My easy DIY dryer will get your wet washing dry in 15 minutes flat – using only things you’ll already have at home
GETTING your clothes to dry during the harsh winter months when hanging them outside is no longer an option can often feel like a never-ending battle.
But as the temperatures are plummeting, one savvy woman has come to rescue with an easy hack – one that will slash the drying time significantly.
The “game-changing” method, posted online by TikToker Tee @tee_diaz01, promised that your wet washing will be dry in just 15 minutes – and there’s no need to fork out money for a pricey tumble dryer.
According to the cleaning fan, this is because she used two tricks, including a special DIY dryer she had put together using a range of household items you most likely already have.
First, in the clip, Tee was seen “smacking” the freshly washed garments on the side of the bath, before getting crafty and constructing the dryer.
She used a laundry basket with holes in it and hung up some of her laundry on coat hangers that were inside the basket.
Once done, Tee enclosed the basket in a large laundry bag, leaving a gap at the top.
The next step was to insert a hair dryer into the hole and give her washing a quick 15-minute blast of hot air, which she claimed was enough to ensure the clothes inside are completely dry.
Tee noted the hack comes in extra handy when you need an item of clothing urgently, as it should help it dry in no time.
Before you put the trick to test, however, you should ensure that your laundry basket is heat resistant – otherwise you could risk warping the plastic with the heat from the hairdryer.
Not only could this damage your clothes but also potentially be a fire hazard.
Meanwhile, a laundry whizz recently shared how a bizarre ”burrito” method dries their washing in just five minutes – and it’s so easy.
Tor Rydder, the man behind Organizing TV, shared the method as a “minimalist” travel hack, but it’s also great for when you need something dried quickly at any time.
In a demonstrative YouTube video, he showcased how you can do the “burrito method” using just a towel and the floor.
“To do the burrito method, we place a newly washed T-shirt down on a towel,” Tor said.
“Then we start by folding the T-shirt over, like so.”
More winter laundry tips
Tackling laundry in the winter can be a challenge, but these handy tips can help you stay on top of it:
- Use a Dehumidifier: Place a dehumidifier in your drying area to speed up the drying process and prevent dampness.
- Spin Cycle Boost: Run an extra spin cycle on your washing machine to remove excess water from clothes, reducing drying time.
- Indoor Drying Rack: Invest in a good-quality indoor drying rack and position it near a radiator or in a well-ventilated room.
- Tumble Dryer Balls: Add tumble dryer balls to your dryer to help clothes dry faster and reduce static cling.
- Space-Saving Hangers: Use space-saving hangers or a retractable washing line to maximise indoor drying space.
- Microfibre Towels: Lay microfibre towels over your drying rack to absorb extra moisture from hanging clothes.
- Partially Dry Outside: On dry days, hang clothes outside for a short period before bringing them in to finish drying.
These hacks can help you keep your laundry routine efficient and your clothes fresh, even during the colder months.
He folded the top with medium sized flaps, layering them on top of each other until the tee was fully encased in the towel.
“Once we reach the top, we start stepping down on the towel,” the Norwegian home organiser continued, while pressing his knees into the rolled-up towel.
“The reason we do this is because the towel will absorb all of the water from the burrito.
“Once we unwrap it, it will be a lot drier.”
Another option if you don’t want to step or kneel on your towel is to wring out the “burrito” you have made with it.
Once you have kneeled or wrung out the excess water, you can unroll the towel and retrieve your T-shirt.
“I do find that this method will easily reduce drying time from overnight to a couple of hours,” Organizing TV said.
“If you’re in a hotter climate, you can probably wear it out and it’ll dry on its own.”
If you don’t have time to wait for a couple of hours and you’re in a colder place, he recommends blasting the top with a hair dryer for a maximum of five minutes.
Ideally, the T-shirt will be on a hanger but if you don’t have any to hand, you can hang it over a sink or chair.