# Quickest way to dry wet fabric you're wearing. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420 "2009-08-05T15:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/1 "2009-08-05T15:48:04Z")
So you just spilled something on your 100% cotton polo and got back from the restroom removing the stain in the sink. You now have a 7" wet spot on your shirt. So returning to your desk do you- A) Sit forward so your shirt hangs loosely allowing air to move on both sides of the spot. or B) Sit back so one side is exposed to the air but the otherside is pressed against your body so it is heated slightly from the warmth given off by your body. Same for wet jeans. Sit in them so they press against your skin or stand in them so they hang loosely? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/2 "2009-08-05T15:51:59Z")
IME you want your body heat to aid evaporation, so one side against your body. Sorry, no hard data to support this. Having a hot-air hand dryer in the bathroom is a plus. Lacking that, blotting as much water up with paper towels as possible (ideally, removing the shirt to do so, but may not be desirable in an office bathroom). Is this one of those “need answer fast” situations? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/3 "2009-08-05T16:01:01Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Is this one of those “need answer fast” situations? 😉 damned morning coffee (grumble grumble) ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/4 "2009-08-05T16:09:10Z")
Pour isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the wet spot and wring it out. It will evaporate much faster than the water. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/5 "2009-08-05T16:48:33Z")
I would disagree that body heat helps if that means keeping it in direct contact with your body. the 30 degree difference won’t mitigate the difference in evaporative effects by doubling the surface area exposed tot he element most likely to carry water away from the shirt (air). The best option, of course, is to take a 15 minute break and drive around the parking lot of your building at about 90mph, holding the shirt out your window. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/6 "2009-08-05T18:39:49Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Pour isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the wet spot and wring it out. It will evaporate much faster than the water. Then go stand by the folks on their smoke break, it’ll evaporate REALLY fast 😃 I have a little desk fan in my office, I’ve come back from a rainy day walk a few times and had soaking wet jeans - pat dry with a towel to get as much moisture off as I can, then crank up the fan and aim it at my pants, that seems to help. ---
**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/7 "2009-08-05T18:56:21Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Pour isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the wet spot and wring it out. It will evaporate much faster than the water. This has been a fairly reliable way for me in the past, but you have to be careful about flammability. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/8 "2009-08-06T03:17:24Z")
At the office? Take everything off (except your socks and left shoe), and run up and down the halls making Scottish-accented Daffy Duck noises at the top of your lungs while the spots dry. He was a quiet man. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/9 "2009-08-06T05:27:36Z")
Go for a skydiving break. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/10 "2009-08-06T14:52:20Z")
> [@groman](#): > > This has been a fairly reliable way for me in the past, but you have to be careful about flammability. Wouldn’t this wrinkle the ever loving crap out of your clothes? ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quickest-way-to-dry-wet-fabric-youre-wearing/505420/11 "2009-08-06T15:49:52Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Pour isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the wet spot and wring it out. It will evaporate much faster than the water. Seriously?😕 Wouldn’t that leave a discernible ‘water’ ring in the fabric until you could wash it properly?