The Tea Towel Trick That Revolutionizes Dishwasher Drying

A clever household hack is turning heads in kitchens everywhere. Home cooks are now using a plain tea towel to speed up the drying process in their dishwashers. This easy, no-cost technique is designed to absorb excess steam and moisture, leaving dishes drier and reducing those unsightly water spots when you finally unload your clean dishes.

How the Hack Works

After your dishwasher finishes its cycle, simply open the door and drape a clean tea towel over it. The towel acts like a sponge, soaking up the lingering moisture and steam trapped inside your dishwasher. This method can reduce drying time significantly—so much so that you might no longer need to reach for that extra dish-drying step. The process is straightforward: load your dishwasher as usual, and when the cycle ends, pull out your towel, hang it on the door, and let it work its magic while you enjoy a few minutes of extra time.

Balancing Convenience with Caution

Many home cooks and TikTok enthusiasts have celebrated the hack as a game changer, especially on those busy days when every minute counts. Early adopters report that their plates, glasses, and utensils emerge noticeably drier, with fewer water marks to fuss over. However, some appliance experts advise using the method as a temporary workaround rather than a complete replacement for proper drying techniques. They note that while the towel efficiently absorbs steam, it doesn’t replace the built-in drying processes engineered to work with your specific dishwasher model. As with any hack, testing it on a small load first can help ensure it won’t interfere with the dishwasher’s seals or latches over time.