Put an Empty Plastic Bottle in the Washing Machine? Here’s What the Trick Actually Does
You may have seen the viral tip of putting an empty plastic bottle in the washing machine with your clothes. The idea is that the bottle moves around during the wash and helps create extra agitation, potentially separating clothes and helping loosen some dirt.
However, it’s not a proven washing-machine cleaning hack, and you don’t need it for a normal wash.
If you want to try it
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Use a clean, sturdy, empty plastic bottle with the cap firmly secured.
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Make sure there are no sharp edges, cracks, or loose pieces.
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Put it in with a normal load rather than an overloaded machine.
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Check your washing-machine manufacturer’s instructions first.
A better way to improve washing
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Don’t overload the drum. Clothes need room to move freely.
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Use the correct amount of detergent.
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Pretreat heavily stained areas.
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Select the appropriate cycle and water temperature for the fabric.
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Clean the machine’s detergent drawer, door seal, and filter according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
One important caution
A plastic bottle isn’t guaranteed to improve cleaning and could potentially make noise, become damaged, or interfere with the wash depending on the machine and bottle. If your manufacturer’s instructions don’t recommend objects such as bottles inside the drum, skip the trick.
For a cleaner, fresher washing machine, regular maintenance is much more reliable than viral hacks.
