Ironing sits at the bottom of most to-do lists, a stubborn time sink few defend. Yet a simple shortcut inside the dryer challenges that drudgery, trading effort for smart timing and a touch of physics. The idea is modest, the impact on daily life anything but, promising smoother clothes and a little time back where it counts. It also eases the quiet pressure to look impeccably pressed, making presentable feel attainable rather than performative.
The endless fight with the iron
Laundry baskets fill up; ironing piles loom. Busy schedules push pressing to the bottom of the list. The board unfolds, the water tank gurgles, and the clock keeps ticking. People want outfits that look presentable without dedicating an evening to the board.
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Household hack expert Kaatje Wibbelink has a counterintuitive fix: toss a few ice cubes in the dryer with wrinkled shirts. The result is smoother fabric in minutes. So why is the iron still on so many shelves?
How the ice-cube trick actually works
The method is straightforward. Load a small batch — 3 or 4 pieces — and add 2 or 3 ice cubes. Run the dryer on high heat for about 10 minutes, giving garments room to tumble so air can circulate. Avoid overloading; airflow is key.
As the cubes melt, steam forms and relaxes fibers, much like a garment steamer. Remove items promptly and hang them to set the drape. It won’t erase deep-set creases, but it lifts everyday wrinkling convincingly and without extra tools.
A small revolution for your routine
The gain is time. A quick 10-minute cycle beats an hour spent moving a hot plate over cotton and linen. For households juggling childcare, commutes, and meals, that’s one less chore demanding focused attention. It also cuts down on fussy collar-and-seam work you never asked for.
There’s a subtle social benefit, too. Workplaces and schools still expect neatness, even on casual days, and that pressure adds up. The ice-cube pass delivers a tidy look fast — good enough for class, a meeting, or a dinner reservation — without turning your evening into a pressing session.
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Who benefits from this simple solution
Parents turning uniforms around overnight, students in tight dorms, and professionals racing between meetings will notice immediate relief. Travelers with access to a hotel dryer can revive a suitcase-crumpled outfit while they unpack.
A dryer and a freezer are all you need; no extra gadgets, no service fees. Reserve the traditional iron for crisp pleats or delicate fabrics like silk, wool, or anything embellished. For most tees, shirts, and casual dresses, this quick blast earns a spot in the weekly rotation.
