That “empty plastic bottle in the washing machine” trick is one of those viral hacks that sounds clever but is usually misunderstood.
What people claim it does
Some posts say it:
- Reduces tangling of clothes
- Improves agitation
- Acts like a “manual scrubber” inside the drum
- Saves detergent or water (this part is not true)
What actually happens
In most modern machines (especially front-load models like those from LG Electronics or Samsung):
- A plastic bottle just floats and bounces around randomly
- It does not scrub clothes effectively
- It can actually:
- Reduce washing efficiency
- Get trapped in rubber seals or drum holes
- Cause noise or minor damage over time
Why people think it “works”
Sometimes, if clothes are very tangled, any extra movement in the drum might seem helpful—but the effect is accidental, not a real cleaning improvement.
Better alternatives
If the goal is better washing performance:
- Don’t overload the machine
- Use proper wash cycles (delicates, heavy, etc.)
- Use laundry bags for small items
- Add dryer balls (these are designed for this purpose)
Bottom line
It’s not really a high-IQ hack—just a viral idea that looks smarter than it is. Modern washing machines are already engineered to optimize movement inside the drum.
If you want, I can explain other “viral laundry hacks” that are actually useful vs fake.
