AIBU to ask if anyone uses the eco washing cycle

I don't because eco is a 30-40 wash and I wash lots of items that say wash at 30 and I don't want to damage them.

Fortunately I have an elderly but wonderful AEG machine that doesn't do 3 hour plus cycles. I definitely wouldn't want my clothes floating around in murky water for several hours either, even if I had the option.
I use mainly 40 sometimes 50 or 30 degrees and every load lasts between 20 mins and 1.30. I often reduce washing times if there's a rare dry day in winter to get as much out on the line as possible. I rarely use a tumble dryer.

Use it all the time. 30 mins. Job done. Cheaper too

I used the eco cycle a few times but my clothes smell horrible and not fresh after they've been in a eco wash though, so I'm back to a minimal iron short cycle.
I do however use the eco cycle for the dishwasher with no adverse effects

I do but usually on a timer so it's on overnight or while I'm out.

Yes, I put it on to finish as I’m getting in from work. I have solar panels so it is more economic to do it during the day whilst I’m at work.

I only use the Eco setting, it takes 4 hours. I'd feel guilty to waste resources only to appease my own impatience, so I don't.

Batteries for solar panels are really expensive, we don't have one either. I work from home so its no bother me running the dishwasher / washing machine during daylight hours. A young child also means we usually eat really early in an evening so most of the cooking gets done in daylight too. I think in a few years the battery technology will improve / become more widely used and so the cost will come down. I'll look into it in a few years.

We also didn't have room in our loft for the tank required for solar heating (low pitched roof on a bungalow) so couldn't have that.

We get a quarterly payment back from the energy company for what we put back into the grid. Its not a huge amount but it does make a difference.

I never use it. Don’t use it on dishwasher either.

I use the eco mode for the dishwasher where possible - over three hours but does a fine job cleaning everything.

No, we don't have storage or heating, but I check the weather so I know when we'll be getting enough current to run the washer more or less for free. Extra electricity goes back to the net, but around us the net has capacity problems so they don't pay much anymore to encourage people to use the electricity instead.

When you say it runs off the solar panels - surely the energy from your panels is stored so you can use it anytime? Or if you have solar water heating, then your washer needs a hot water intake - a rare thing these days.

I use it with the timer so it runs off the solar panels, starting at lunch time and then it's done when I get in from work. My machine tells my phone how much water and electricity it uses each time and it's definitely eco compared to the other settings. You just need more patience

Hi 👋 me!!
Every single load is an eco wash 3 hours!
I put it on delay end and it's ready when I get up. If I'm doing 2 in the same day it goes on as soon as the 1st load is done which is 7am

Delay start/ delay end is the key!

we also have a brand new washer well
new this year. I find anything overly wet smells like fish tanks. I’m fully aware this is my nose that’s the issue but so I don’t soak soak things unless needed.

This doesn’t just stand for clothes either. If I walk by a glass of water that’s been sat for say an hour it smells like fish tank to me.

I have two modes of smelling wet. Nice wet and fish tank smell 😅

It's brand new. Soaking is being described in the same way further up the thread - please stop singling me out 😳

Does your washing machine need attention, being wet and then rinsed with clean water and spin dry shouldnt make clothes smell.

I used to but the appliance engineer (when fixing an issue) told me it doesn't rinse the machine as well or has a lower temp & this was leading to a damp smell. I have up using it after that

My eco cycle is 20° for 1hr 36! My fastest cycle is 14mins at 30°.
my question though is how on earth are you doing 4 loads a day? Is that every day? If so, that’s probably a lot of unnecessary washing anyway.

I just think things only need soaking if there is some bad stain on the garment. I also don't think they smell as nice if soaked

I don't have the time to wait that long for a load. I don't have it on while asleep or out of the house due to the fire risk (reinforced by the safety warnings in the manual).

I should have avoided this thread. I'm with your MIL @Giddykiddy and have been using the quick wash 30°C settings for a decade. A couple of loads go into the dryer together so its not on for 5 or 6 hours. All done in one day a week.

Not anymore! My cottons eco is 3hrs 25mins 😑

I don’t use the eco setting as I don’t have it on overnight and don’t have three hours to wait to put the next load in.
Most used: 15 minute cycle for teens once-worn items.
The Febreze, air and return to wardrobe cycle.
30 minute cycle for jeans and hoodies.
I too am a minger-tea towels in the same load with undies today(in a laundry bag, I’m not an animal).

Always use Eco, l also turn the washing temperature down to 20c. I set both dishwasher and washing machine to come on overnight. It’s all done when I get up in the morning. Each wash costs between 5p and 6p a wash according to my Octopus app.

Always. But it always goes on overnight so no time pressure

same with dishwasher