I hate when things smell musty in my bathroom and always worry about mold or mildew growth. I wring out towels as much as I can and drape them to air-dry, but sometimes that still doesn’t feel like enough. Recently I discovered a surprisingly effective trick for making sure small items get as dry as possible in the bathroom: using a salad spinner. Yes, the same one that usually sits in your kitchen!
Why You Should Put a Salad Spinner in Your Bathroom
Keeping a small salad spinner, like this one from Amazon, in your bathroom might sound odd at first, but it’s more useful than you’d think. Many self-care and shower essentials can benefit from having excess water removed quickly. A quick spin over the sink, tub, or shower helps wick away moisture so items dry faster, stay fresher, and last longer. Here are some bathroom items that benefit most.
- Makeup sponges: These are magnets for germs, and leaving them damp doesn’t do your skin any favors. After cleaning, pop them in the salad spinner to remove excess moisture and keep mold at bay.
- Reusable makeup pads: These dry more evenly (and keep their shape longer) when spun instead of tossed in the dryer. A quick whirl helps maintain durability and prevents them from getting misshapen.
- Shower body puffs and loofahs: These are notorious for harboring bacteria, especially in humid bathrooms. Spinning them dry right after a shower helps extend their freshness.
- Small face cloths: Whether they’re freshly washed or just too damp to toss in the laundry basket, face cloths dry more quickly with a spin. Just avoid cramming too many in at once so air can circulate.
- Hair scrunchies: These rarely make it into the wash even though they collect oils, dirt, and hair products. A soak and a spin leaves them fresh, clean, and dry without losing elasticity.
- Socks: Ever realize post-shower that you’re out of dry socks? Thin pairs can be spun dry in seconds. For a speedier finish, use a blow dryer (just never hold socks over the dryer nozzle — that’s a fire hazard!).
A salad spinner might seem like an odd bathroom accessory, but it’s actually a clever hack for keeping small, damp items clean, dry, and ready to use. And when you’re done using it, you can simply store it away in your under-sink cabinet.
This post originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: Why You Should Put a Salad Spinner in Your Bathroom (It’s So Clever!)