I Put Ice Cubes in My Dryer — Here’s What Happened Next
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No matter how many machines I have to help me do household tasks (like my trust robot vacuum), some things never change — one of them being how hard it is for me to stay on top of the laundry. I have machines to wash and dry my clothes, but I inevitably get behind on all the piles that accumulate. For instance, the growing pile on my clothes chair that, once it goes into the wash, becomes more piles that need to be folded and put away.
As if that’s not enough, there are the consequences of letting piles linger (aside from having to dig for clean underwear). Clothes that are left sitting will wrinkle, sometimes to the point that they’re too rumpled to wear. So your laundry can be cleaned, folded, and put away, but there’s still more work to do.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll do anything to avoid bringing the iron or steamer out. From choosing wrinkle-resistant fabrics to trying to get clothes out of the dryer the minute the cycle is finished, prevention is the best strategy for avoiding wrinkles, but it isn’t always possible. Sometimes the clothing you want to wear is full of wrinkles, and you don’t want to iron or steam it, but also want to avoid looking like a mess.
Fortunately, I discovered a hack that might just give you wrinkle-free clothes in minutes. This hack for throwing ice cubes into the dryer to get rid of wrinkles has been making the rounds online. For instance, TikToker @stephanieboothhome suggests the method as a way to save wrinkled clothes that you’ve let sit in the dryer too long, and the account @mommylifesquad emphasizes how much time this trick will save you. @sheetslaundryclub’s video on it received more than 6 million views.
The ice cube hack involves tossing a few ice cubes into the dryer to either help prevent wrinkles or remove them. The ice melts with the heat of the dryer, creating steam, which relaxes the fibers of the garment so that wrinkles are released. Only add a handful of ice cubes at most, and run the dryer for only about 10 minutes to avoid wasting resources.
Be aware that the ice cubes will make a loud rattling sound, at least until they melt. Remember to remove your clothes promptly, while they’re still warm and steamy so that new wrinkles don’t set in. Adding ice cubes to your dryer shouldn’t harm your appliance, but always check your manual beforehand, just to make sure.
The results of the hack will vary based on the temperature of your dryer and the fabric content of your clothes. (Also, note that if you have a newer dryer, you may have a built-in steam cycle that you can use instead of the ice cube hack!)
So how well does the ice cube hack work? I tried it on a wrinkled cotton/rayon blend dress that had been sitting in a pile of clean clothes for a while. I scooped some ice out of my ice maker, tossed it into the dryer with the dress, and turned on the dryer for 10 minutes. I took it out, gave it a couple of hard shakes, and took a look.
The wrinkles in the dress were noticeably improved. It didn’t come out of the dryer as crisp as it would look if it had been ironed, but the dress was totally wearable. This ice cube hack is one I’ll be putting into practice for life’s moments that require wrinkle-free clothes.
Further Reading
I Tried the 90/90 Rule and My Closet Is Now Fully Decluttered
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
