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Cleaning 3m read
37

The Diaper Bag Essential Pros Use To Spot-Clean Upholstery

If you’re prone to spills, you’re probably well versed in laundry stain-removal hacks. Here at House Outlook, some of our favorites include hydrogen peroxide and the one-two punch of vinegar and baking soda. However, furniture messes are a whole different beast. While you can invest in portable upholstery cleaners and spot treatments, these often saturate the fabric, requiring ample time to dry completely. They might even leave behind residue, which could turn sticky and attract more dirt. Fortunately, there’s an alternative that safely cleans most fabrics and dries in minutes — and you can find it in the baby care aisle.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

If you’re prone to spills, you’re probably well versed in laundry stain-removal hacks. Here at House Outlook, some of our favorites include hydrogen peroxide and the one-two punch of vinegar and baking soda. However, furniture messes are a whole different beast. While you can invest in portable upholstery cleaners and spot treatments, these often saturate…

The Unexpected Upholstery Spot Cleaner

Instead of dragging out the upholstery cleaner or reaching for the spray bottle, grab a pack of baby wipes. As it turns out, these diaper bag essentials have multiple uses beyond the bathroom and are surprisingly effective at spot cleaning, especially on upholstery.

Related: The Trick That Makes Red Wine Stains Disappear

Since baby wipes have mild surfactants, controlled moisture, and dry quickly, they are a great alternative to traditional upholstery cleaners. These wipes can lift fresh, water-based spills and even erase marks from art supplies and dirt without leaving a trace.

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How To Remove Spills With Baby Wipes

Baby wipes work best on fresh spills that haven’t had a chance to set, so achieving an effective clean requires a quick response. As soon as you notice a mark — whether it be from a leaky pen or spilled coffee — use a baby wipe to gently dab, blot, and wipe it away. Avoid applying firm pressure or rubbing the area, as doing so will push the stain deeper into the fabric fibers. Once you’ve spot-cleaned the stain, use a clean, damp microfiber cloth to remove any residue.

While baby wipes are safe to use on many upholstery fabrics, they can cause damage to leather, velvet, silk, viscose, and microfiber with an “S” cleaning code, so be sure to read the product care tag before you begin. Opt for wipes that are water-based and free of any fragrances or alcohol. It’s also a good idea to conduct a spot test in an inconspicuous area before treating the stain.

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Featured Image Credit:  © Redd Francisco/Unsplash.com | Updated  Jul 16, 2026 |
Jessie Quinn
Writer
Jessie Quinn is a Los Angeles-based lifestyle journalist with words published in PEOPLE, StyleCaster, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, Byrdie, and more. She has a Bachelor's Degree in fashion journalism from Academy of Art University and her work spans across many categories, including style, beauty, home, health, crafts, and more.
Jessie Quinn is a Los Angeles-based lifestyle journalist with words published in PEOPLE, StyleCaster, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, Byrdie, and more. She has a Bachelor's Degree in fashion journalism from Academy of Art University and her work spans across many categories, including style, beauty, home, health, crafts, and more.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Featured Image Credit:  © Redd Francisco/Unsplash.com | Updated  Jul 16, 2026 |
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Cleaning 3m read
19,187

The Trick Realtors Use To Make Homes Smell Amazing

Have you ever walked into an open house and wondered how it smelled so good? Scent is something that real estate agents take very seriously, as it has a strong impact on a potential buyer’s first impression of the space. While some agents bake fresh cookies just before an open house to create a warm, inviting atmosphere, not everyone has the baking skills — or bandwidth — to pull that off.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Have you ever walked into an open house and wondered how it smelled so good? Scent is something that real estate agents take very seriously, as it has a strong impact on a potential buyer’s first impression of the space. While some agents bake fresh cookies just before an open house to create a warm,…

Fortunately, there’s an easier way to make your home smell amazing that busy real estate professionals have been relying on for years. And it’s not just for open houses; you can use this trick to scent your space before a party or to mask lingering cooking smells.

Fake It Till You Bake It

Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons of pure vanilla extract — not imitation vanilla — and 1/2 cup of water into an oven-safe dish or ramekin. Preheat the oven to a low temperature, ideally 275 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the oven reaches your desired temperature, place the dish on the center or bottom rack, and let it “bake” for 30 to 60 minutes. The warm scent of vanilla will fill your home within 10 to 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, you can turn off the oven, crack the door, and allow the scent to continue permeating the air.

