how water can defy gravity

Question

I recently soaked my sons onesie overnight in water and oxiclean. The legs and feet were sticking out of the bowl onto the counter. The next morning most of the water had traveled up and out though the legs (this bowl was not short either, it was part
Of our salad spinner.)

In: 142

Answer 1

That is the [Capillary Action](https://study.com/learn/lesson/capillary-action.html).

Essentially, the water mixture is viscous (sticky) so as soon as it takes hold somewhere it is easy for more water to flow there, and it has more (energy/force/not sure here) than gravity.