An internet household hack suggests that tossing one or two clean, empty plastic bottles with tightly secured caps into the washing machine along with clothes can help improve laundry results, reduce wrinkles, and save money. While not a scientifically proven method, proponents claim the movement of the bottles inside the rotating drum creates extra movement between fabrics.

The claimed benefits of using plastic bottles in the wash include helping to reduce the tangling of large items like bed sheets and hoodies, improving water and detergent circulation through more even shifting of laundry, and reducing creases by preventing bunching. Additionally, the moving bottles may help bulky items like comforters and jackets fluff and wash more evenly, while offering an eco-friendly way to reuse sturdy plastic bottles before recycling them.

Whether this trick actually works depends on variables like machine size, laundry amount, fabric types, wash cycles, and bottle condition, with some people noticing little difference while others find it helpful for bulky loads. Safety precautions for trying the hack include using only clean, undamaged, and tightly sealed bottles with tightly screwed caps, avoiding overloading, stopping the cycle if excessive banging occurs, and following manufacturer instructions.

For those looking for better alternatives, many washing machines already feature built-in designs to reduce tangling, and specially designed dryer balls can be used during drying to separate fabrics and improve airflow safely.