Customize the Scent

Much like with simmer pots, you can add ingredients to your vanilla ramekin to customize the scent. An easy addition is lemon zest, which you can grate directly into the dish. For best results, use 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of fresh zest — any citrus fruit will do. You can also experiment with warm spices by introducing cinnamon sticks or ground nutmeg. For a vanilla latte-like scent, sprinkle a tablespoon of whole coffee beans over your vanilla and water mixture.

Just make sure that the ingredients you add can withstand up to an hour in the heat of the oven, as you don’t want them to burn.

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Tips and Cautions

Before turning on the oven, double-check your ramekin or dish to make sure it really is oven-safe. You can’t be too careful in this regard.

Related: The 5-Second Fix for a Fresher-Smelling Trash Can

When the oven is on, the one thing you don’t want to do is accidentally leave it on for too long, which is an easy mistake to make when you’re not actually cooking food. Make sure you set a timer, and take the vanilla out after 60 minutes at most. This will keep the vanilla from burning, and the pleasant scent will still linger after you take it out of the oven.

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Home Improvement 3m read
26,314

The Fastest Way To Cool Down a Scorching Hot Car

When you get into a hot car, your first instinct may be to roll down the windows and let the stifling air escape. Or perhaps you crank the AC so high that it drowns out the directions from your GPS. Neither of these methods is particularly productive, and it often takes several minutes to start feeling the effects. Rather than stew in discomfort, here’s a trick to help your car cool down quicker.

When you get into a hot car, your first instinct may be to roll down the windows and let the stifling air escape. Or perhaps you crank the AC so high that it drowns out the directions from your GPS. Neither of these methods is particularly productive, and it often takes several minutes to start…

A Slam Dunk Solution

The fastest way to cool down a car is to create a vacuum to suck out hot interior air and draw in cooler outdoor air. The science behind this hack is explained in this video from mathematician Hannah Fry. In the video, she notes that the solution has to do with fluid dynamics, the subject of her Ph.D. Here’s a breakdown of the steps involved — we’ll explain why they work afterward.

Related: A Gentle Way To Get Bug Splatter Off Your Car

1. Start the car and roll the rear passenger-side window all the way down.

2. While standing outside of the car, open and shut the driver’s door in rapid succession five to 10 times. Repeat this step as often as needed.

3. Get in the car and roll down the rest of the windows. As you begin driving, this will help flush out the remaining hot air.

4. Turn on the AC while the car is in motion to lower the temperature further.

5. Once the car’s interior reaches a comfortable temperature, close the windows.

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Why It Works

By rolling down a rear window and repeatedly opening and closing a door on the opposite side, you create a makeshift air pump. This motion physically pushes the hot air out through the open door, while drawing in fresh, cooler air through the window. (The quicker you open and shut the door, the more successful your efforts will be.)

Swinging the door causes a pocket of low pressure to form inside the car. The pressure difference in the cabin forces the trapped hot air to rush toward the low-pressure zone and exit through the open door, while simultaneously pulling in fresh air from the open rear window.

You may be wondering: Isn’t the air outside just as hot as the air inside the car? The answer is no. Even if it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside, the air inside a hot car can reach 140 degrees Fahrenheit or more. If you displace the 140-degree air with 90-degree air, it makes it easier to cool down the car further.

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Featured Image Credit:  © DimaBerlin/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 13, 2026 |
Bennett Kleinman
Staff Writer
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio, covering topics for several brands including House Outlook and Better Report. He previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers," and digital publications like The Onion. Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio, covering topics for several brands including House Outlook and Better Report. He previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers," and digital publications like The Onion. Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Featured Image Credit:  © DimaBerlin/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 13, 2026 |
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Organizing 3m read
17,033

The Trick to a Permanently Decluttered Closet

Cleaning out your closet is a task you can delay for only so long. Even if you get rid of a couple of items on occasion, most of us probably buy more clothes than we declutter. Eventually, your closet becomes so disorganized that you have no choice but to do a massive cleanout, which is a day-long event at best. But with one easy fix, you can keep your closet clutter-free for the long term.

