Few people know that our traditional washing machines also have a sort of "hidden" drying function that we can use at any time in an emergency. It doesn't require expensive accessories; all it takes is a bit of physics and a completely ordinary bathroom gadget. This method can be a lifesaver if you need to quickly dry one or two items and don't want to spend hours tangling around a damp clothesline in your apartment.

The trick is to increase spin efficiency. A washing machine only spins at idle speed, but it can't do anything about the moisture trapped between the fibers. This is where a simple but effective solution comes in.

Towel method: Spin drying

If you want your clothes to be almost dry after removing them from the drum, put them back in for an extra wash cycle. The secret is to toss a large, clean, and completely dry terry cloth towel next to them. It's important not to crumple it into a ball, but to spread it loosely among the other clothes so that it has as much contact surface as possible.

As soon as you turn on the highest spin speed, the dry towel will begin to absorb moisture from your wet clothes, like a sponge in a washing machine. By the end of the cycle, you'll feel the towel has become heavy and damp, but your favorite T-shirt will only feel slightly damp. A few minutes of airing or a quick ironing will be enough to completely dry it. The fewer clothes you load at once, the more dramatic the effect.