I’m Putting a Salad Spinner in My Bathroom, and It’s So Smart

I hate when things smell musty in my bathroom and always worry about mold or mildew growing where I can’t see it. I wring out towels as much as I can and drape them to air-dry, but sometimes that still doesn’t feel like enough.

Recently, I discovered a surprisingly effective trick for making sure small items get as dry as possible in the bathroom: using a salad spinner. Yes, the same one that usually sits in your kitchen!

Keeping a small salad spinner in your bathroom might sound odd at first, but it’s more useful than you may think. Many self-care and shower essentials can benefit from having excess water removed quickly and easily. A quick spin over the sink, tub, or shower helps wick away moisture so items dry faster, stay fresher, and last longer.

The salad spinner itself is easy to clean in the dishwasher, and when you’re done using it, you can simply store it away in your under-sink cabinet.

• Makeup sponges: These are magnets for germs, and leaving them damp doesn’t do your skin any favors. After cleaning, pop them in the salad spinner to remove excess moisture and keep mold at bay.
• Reusable makeup pads: These dry more evenly (and keep their shape longer) when spun instead of tossed in the dryer. A quick whirl helps maintain durability and prevents them from getting misshapen.
• Shower body puffs and loofahs: These are notorious for harboring bacteria, especially in humid bathrooms. Spinning them dry right after a shower helps extend their freshness.
• Small face cloths: Whether they’re freshly washed or just too damp to toss in the laundry basket, face cloths dry more quickly with a spin. Just avoid cramming too many in at once so air can circulate.
• Hair scrunchies: These rarely make it into the wash even though they collect oils, dirt, and hair products. A soak and a spin leaves them fresh, clean, and dry without losing elasticity.