Cleaning out your closet is a task you can delay for only so long. Even if you get rid of a couple of items on occasion, most of us probably buy more clothes than we declutter. Eventually, your closet becomes so disorganized that you have no choice but to do a massive cleanout, which is…

How To Permanently Declutter Your Closet

While the best way to declutter your closet is to take out every single piece of clothing, there’s one item you can add in: a donation bag or box. These vessels may be a common sight during a wardrobe purge, but keeping one in your closet year-round is an easy way to declutter consistently.

When you’re going through your closet to find something to wear, take note of the items you haven’t worn in ages. If you suffer from clutter blindness, reversing all the hangers in your closet and rehanging worn items in the opposite direction will help you easily identify which items you wear and which you don’t.

If you haven’t worn a garment in several months, put it into the donation bag (or bin). Rather than making the decluttering process long and tedious, this can incorporate it into your daily routine. Once the container is filled, take it to your local donation center.

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A Seasonal Reset

This method is also a great way to reset your closet every few months when you switch out your wardrobe for the new season. At the beginning of the season, you can weed out the items you no longer want, whether it’s a sweater that isn’t your style or a pair of shorts you’ve outgrown. By the end of the season, you’ll have a clearer idea of which clothes you gravitated toward and which ones you can part with.

The hack isn’t limited to just the clothes in your bedroom, either. You can also put a donation box or bag in a hallway closet to set aside household items, such as a coffee mug or holiday decor, that you no longer want or need.

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Cleaning 3m read
25,833

The Nighttime Reset That Makes Mornings 10x Easier

In retail and restaurant businesses, there’s usually a to-do list designated for the closing shift. At the end of the day, you check off small tasks, whether it’s clearing out the clothing return rack or wiping down the tables. These chores help reset the space for the next day, ensuring everything runs smoothly. If you skip or forget a task, that leaves more work for the opening shift. But stay at the job long enough, and it becomes second nature to go through the closing routine without having to look at the list. This is the logic behind the “closing shift” method for your home, too.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

In retail and restaurant businesses, there’s usually a to-do list designated for the closing shift. At the end of the day, you check off small tasks, whether it’s clearing out the clothing return rack or wiping down the tables. These chores help reset the space for the next day, ensuring everything runs smoothly. If you…

What Is the “Closing Shift” Cleaning Method?

The “closing shift” method applies the same mentality to cleaning your home. By setting aside time each night to tackle a few household tasks, you avoid the exhausting need for frequent deep cleans. And as with retail or restaurant jobs, you get to start the day with a clean and tidy space, making your morning routine less stressful.

How To Create a Closing Shift Checklist

A successful closing shift cleaning routine prioritizes easy, simple tasks that allow you to wake up to a tidier home. Write the checklist on a notepad or dry erase board and set aside just 10 to 15 minutes to complete your chores. Get family members or roommates involved so you can divide and conquer.

The duties you include in your nightly closing shift are entirely up to you, but we’ve come up with a few ideas to help get you started: In the kitchen, clean the leftover dirty dishes in the sink or put them in the dishwasher and run a cycle. Wipe down the countertops and put away any stray items that have accumulated on them. In the living room, rearrange throw pillows and blankets, and return misplaced belongings to their proper homes.

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In the bathroom, wipe down frequently touched surfaces, such as countertops, faucets, and toilet handles. If it’s been a few days, swap out the hand towels. In the bedroom, toss dirty clothes into the laundry hamper, lay out your outfit for the next day, or declutter your nightstand.

Related: 15 Things To Declutter From Your Kitchen Right Now

Regardless of the tasks you choose, making sure they’re quick and easy to complete will help you keep up with your own version of a closing shift.

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Food & Drink 3m read
15,423

3 Hacks for Better Veggies on the Grill

Chefs and home cooks are constantly finding new ways to expand their vegetable-cooking repertoires. Tossing produce on the grill — whether it be asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, or corn on the cob — is one of the best ways to add nutrients and smoky flavor to summer meals.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Chefs and home cooks are constantly finding new ways to expand their vegetable-cooking repertoires. Tossing produce on the grill — whether it be asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, or corn on the cob — is one of the best ways to add nutrients and smoky flavor to summer meals.

Not so long ago, vegetables were used mainly as spacers between chunks of meat on grilled kebabs. But with the right preparation, they can become the main event, rather than an overlooked side. If you want to elevate your own grilled vegetable game, here are three hacks to get you started.

