practical.
- Using existing household ventilation.
- Moving the rack to a room with better airflow.
- Avoiding excessively humid areas.
The goal isn’t simply to make the room warmer. Moving humid air away from the clothes is also important.
Step 8: Turn Thick Clothes During Drying
Heavy garments often dry unevenly.
For example, the outside of a sweatshirt may feel dry while the inside remains damp.
After several hours, turn thicker clothing around or reposition it on the rack.
Towels and jeans may need considerably more time than lightweight clothing.
Why the Spin Cycle Is So Useful
The science behind the trick is actually quite simple.
A washing machine spin cycle uses mechanical force to remove water. A tumble dryer, on the other hand, uses heated airflow to evaporate moisture.
That means the spin cycle doesn’t truly “dry” clothes in the same way a dryer does. Instead, it reduces the amount of water that has to evaporate later.
Whirlpool explains that spin drying and tumble drying are different processes: spin cycles remove excess water mechanically, while tumble drying uses heat to remove moisture.
This is why an additional spin can be useful even if you eventually use a dryer.
Can This Completely Replace a Tumble Dryer?
Not always.
The method can make laundry significantly less wet, but clothes will generally still need to be air-dried.
Whether they dry quickly depends on several factors:
- fabric thickness
- room humidity
- ventilation
- temperature
- amount of laundry
- washing machine spin performance
- drying rack arrangement
So think of this as a way to reduce drying time, rather than a magic setting that turns a washing machine into a heated dryer.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down Laundry Drying
1. Overloading the Drying Rack
If clothes are touching each other constantly, air cannot circulate properly.
Better: leave visible gaps between garments.
2. Skipping the Extra Spin
Very wet clothes take longer to air-dry.
Better: use an additional spin when the fabric and machine instructions allow it.
3. Leaving Clothes in the Washer
Wet laundry sitting in a closed machine can develop an unpleasant musty smell.
Better: remove it soon after the cycle ends.
4. Using Maximum Spin for Every Fabric
High-speed spinning isn’t appropriate for every item.
Better: follow the garment care label.
5. Drying in a Closed, Humid Room
The room can become increasingly damp as water evaporates from the clothes.
Better: improve ventilation and airflow.
Extra Laundry Tips That Can Save Time
Use the Correct Spin Setting
A higher spin speed can remove more water, but the appropriate setting depends on the fabric and machine.
Don’t Mix Everything Together
Heavy towels and lightweight shirts don’t dry at the same rate.
Separating similar fabrics can make the drying process easier.
Shake Clothes Before Hanging
This opens up folds and helps prevent garments from drying in tightly compressed shapes.
Keep the Washer Clean
A clean washing machine helps prevent unpleasant odors from transferring to freshly washed laundry.
Leave a Front-Load Washer Door Ajar After Use
ENERGY STAR recommends leaving the door of a front-loading washer ajar for a while after use so trapped moisture can evaporate, while also keeping children away from the open machine.
A Simple Routine for Faster Air-Drying
If you don’t own a tumble dryer, try this routine:
Wash → Loosen clothes → Extra spin → Optional clean towel → Remove immediately → Shake garments → Spread on rack → Improve airflow
This takes advantage of the washing machine you already have instead of requiring another appliance.
Final Thoughts
You don’t necessarily need a tumble dryer to make laundry day easier.
The most useful trick is actually quite simple: remove as much excess water as possible before hanging the clothes.
An additional spin cycle can reduce the moisture left in laundry, while good spacing and airflow can help the remaining water evaporate more efficiently.
A dry towel may also be worth experimenting with for suitable loads, but it shouldn’t be treated as a guaranteed dryer replacement.
For anyone dealing with limited space, expensive dryer use, or rainy weather, combining smart spinning + proper air circulation + correct garment care can make laundry considerably easier.
