The Fluff and Hang Method

Dryer cycles average 30 to 45 minutes, but this hack slashes that time to just 15 minutes. This is where the energy savings come in, as you end up using the dryer for at least 50% less time. Of course, 15 minutes isn’t long enough to fully dry your clothing, let alone prevent wrinkles from forming. That brings us to step two of this helpful hack: hanging the clothes to dry afterward and using gravity to your benefit. Here’s a step-by-step explainer of how it works.

Start by putting the wet clothing into the dryer for about 15 minutes on whatever heat setting you typically use. This is essential for fluffing and heating your clothing, which helps relax the fibers and reduce wrinkles off the bat. As soon as the 15 minutes are up, immediately remove the warm, damp garments from the dryer, and transfer them to hangers to finish air-drying. During this stage, gravity will gently tug at the fibers, pulling them downward to reduce wrinkles even further.

Keep in mind that it’s important to immediately transfer your clothing to hangers while it’s slightly wet and warm, as the fibers are still malleable then. If you let the clothes cool down in the dryer, using gravity to pull out the wrinkles won’t be as effective. Once the clothing has air-dried, you should notice significantly fewer wrinkles.

Besides reducing wrinkles and lowering energy costs, this method helps extend the life of your clothing. Tumbling around in a hot dryer can wear down fibers and cause colors to fade over time. By reducing the time spent in the dryer and finishing with air-drying, you’re ensuring that your favorite outfits will last longer before showing any wear.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to mitigate the problem. You can use a dehumidifier, turn on the exhaust fan, prop open a window, and even squeegee your shower walls. But there’s one unlikely way to keep your bathroom essentials dry that we think is pure genius — and we bet you’ll agree.

Kitchen Essential Turned Bathroom Must-Have

We are all for multipurpose items, and the clever hacks that come with them — think using Pine-Sol to freshen laundry or Tang to descale a dishwasher. Our latest discovery comes from Apartment Therapy contributor Ciéra Cree, who asserts that a salad spinner deserves a place in your bathroom. We know, we know. How could a salad spinner possibly help keep your bathroom clean? Turns out, quite a bit.

Why You Need a Salad Spinner in Your Bathroom

The logic is simple: Just as a salad spinner quickly dries your lettuce, it can dry other items, too. In the bathroom, a salad spinner can be used to remove excess moisture from smaller items — anything from hand towels to hair scrunchies. This is especially helpful since these things are bound to get wet between humid showers and frequent hand washing.

This hack is perfect for items such as shower loofahs and mesh poufs. While they typically air-dry just fine, tossing them in a salad spinner can speed up the process and prevent water from pooling underneath them. It’s also incredibly useful for facecloths. Instead of letting them sit in a damp pile in your laundry basket and risking a musty smell, why not take them for a spin? Other items that are well suited to this hack include makeup sponges, reusable cleansing rounds, microfiber cleaning cloths, and kids’ bath toys.

When it comes to the bathroom, the sooner things dry, the better. Any hack that helps fight moisture is one worth trying. So, go ahead and get yourself a designated bathroom salad spinner — you’ll be glad you did.

Simmer and Scrape

This cleaning hack is safe to use on most cookware, including stainless steel, nonstick materials, ceramic coatings, aluminum, and enameled cast iron.

To get those burnt pots or pans looking as good as new, fill the cookware with roughly 1 to 2 inches of water and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Place the pan on the stovetop and set the heat to low until the mixture begins to simmer. Once it’s simmering, let it sit for 15 minutes before removing it from the heat. Safely set the pan on a heat-resistant surface, then scrape off any burnt residue from the bottom using a wooden spoon or spatula.

It’s important to use wooden utensils for scraping instead of metal ones, or you risk scratching and damaging the cookware itself. After a few minutes of applying elbow grease, you should notice the burnt bits begin to disappear. If any residue remains, simply repeat the process.

A Supercharged Alternative

For tougher stains, consider swapping the water for distilled white vinegar. Keep in mind, however, that vinegar and baking soda will chemically react, causing a vigorous fizz. To avoid making a mess, fill the pan with about a half inch of white vinegar and simmer it for a few minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and place it on a heat-safe surface before carefully adding 1 cup of baking soda. Once the fizzing dies down, dump the liquid down the drain and begin scrubbing away the burnt bits.

Another alternative is using lemon juice instead of water or vinegar. Its acidity also helps break down stains, though as with vinegar, this method may lead to fizzy spillage if combined with baking soda.

Tip: Avoid boiling acidic liquids, including vinegar and lemon juice, when cleaning nonstick, ceramic-coated, or aluminum cookware. Doing so may damage the coatings on the nonstick and ceramic pans, or cause pitting or discoloration in aluminum.