Experts warn against viral laundry hack that most people do

Don't be fooled by its convenience - there's a pretty big catch.

A laundry hack being hailed ‘genius’ is doing the rounds of the internet, introducing people to a faster and more convenient way to dry their clothes.

However, experts are warning anyone who tries it to be careful, as it may cause more problems than you’d expect.

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Image: TikTok / @keepingwithkirsty.

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The laundry hack you never knew you needed

Aussie TikTok user @keepingwithkirsty has taken to TikTok, promoting her laundry hack that’s taken social media by storm.

“This is your sign to dry your wet clothes on hangers to save time,” she says in the video.

“Also helps with creases!”

In the video, Kristy practices what she preaches; hanging a button up shirt on a coat hanger before propping it up on her clothesline.

Kristy isn’t the first person to try the hack, with fellow creator @karenlily24 showcasing the same thing just a few months ago.

“I was informed that my way of hanging out washing was a hack,” she wrote in the video’s caption.

“I don't know but it's how I've always done it. Easy to take in quickly and goes straight into the wardrobes when it's dry.”

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“Life changing!”

Commenters on both videos thought that the idea was genius, calling it a life changer.

“Great idea,” said one user.

“Such a good idea!” another agreed.

“Life changing,” said a third.

Others agreed, saying they’d been doing it at home for years.

“I’ve always done this so easy and quick,” said one person.

“Been doing this for years!” another added.

But, there’s a catch…

However, while it can be a time saver, the hack also comes with its cons.

Influencer and cleaning guru Chantel Mila, on social media as @mama_mila_au, said that this hack is one she uses herself from time to time.

“That is a great hack and one I sometimes use too. You can even hang wrinkled clothes in the bathroom while you shower and allow the steam to release the wrinkles,” she told Kidspot.

“The advantage of hanging wet clothes to dry is to increase the amount of clothes you can add on your clothes drying rack and it helps remove creases as the wet clothes are not directly on the rack.”

But, you have to be careful about what you’re hanging, as choosing a more flexible piece could quickly go awry.

“The downside is that it could stretch out certain materials and leave ‘shoulder bumps’ which is not desirable. So I would only use it for items that aren’t prone to stretching,” Chantel added.

The R&D Technologist at OMO shared similar advice.

“To make clothes last longer and conserve energy, hang wet shirts directly on coat hangers to dry naturally. This is especially effective for woven shirts – the creases drop out as they dry, reducing the need for ironing. Give each shirt a quick flick before hanging to help release creases, and you’ll avoid peg marks too. Once dry, it’s ready to go straight into the wardrobe," they said.

“Hanging clothes on coat hangers can speed up drying – predominately when there's good air circulation. Spacing out clothes via pegs – demonstrated by the influencer – means the clothing will dry evenly without bunching. Be mindful with knits, as they can stretch if left hanging too long.”

Originally published as Experts warn against viral laundry hack that most people do