The Underrated Laundry Hack That Reduces Long-Term Wear And Tear On Clothes

The benefits of putting a dry towel into your dryer before loading in the wet washing are nothing new. It's a very popular internet hack for drying your clothes without using more energy. Arguably less known are the benefits it has on the condition of your clothes. Putting a towel in your dryer helps absorb moisture and lessens the drying time needed, whilst creating a fluffy little buffer to protect clothing from wear and tear as they spin. That's because the heat in your dryer, whilst it might seem like the fastest and most efficient way of drying your clothes, can shorten their lifespan.

According to a study presented at the American Chemical Society, repeatedly drying cotton fabrics at high temperatures can cause cracking in fibers and reduce fabric strength by more than 25%. This study focuses on 100% cotton fabrics, but heat can also damage the elastic in stretch fabrics as well as cause damage to any item of clothing because of the adverse effects of drying. This includes wear and tear caused by the friction between different items, the weakening of dyes, and the compromising of shape and size. You might have noticed it yourself: colours fade, fibers tighten and loosen, and what you're left with is fabric that tears far more easily than you'd like. While you should learn which fabrics you should always try to hang dry, this towel hack is great for dryer-safe clothing.

So, how does a towel reduce the long-term wear and tear on your clothes? "The towel absorbs some of the moisture from the wet clothes, which reduces the overall drying time," Laura Avila, professional cleaner, explained to Homes & Gardens, adding, "This means that the dryer can work more efficiently and dry the clothes faster." Less time in the dryer means less heat exposure to the fabric fibers, helping to prevent fiber breakdown, fading, and shrinkage.

There are a few tips and tricks to bear in mind, courtesy of laundry experts Soapbox Laundry Room: A towel left in the dryer too long can become stiff with rough fibers that bash into and damage your clothes, which is the opposite of what is intended. Moreover, a heavy towel and delicate fabrics is not a good mix, again, because of the damage caused when items clash. Finally, the hack only works if the towel can move around, get in between items, and capture the moisture. Therefore, a medium-size load is recommended.

The simple hack gives throwing in the towel a whole new meaning, especially when you consider the multitude of reasons why doing so can keep your clothes in tact for longer. As well as saving them from extreme heat in the dryer, a damp towel or wet rag can de-wrinkle clothes when placed in the dryer towards the end of a cycle, mimicking a steamer and leaving fibers nice and smooth. That means you can avoid blasting your clothes with 250-degree heat from the iron, too.