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Hanging your clothes on the line to dry is energy-efficient and gentler on fabrics, but it takes time, especially in winter or on rainy days.
The good news? There’s a simple solution already built into most washing machines.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Run an extra spin cycle after washing to remove more moisture before hanging clothes out.
- More moisture removed = faster drying time, whether you’re line drying or using a dryer.
- Spread clothes out evenly on the line and avoid sharing pegs to maximise airflow.
- Hang heavy items like sheets and blankets across multiple lines to speed things up.
- Give clothes a light shake before hanging to prevent bunching — but don’t overdo it.
The simple spin cycle trick that changes everything
A mum shared this simple and effective tip in the Mums Who Clean Facebook group after discovering it while staying with her parents.
“Mum said to me, ‘Don’t forget to do an additional spin cycle after the cycle has finished,'” she explained.
“Her response was that it wouldn’t take as long for the washing to dry on a cold winter’s day when there isn’t as much sun. And guess what, she was right!”
How this hack works
An extra spin cycle removes more moisture from your clothes before they even hit the line. According to appliance brand Bosch, the process “quickly removes moisture through centrifugal action, saving you precious time” — and it works just as well if you’re finishing the job in a dryer.
It works in the dryer, too
Back home in Sydney and faced with a rainy week, the same mum put the hack to the test on a load of bath sheet towels before putting them in the dryer. The result? A load that normally takes one and a half to two hours dried in just under 60 minutes.
Fellow group members were quick to get on board. “Oh wow, I’m going to give this a go!” wrote one commenter, while another added: “What a great idea — I’m going to do this now, too!” Many others chimed in to say they’d been doing it for years, with one noting, “My mum also taught me this! Except I don’t have a dryer, but it helps them line dry quicker.”
More ways to dry clothes faster
The extra spin cycle does the heavy lifting, but these habits will help you get the most out of every load:
Give clothes a light shake — a gentle shake before hanging helps untangle items and speeds up drying. Just be careful not to stretch delicate fabrics.
Spread clothes out evenly — avoid bunching, which traps moisture and slows drying.
Don’t share pegs — give each item its own space so air can circulate freely.
Use multiple lines for sheets and bulky items — draping them over a single line cuts off airflow. Spreading across two or three lines makes a noticeable difference.
For most everyday items, no. The extra spin cycle is unlikely to cause any noticeable damage to regular fabrics like cotton, polyester, or linen. That said, it pays to be cautious with delicates. Fabrics like wool, silk, and lace can be vulnerable to stretching or snagging at high speeds, so either skip the extra spin for those items or drop the speed right down before running them.
It depends on what’s in the load. A higher RPM removes more water but puts more stress on fabric, so matching the speed to the material makes a real difference:
Cotton, towels, and sheets: these can handle high spin speeds (1200–1400 RPM or higher) and will benefit most from the extra cycle.
Synthetics and activewea: a medium speed works well, balancing water removal without causing excessive creasing.
Delicates, wool and knitwear: stick to a low spin speed (400–600 RPM) to avoid stretching or distorting the fabric.
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