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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Zahna Eklund & Michelle Cullen

People stunned by washing machine trick that makes drying clothes a breeze

People have been left stunned by a washing machine trick that makes drying clothes a breeze, and with energy bills still sky-high, many people are calling it a lifesaver.

Households across the country are trying not to use our energy-intensive appliances as much as we usually would, such as our central heating and tumble dryers. But with the winter months bringing plenty of rain, it's become almost impossible to dry any laundry outside.

Using a clothes airer can be a big help, but clothes can take a while to fully dry, and if they spend too long in a wet state, you'll end up with damp clothes - and a house.

READ MORE: Met Eireann issues weather warning for five counties as Ireland to be battered by ‘damaging gusts’ before unusual change

So what can you do to dry your clothes faster without spending cash on using the tumble dryer?

According to fans of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch - real name Sophie Hinchliffe - the key to dry clothes actually lies in your washing machine, not your tumble dryer.

Washing machine (gettyimages.ie)

In the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips group on Facebook, one woman asked what the "trick" was for using a clothes airer after she claimed it took ages for her washing to dry, and people rushed to her aid to let her in on the secret - putting your washing machine on an extra spin to get rid of as much excess water as possible.

The woman had written: "I've bought a clothes airer. What's the trick to using them? Took ages to dry yesterday, and yes, I do have a cover. Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you."

And one person commented: "Extra spin everything, it's amazing how much more water comes out, really noticeable on things like jeans and hoodies. I've got a high line, so even a little time outside in the wind is amazing, so much quicker to dry than a whirly line.

"Also, my husband fitted a small radiator in my airing cupboard so I hand stuff on hangers from the slats. Put light things on coat hangers and hang them on door frames overnight, they'll be dry in the morning."

While another said: "Put clothes on an extra high spin in the washing machine to remove as much water as possible."

A third also added: "After the set spin, I do them again on 1,400 spin speed. Underwear and socks go on top of the cover."

Other tips people had included using two bars of the airer per item of clothing, as while this will mean fitting less on the airer at once, it will spread your clothes out so that more air can get to them.

Someone suggested: "I've used airers for years. I hang two clothes across two bars rather than one. Put them on the airer in the evening in a room with the window open slightly. I then turn all the clothes over in the morning, and by the time my next wash is ready to hang out that evening, these clothes are dry."

As someone else wrote: "For those of us not able to have the heating on, I myself do one wash a day and have a dehumidifier on in the smallest room for four to six hours."

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