A common problem many people face is that clothes often come out quite wrinkled after washing. If you want to machine-wash your laundry while keeping clothes smooth and long-lastingly fresh, try applying the following tips.

Add ice cubes to the washing machine

As long as you have a refrigerator at home, this trick is easy to do. Each time you do laundry, put 2–3 ice cubes into a washer-dryer combo or directly into the dryer. The heat from the dryer will melt the ice, and the steam created helps relax fabric fibers and smooth out wrinkles.

Note that you should not add too much ice at once—just 2–3 cubes, depending on the load size, are sufficient.

In addition to ice cubes, a damp towel can be used in a similar way and provides comparable wrinkle-reducing results during machine drying.

If your home does not have a dryer or a washer with a drying function, try mixing vinegar and water in a 1:3 ratio and spraying it onto wrinkled clothes. Once the mixture dries, wrinkles will fade and clothes will look noticeably smoother and fresher. Vinegar helps soften fabric, brighten whites, and reduce wrinkles.

Put plastic bottles into the washing machine

Using two plastic bottles during machine washing can also help prevent clothes from becoming wrinkled while keeping them smoother.

First, prepare two empty plastic bottles and do not tighten the caps too firmly. Next, place the clothes into the washing machine, making sure the drum is neither overloaded nor underfilled for optimal washing performance. Add the two bottles along with the clothes, placing them in the middle or on top. Then run the washing machine as usual according to its standard cycle.

Follow proper laundry procedures

Along with applying one of the tips above, it is important to follow proper washing practices to ensure clothes are clean, fresh, and wrinkle-free.

Sort clothes before washing

Different fabrics wrinkle differently. Sorting laundry helps you choose the appropriate washing mode for each fabric type, reducing twisting and excessive wrinkling that can affect appearance.

Use laundry bags

Laundry bags protect delicate items from friction and impact with heavier garments inside the drum. This helps keep clothes in better shape and reduces wrinkles.

Hang clothes immediately after washing

The longer clothes sit after washing, the more set-in wrinkles become. Hanging clothes immediately after the wash allows you to smooth out creases. Before hanging, shake garments firmly to loosen wrinkles. This simple step significantly reduces wrinkling once clothes are dry.