You know how it is you're scrolling through TikTok at 11 PM, and suddenly someone's claiming they can "clean" jeans by just shoving them in the freezer. Or that a simple towel can cut your drying time in half.
Look, I'm as skeptical as anyone, but curiosity got the better of me. So I spent a weekend testing five of the most popular laundry hacks floating around Singapore TikTok. Some surprised me. Others... well, let's just say my favorite shirt almost didn't make it.
Here's what actually happened when I put these viral "life hacks" to the test.
1. Freezing your jeans to 'clean' them
The claim: Stick your jeans in the freezer overnight instead of washing them. Supposedly kills bacteria, removes odors, and keeps the denim looking fresh.
What I found: This might work if you live in Arizona, but in Singapore? Forget about it. My jeans came out of the freezer covered in condensation basically damp and cold. The smell I was trying to get rid of? Still there, just with a bonus musty undertone.
Turns out bacteria doesn't actually die at normal freezer temperatures anyway. Who knew? (Probably everyone except me and whoever started this trend.)
Better idea: Just hang your jeans up after wearing them. In shade, obviously our sun will fade anything. And honestly, you don't need to wash jeans as often as you think.
2. Using a towel in the dryer (or out of it) to speed up drying
The claim: Throw a dry towel in with your wet laundry to speed up drying time.
What I found: I was ready to call BS on this one, but it actually worked. I tested it with a load of cotton t-shirts and shaved about 10 minutes off the drying time. The towel soaks up extra moisture early in the cycle.
Just don’t go overboard I tried tossing in two towels once, and it backfired. Everything took longer because airflow got choked, especially in those compact dryers you find in most HDB flats.
What you can do instead: For individual items especially delicates or anything air-dried try the burrito method. Lay the wet garment flat on a dry towel, roll it up tight like a burrito, then press or gently wring it. The towel pulls out a surprising amount of moisture and cuts air-drying time way down.
3. Using shampoo as a stain remover
The claim: Dab some shampoo (preferably clear or baby shampoo) on stains like makeup or oil spills.
What I found: This actually worked on fresh, light stains. I tested it on a foundation smudge on my collar and it came right out. But when I tried it on an older curry stain? Not a chance. And don't even think about using the fancy purple shampoo or anything with moisturizers learned that lesson the hard way when my white shirt ended up with purple streaks.
It's decent for emergencies, but don't expect miracles.
4. Soaking clothes in vinegar overnight for deep cleaning
The claim: Soak clothes in vinegar overnight to remove detergent buildup, brighten whites, and eliminate odors.
What I found: This one made me nervous from the start, and for good reason. In our humidity, leaving anything wet for hours is asking for mildew trouble. I tried it on some old towels that had that musty gym-towel smell, and while they did come out fresher, one of my moisture-wicking shirts got weird discoloration along the seams.
The vinegar itself does work for removing buildup, but overnight soaks in Singapore weather? Risky business. If you want to try this, keep it short—like 30 minutes max. And never, ever mix vinegar with bleach, no matter what some TikTok says.
5. Adding Baking Soda to Brighten Whites
The claim: Add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your regular wash to make white clothes brighter.
What I found: Honestly, I’m on the fence about this one. I think my shirts looked a little brighter and smelled fresher but it was subtle. It’s not a miracle fix for yellowing or long-term stains, but as a low-risk, low-cost boost for routine washes? Could be worth a shot.
At the very least, it won’t harm your clothes and it might help a little.
Final thoughts: What TikTok gets right (and wrong) about laundry
Here's the thing about TikTok laundry advice it's hit or miss, and a lot of it assumes you're living somewhere with consistent temperatures and low humidity. Singapore's weather throws a wrench into half these hacks.
The ones that worked for me were simple and made sense: the towel trick, baking soda for a gentle boost, and shampoo for quick stain treatment. The dramatic stuff like freezing clothes or overnight soaks? Not worth the risk.
I'm all for trying new things, but maybe test these hacks on clothes you wouldn't mind losing first. Because trust me, explaining to your partner why their favorite shirt now has mystery stains is not a conversation you want to have.
What worked best: Towel in the dryer, baking soda for whites, shampoo on light stains.
What I'll avoid: Freezing clothes and overnight vinegar soaks.
Sometimes the old-fashioned way really is the best way. Who would have thought?
Your Personal Laundryman,
Presto Drycleaners