What happens in the fibres during spinning

Sep 20, 2026

Short answer: Spin force pushes water out through the fabric and at the same time presses the fabric into folds. The higher the speed, the more water comes out and the more creases form. The right setting is a balance between quick drying and tidy clothes.

What spinning actually is

Spinning is the step in the wash programme where the drum turns very fast to remove water. Clothes are pressed against the drum wall, and water is flung out through the small holes. It is a purely mechanical process with no heat. Even so, it affects both the fibres and how your clothes look when you take them out.

Water is pushed outwards

The drum turns so fast that water is flung through the fabric and out through the holes. The faster it spins, the greater the force on each drop. It removes up to half the water from a bamboo sweatshirt for men. The rest stays inside the fibres and only leaves as the garment dries on a line or rack.

The fabric is pressed together

At the same time the clothes are squeezed against the drum wall, and the folds that form dry in place. The fibres are wet and pliable, and when pressed in that position they set. That is why men's most popular items come out creased at high speeds, especially if they sit in the drum after the programme ends.

The fibres wear a little too

High spin speeds wear fibres more than low ones. Clothes rub against the drum and each other, and the pull on the fabric is greater. It does not ruin the fabric, but over many washes it can leave a more worn surface and small bobbles. Soft fibres like viscose do well with gentle treatment and keep their smooth surface longer.

The right balance

Eight hundred revolutions remove enough water without heavy creasing. It is a good setting for most everyday clothes. Use it for most of the most popular items from Copenhagen Bamboo. Clothes come out damp but not dripping and can be hung to dry without being full of deep creases that need smoothing later.

Take clothes out straight away

When the programme finishes, the clothes lie pressed together in the drum. The longer they stay there, the more the folds set as the fabric starts to dry. Take them out as soon as the machine is done. Shake each item a few times and smooth it with your hands before hanging it up. That saves you the iron.

When you can skip the spin

You can skip spinning entirely, for very delicate items for example. The clothes then come out dripping wet, and drying takes many hours longer. The heavy wet fabric can also stretch in length if hung up. So lay it flat, or use a low spin speed instead as a middle ground.

A simple washing habit

Choose eight hundred revolutions for most things, do not overfill the machine so the clothes have room to move, and take them out right away. Shake them out and hang them or lay them flat. With that habit your clothes come out neat, dry in reasonable time and keep their soft surface.