1. Perforate That Foil

Many vegetables are skinny enough to fall through your grill’s grates, or need to be cut that small to cook quickly. A perforated grill basket will keep your vegetables secure while letting in smoke and creating some char.

If you don’t have a dedicated basket, grilling in foil is the next best thing. In a tightly sealed foil pouch, vegetables cook in their own steam. This is perfectly fine, but it’s not really grilling. For a grill basket effect, make a few small slashes in the foil pouch so heat enters and steam escapes. This way, your vegetables will actually taste grilled.

2. Dial Up the Flavors

Grilling blogs are filled with suggestions for improving the taste of your steaks, chops, and chicken pieces with marinades and dry rubs. So why not use those same techniques on your vegetables?

Marinades, flavored oils, and dry spices cling perfectly to produce like corn on the cob, or broccoli and cauliflower florets. For other types of vegetables, consider poking holes with the tip of a paring knife to let marinades enter, or brushing or misting them with oil to help spices and herbs cling. You could also brush veggies with a sticky sauce, or serve them with a flavorful dip.

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Related: 3 Must-Try Grilling Hacks for the Juiciest Burgers of Your Life

3. Learn To Master Controlled Heat

Not all grilled vegetables are suitable for quick cooking over high heat. For sturdier vegetables or thicker cuts — think center-cut cabbage or cauliflower steaks — low heat works better.

Set up your grill with a hot side (burners on or coals mounded) and a cool side (burners off or no coals), and grill slow-cooking veggies on the cool side with the lid down. Once they’re tender, move them to the hot side for a final sear to caramelize and enhance their flavor. It’s the vegetable version of steak’s reverse-sear.

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Featured Image Credit:  © Cavan Images/Getty Images | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
Fred Decker
Writer
Fred Decker is a trained chef and former restaurateur. Since closing his restaurants over a decade ago he has been a prolific freelance writer, publishing several thousand articles on dozens of high-volume websites including Taste Of Home, Hunker, Tasting Table, Week&, eHow, and GOBankingRates. He lives on a rural acreage shared with a big garden, chickens, rabbits, and grandkids.
Fred Decker is a trained chef and former restaurateur. Since closing his restaurants over a decade ago he has been a prolific freelance writer, publishing several thousand articles on dozens of high-volume websites including Taste Of Home, Hunker, Tasting Table, Week&, eHow, and GOBankingRates. He lives on a rural acreage shared with a big garden, chickens, rabbits, and grandkids.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Featured Image Credit:  © Cavan Images/Getty Images | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
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Home Improvement 3m read
18,339

The Dollar Bill Test Your Oven Is Probably Failing

What if we told you that a single dollar bill could put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket? No, we aren’t talking about investing that dollar in the stock market, but rather using its physical form to test if kitchen appliance seals are leaking.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

What if we told you that a single dollar bill could put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket? No, we aren’t talking about investing that dollar in the stock market, but rather using its physical form to test if kitchen appliance seals are leaking.

A compromised oven gasket, for example, can result in higher energy bills than necessary. But that’s not the only kitchen appliance that might be draining your bank account, as a drafty fridge or freezer may be another culprit. The “dollar bill test” is a useful diagnostic to determine if there’s an issue with an appliance’s door seal — here’s how it works.

Related: How To Test Your Oven’s Temperature Accuracy

Testing the Seal

Most ovens have a rubber gasket (a type of seal) around the inside of the door, which prevents heat from escaping and helps maintain a consistent cooking temperature. Over time, the seal can harden, crack, or lose its shape, allowing heat to seep out. When this happens, the oven has to work harder to compensate, wasting energy and driving up bills.

To test whether your oven’s seal is working properly, grab a $1 bill — or any banknote you have lying around. Open the oven door and place the dollar bill so that half of it is inside the oven and half of it sticks out. Close the door, then try to pull the dollar out; if it slides out without any resistance, you probably have a worn-out gasket. But if you have to pull hard to get it out, the gasket probably still has some life left.

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Continue to work your way around the entire oven door to test the gasket. Even if the seal is intact in one corner, it may be failing in another. If you find a problem, you should buy and install a replacement gasket. Universal oven gaskets are cheap and easy to install in just a few minutes, and you’ll recoup the cost pretty quickly by saving on your energy bills.

