Many people struggle with clothes that take forever to dry or come out of the dryer wrinkled and misshapen. A surprisingly effective solution? Shaking each item of clothing before putting it in the dryer. This simple step, recommended by cleaning professionals, can significantly reduce drying time, minimize wrinkles, and even extend the life of your garments.
Why Shaking Clothes Matters
The core idea is to prevent clumping and twisting during the drying cycle. When wet clothes are thrown into the dryer tangled together, air circulation is restricted. This means some areas dry quickly while others remain damp, leading to longer drying times and more wrinkles.
Michael Bogoyavlensky, CEO of Cleaning Express, explains the method: “As the name suggests, it involves shaking every item as you either remove it from the washing machine or put it in the dryer.” By shaking, you ensure that individual pieces are loose and can dry efficiently.
The Benefits, Explained
The shake method isn’t just about speed. It offers multiple advantages:
- Faster Drying: Shaking ensures better airflow, allowing clothes to dry more quickly, potentially saving on energy costs. Nathaly Vieira of InspireClean Cleaning Services notes, “Your clothes will dry faster because the warm air can reach every part of the fabric.”
- Fewer Wrinkles: Looser clothing means fewer creases during the drying process. If you want to maximize results, shake and fold items before putting them in the dryer. Waiting 30 minutes before drying will further reduce wrinkles.
- Even Drying: Twisted and intertwined clothes dry unevenly. Separating them beforehand guarantees that thicker items, like jeans or towels, dry completely.
- Less Ironing: The shake method reduces wrinkles, which means less time spent ironing.
- Shape Retention: Preventing twisting and pulling preserves the shape of garments, especially delicate items like sweaters and blouses.
How to Implement It
The shake method is easy:
- Remove an item from the washing machine.
- Give it a vigorous shake to loosen fibers.
- Fold (optional, for even better wrinkle prevention).
- Place it in the dryer.
Repeat for each item in the load. While it might seem tedious, the time saved on drying and ironing makes it worthwhile.
The shake method is a simple change with significant rewards. By taking a few extra seconds per load, you can save time, energy, and effort in the long run.
