An ordinary empty plastic bottle may seem destined for the recycling bin, but some people have started placing one inside the washing machine with their clothes. The inexpensive laundry trick requires nothing more than a clean, lightweight bottle with its cap securely tightened. As the washing machine drum rotates, the bottle moves between the garments.
Supporters of the method believe the moving bottle can help prevent clothes from twisting tightly around one another. Because tangled garments can come out of the washer heavily creased, allowing them to move more freely may also reduce some wrinkles. However, results can vary depending on the washing machine, load size, and type of fabric being washed.
There is limited scientific evidence proving that adding a plastic bottle consistently makes laundry cleaner, softer, or less wrinkled, so the method should be considered a household experiment rather than a guaranteed solution. Anyone trying it should use an undamaged, completely empty bottle with a secure cap and avoid using the trick with delicate materials such as silk, lace, or fine wool.
More dependable laundry habits include avoiding overloaded machines, using the recommended amount of detergent, choosing the correct wash cycle, and following clothing care labels and washing-machine instructions. If you decide to experiment with the bottle trick, start with a small load and stop if the machine becomes unusually noisy or the bottle becomes damaged.