Don’t Forget the Fridge and Freezer

You can also use the dollar bill test to determine if your refrigerator and freezer are properly sealed. The process is the same: Close the door on a dollar bill and check if it pulls out easily. Since the fridge and freezer are running at all hours of the day, a leaky gasket may be inflating your energy bill with each passing minute, which makes it worth replacing ASAP.

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Featured Image Credit:  © Pixel-Shot/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
Bennett Kleinman
Staff Writer
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio, covering topics for several brands including House Outlook and Better Report. He previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers," and digital publications like The Onion. Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio, covering topics for several brands including House Outlook and Better Report. He previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers," and digital publications like The Onion. Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Featured Image Credit:  © Pixel-Shot/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
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Decorating 2m read
11,318

The Best Matchstick Alternative Is Hiding in Your Pantry

Safety is the most important consideration when lighting a candle. While matches may be the quickest way to ignite the wick, they can burn your fingers if you don’t act fast. Lighters — especially wand lighters — are a great alternative but aren’t always effective when lighting a hard-to-reach wick. The solution to this problem is hiding somewhere you’d probably never expect: your pantry.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

Safety is the most important consideration when lighting a candle. While matches may be the quickest way to ignite the wick, they can burn your fingers if you don’t act fast. Lighters — especially wand lighters — are a great alternative but aren’t always effective when lighting a hard-to-reach wick. The solution to this problem…

Spaghetti as a Matchstick Alternative

If a candle wick is hard to reach with a match or lighter, you can use a dried spaghetti noodle to light it. Spaghetti noodles are almost as thin as a match, and they ignite quickly and burn steadily. This is because they are low in moisture and contain combustible starches.

Related: The One Thing You Must Do Before Lighting a Candle

Simply touch the tip of the noodle to a flame source, then use it to light the candle wick. The length of a spaghetti noodle makes it great not just for deep-seated and hard-to-reach candles (looking at you, hurricanes), but also for lighting birthday candles in one go, since it burns much longer than a traditional matchstick.

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In Case of Emergency

Dried spaghetti noodles are also worth adding to your home’s emergency kit. Beyond lighting candles during a power outage, they can be used to safely ignite a gas stove burner or get a fire going in your fireplace. To create a DIY fire starter, bundle 10 to 15 dried spaghetti noodles with a piece of string. Carefully ignite one end of the bundle and place it directly under your tinder. The flames should spread as the spaghetti slowly burns. While this isn’t the most effective fire starter — dryer lint and petroleum jelly-soaked cotton balls are much better options — it might work in a pinch.

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Featured Image Credit:  © Iryna/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
Jessie Quinn
Writer
Jessie Quinn is a Los Angeles-based lifestyle journalist with words published in PEOPLE, StyleCaster, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, Byrdie, and more. She has a Bachelor's Degree in fashion journalism from Academy of Art University and her work spans across many categories, including style, beauty, home, health, crafts, and more.
Jessie Quinn is a Los Angeles-based lifestyle journalist with words published in PEOPLE, StyleCaster, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, Byrdie, and more. She has a Bachelor's Degree in fashion journalism from Academy of Art University and her work spans across many categories, including style, beauty, home, health, crafts, and more.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Featured Image Credit:  © Iryna/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
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Cleaning 3m read
21,420

Stop Using the Quick Wash Cycle for This Type of Laundry

The advent and evolution of washing machines has revolutionized housework by saving us valuable time. But many machines have an even bigger time-saver built right into their settings: the quick wash cycle. It can save you hours on washing — and a bit of money on your water bill — but its effectiveness depends on what you toss inside the drum.

All featured products and deals are selected independently and objectively by the author. House Outlook may receive a share of sales via affiliate links in content.

The advent and evolution of washing machines has revolutionized housework by saving us valuable time. But many machines have an even bigger time-saver built right into their settings: the quick wash cycle. It can save you hours on washing — and a bit of money on your water bill — but its effectiveness depends on what…

Why Quick Wash Doesn’t Work for Heavily Soiled Clothing

The quick wash cycle shouldn’t be used for every load of laundry because it isn’t designed to clean heavily soiled clothes as thoroughly as longer cycles. It uses less water, often at a colder temperature, and features a shorter soak time. If you have set-in stains or odors you need to remove, it’s best to launder these items on a longer setting.

