In the age of social media, where life hacks and DIY tips spread like wildfire, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of finding a simple solution to everyday annoyances. One such hack that has been making the rounds on social media involves a common household item—a tea towel—and your trusty dishwasher.
The trick suggests that by hanging a tea towel over the dishwasher door and closing it again after a cycle, you can absorb any excess steam and prevent your dishes from being wet. While it sounds like a clever fix, here’s an expert warning you need to hear.
@hey.im.rach If you put a towel on the dishwasher door and then close it the towel will absorb the moisture/ steam so you won’t need to hand dry/ wait for the dishes to dry before putting them away✨I love you forever! Xoxo, your tiktok mom 💕 • • #tiktokmom #cleantok #fyp #lifehack ♬ That’s So True – Gracie Abrams
CHOICE whitegoods expert Denis Gallagher has raised an alarm about this so-called ‘game-changing’ hack. While the original video sharing the tip has left most commenters in awe, Gallagher urges caution.
He explains that if you feel the need to resort to this towel trick, it’s likely a sign that your dishwasher isn’t performing as it should.
‘This isn’t a hack,’ Gallagher told 9Honey Living. ‘If you feel the need to do this, [it] most likely means you need a new or higher quality dishwasher.’ He points out that cheaper or older dishwashers often don’t open automatically after the cycle finishes, which is a feature designed to help dishes dry properly.
Instead of relying on a tea towel, CHOICE recommends a more straightforward approach: simply open the dishwasher door about 10 centimetres and wait 20 minutes before unpacking.
He says that doing this allows the steam to escape and the dishes to air dry without the risk of damaging your appliance.
Gallagher adds that another common mistake leading to excess water in the dishwasher is loading it with plastic dishes, which ‘don’t dry properly.’ ‘We recommend cleaning plastic dishes, like Tupperware, by hand,’ he concludes.
So, the next time you’re tempted to reach for a tea towel to deal with steam in your dishwasher, remember that it might be time to evaluate the effectiveness of your appliance. A new dishwasher or the tried-and-true method of drying dishes by hand could be the better solution.
At YourLifeChoices, we understand that keeping up with the latest gadgets and appliances can be a challenge, especially when balancing a budget. However, it’s essential to recognise when a ‘life hack’ is merely a band-aid for a larger issue.
Investing in a quality dishwasher that meets your needs can save you time and hassle in the long run, and it’s worth considering if you’re facing persistent problems with wet dishes.
We’d love to hear from our readers about their experiences with dishwashers and any genuine hacks they’ve found helpful. Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below, and let’s help each other make the most of our household appliances.
Also read: Why does my dishwasher scratch my glasses and how can I prevent it?
