1 I spent 1 hours finding the answer for this question

2 In spite of the fact that they are short,they still love playing basketball

3 My mother used to wash clothes by hand last year, but now she no longer does it 

1.It takes me 1 hour to find the answer for this question

->I spent 1 hours finding the answer for this question.

2.Although they are short,they still love playing basketball

->In spite of being short/ their shortness, they still love playing basketball

3.My mother washed clothes by hand last year,but now she no longer does it ( using "used to")

--> My mother used to wash clothes by hand last year, but now she no longer does it