Unloading the dryer might seem like a mindless task, but it’s one of those little chores that takes some effort. Between reaching into a hot drum, pulling out heavy clothes one handful at a time, and trying to avoid socks clinging to the back wall, the whole process can feel more awkward and tedious than it should. Whether you’re avoiding unnecessary strain or simply looking to make chores more efficient, there’s a clever little hack that might just help you achieve the laundry routine of your dreams. All you need is a front-loading dryer and a sturdy laundry basket with a small enough rim to fit securely inside the dryer opening. This simple combo lets you flip the process — literally. To give this hack a spin, place your laundry basket in the dryer upside down, then spin the drum so the clothes fall inside.

This cuts down on physical effort and streamlines the whole routine, making it a perfect hack for when you’re juggling multiple loads in a busy household or just not in the mood to sort piece by piece. This hack is also a great option for anyone with limited mobility or joint issues. Reducing the need to stretch can help ease strain on the knees and shoulders, which is especially helpful for older adults, those recovering from injury, or people with physical limitations. While it won’t fold your clothes for you (sorry!) and may not save loads of time, it can make one part of laundry day slightly easier. 

To try this hack, grab your laundry basket and turn it upside down. Place it into the opening of your front-loading dryer so the rim rests evenly on the edges. Then, use your hand to slowly spin the dryer drum. As it rotates, most of your clothes will fall directly into the basket — no arm fishing or floor-piling required. This method works best with medium-to-large laundry items like pants, towels, and hoodies, or anything heavy enough to drop cleanly into the basket. Smaller pieces, such as socks or underwear, may stick to the drum or slip past the basket, so check your dryer for anything that may have slipped through. This may not be the ideal trick if you prefer to fold clothes straight from the dryer. 

If you want to level up this hack, try placing a towel at the base of the dryer to catch any rogue lint or socks that fall out. Make sorting clean laundry a breeze by cleaning and drying every family member’s clothes separately, so the whole basket is filled with just one member’s clothes. If you still want to fold as you go, have another basket ready so you can pick up the laundry from this basket and place it into the other once it’s folded. However you customize it, this hack is low effort and possibly just clever enough to make laundry feel less like a chore. If you want to improve your laundry game even more, try to avoid these things that everyone gets wrong when doing laundry.