A simple household trick can leave wet clothes up to 90% dry in just two minutes, using nothing more than a standard towel. The method, dubbed the "sushi roll" technique, was shared by a traveller on Reddit who said it transformed their laundry-drying routine both indoors and on the go.
How the technique works
The clever technique uses the absorbent fibres of a dry towel to draw moisture out of damp fabrics under light pressure, avoiding the need to forcefully wring garments and stretch sensitive clothing. To do this, simply place a clean, dry cotton bath towel flat on the floor or a clean surface and lay freshly washed garments flat on top in a single layer.
Next, roll the towel up tightly with the clothes inside so it resembles a long sushi roll, then step on the cylinder for roughly two minutes to press the trapped water directly into the dry towel. Finally, unroll the towel and hang up the garments, which will now require only a fraction of their usual air-drying time to dry completely.
Results across fabric types
The Reddit user noted immediate improvements across different fabric types straight after completing the two-minute process. Thin synthetic garments, such as lightweight activewear and athletic underwear, were estimated to be 90% dry instantly. Merino wool socks and thicker synthetic shorts reached roughly 80% dryness, while standard cotton t-shirts were around 70% dry.
"I like this technique because it dries my clothes way faster when compared to hang drying," the user shared. "It also protects my clothes better when compared to wringing them out - no stretching."
Impact on drying time and energy bills
Because most of the water content is transferred to the towel during the pressing phase, garments left to hang up afterwards need only a short time to fully air-dry, even in humid rooms or without heating on. While the method requires a few extra dry towels on hand, it offers an effective way to trim down laundry drying times without adding a single penny to your energy bill.