The quick wash cycle also agitates clothing less due to its shorter running time. This makes it ineffective for cleaning bulky items, which require more time for water and detergent to penetrate their thick fabrics. The quick wash cycle uses faster spin speeds to extract more water, but this can damage delicate or embellished fabrics and cause wrinkling or pilling.

Related: 6 Outdated Laundry Habits To Quit Immediately

What Can I Safely Clean Using Quick Wash?

The quick wash cycle is best used to clean small, lightly soiled loads — think items you wear only around the house, the sweatshirt you throw on occasionally to keep warm in the evenings, or hand towels from the guest bathroom. Sticking to small loads is key. Because of the reduced water, agitation, and time, a quick wash cycle can’t thoroughly clean large loads and may leave detergent residue behind.

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How To Clean Clothes Quickly

If you are going to quickly wash something that could use a little more care, you can pretreat stains and odors to make the cycle more successful. OxiClean Max Force stain remover spray is enzyme-based and can be applied to stains up to seven days before laundering. To combat stubborn odors, use a product like OxiClean Odor Blasters as a presoak before washing.

You can also purchase low-sudsing or fast-dissolving laundry detergents that are recommended for shorter cycles. Heritage Park makes several detergents formulated for quick wash cycles, and ARM & HAMMER Power Sheets are designed to fully dissolve in two to five minutes, regardless of the water temperature.

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Home Improvement 3m read
23,509

Prevent Pooling Water on Mugs in the Dishwasher

Aside from the wheel and the printing press, the dishwasher may be humankind’s most wondrous invention. But for all its time-saving benefits, this appliance has one major drawback: the little water puddles that form inside the curved bottoms of cups and other concave dishware. However, there’s an easy way to overcome this problem, and all you have to do is make a slight adjustment to the appliance itself.

Aside from the wheel and the printing press, the dishwasher may be humankind’s most wondrous invention. But for all its time-saving benefits, this appliance has one major drawback: the little water puddles that form inside the curved bottoms of cups and other concave dishware. However, there’s an easy way to overcome this problem, and all…

What’s the Angle?

Water pools in the bottoms of cups and other dishes when the dishwasher rack is completely flat. But if you were to tilt the top rack, the water would stream off, leaving your dishes puddle-free. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to do just that.

Many modern dishwashers allow you to adjust the height of the top rack to fit taller items, such as wine glasses and water bottles. Conveniently, this feature doubles as an effective way to create a slope for drainage. While you can lower or raise the entire top rack to keep it flat, some models let you adjust just one side to form an angle.

Related: 11 Household Items You Can Clean in the Dishwasher

On most dishwashers with this capability, there are adjustment levers on either side of the top rack. If you press those levers inward, it unlocks the rack and allows you to adjust its height.

Move the entire top rack into the highest position that still accommodates your tallest dishware. Then, press just one of the levers and lower that side to create the slope needed for water to drain.

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No Adjustment Levers? No Problem

If your dishwasher lacks this capability, you can prevent puddles by positioning your items on a slant. In most dishwasher models, the outer edges of the top rack feature a gentle slope specifically designed to hold glasses and mugs. For other items, use the tines to your advantage so they rest on an angle, rather than lying flat.

Another tip is to avoid unloading the dishes immediately after the wash cycle finishes. Instead, open up the door so steam can escape and condensation can start to evaporate. While this won’t necessarily help with large puddles of water, it gives smaller amounts more time to evaporate before you empty the dishwasher hours later.

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Featured Image Credit:  © elenavolf/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |
Bennett Kleinman
Staff Writer
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio, covering topics for several brands including House Outlook and Better Report. He previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers," and digital publications like The Onion. Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
Bennett Kleinman is a New York City-based staff writer for Inbox Studio, covering topics for several brands including House Outlook and Better Report. He previously contributed to television programs such as "Late Show With David Letterman" and "Impractical Jokers," and digital publications like The Onion. Bennett is also a devoted New York Yankees and New Jersey Devils fan, and thinks plain seltzer is the best drink ever invented.
This article is for general informational purposes only.
Featured Image Credit:  © elenavolf/stock.adobe.com | Updated  Jul 7, 2026 |