Using the blue cloth to grip the broom shaft, Vickers dipped the tail twigs into the bucket and gave the solution a swirl, counter-clockwise first, counting with each pass. After the 7th turn he paused and held the broom twigs submerged glancing at his watch and waited before turning the broom the opposite direction and counting each turn again. After the 7th pass the Ravenclaw waited for another 2 minutes before raising the broom and let the water drip off as much as it could into the bucket.