New Bosch washing machine | 3 hours and 50 minutes cotton cycle | WTF?

I'll take that risk!

That's the same as my Hisense washing machine cotton cycle! 3hr 50mins! By the time you tumble dry the towels it's taken up the best part of a day!

As a side note, I've always understood it is not safe to leave washing machines working overnight or when out of the house. Fire hazard without anyone on hand to notice as early as possible if things go wrong.

I agree OP. I think this is a relatively new thing, maybe started 4 or so years ago?
I've had 2 Bosch washing machines in my adult life, first one was inherited no idea how old it was. They lasted years. Years I'm telling you. Perfect everything.
A year ago I needed a replacement and only wanted Bosch based on my experience for reliability, ease of use and everything else.
It's absolutely pants! The quality is shit, most cycles take ages. But I do use a button which can shorten some cycles. The thing is it is constantly adjusting the finish time. There is no option to turn off the beep at the end which really annoys me. And the door is really stupid, or there is some sensor somewhere which means 50% of the time it doesn't start without me having to open the door, move the stuff around inside the machine the close the door properly again. I've had no luck in solving this mystery but it's beyond irritating.
Basically the whole washing experience starts with a whole load of irritation. Then a let down on finishing time estimates. £900 for a load of nonsense.
I don't like washing, why make it so annoying. Previous machines were perfect. My installer said the manufacturing standards have really gone down with Bosch and the machines are manufactured everywhere else but in Germany.
I love German stuff, I have so much German stuff because it works properly , reliable and are cleverly designed, well manufactured and superb neat details and everything works perfectly. They weren't cheap plus importing quite a lot of things. From the taps on all our sinks to some cleverly designed furniture to cars. In my imagination Germans must live in a very efficient world where nothing is annoying, everything works and nothing breaks down.
But Standards have definitely slipped with Bosch.

I can select the spin speed separately on my washer. Are you sure you aren't able to do this?

This annoys me so much. I had to buy a new washing machine around 6 months ago, I looked for one with a quick wash, large wash size and fast spin. I want to be able to do all of these things together! The fastest spin is only on the cotton wash that takes 3+ hours, not even the spin only goes that fast. Some of the special washes can only take a half load and the 15 minute wash only has a 400 spin speed.

I've never used the rapid cycle, except for once or twice in emergencies. Three hours is doable - you just learn to work around it. I don't want to use any more water than I have to

You don't have to watch it for the 3 hours. Most people do other stuff in that rime.

My new machine, I only hear it if I'm in the same room, and it's still quiet. It's a great improvement on its predecessor in that sense, but it was 18 years old when it died.

Also not everyone has the luxury of running a washing machine at night. If live in accommodation where it’s all one floor, it’s difficult.
Even at my parents’ previous home, the utility room was below their bedroom and DF awoke on the spin cycle

I got a Bosch machine recently and although it says 3hr37 when I start a standard load, it weighs it and shortens the time quite a lot if it’s not full. Full is 10kg and I’m often doing smaller loads than that (mainly as it still seems so wrong to me to have such a huge basket of washing all going in!). If I do have a big load it takes the full time but often it’s no more than about 2 hours

Also, at the risk of sounding stupid, what are you all doing while the washing is on! Presumably not sitting there watching it.

Put it on in the morning or overnight. Or use the fast setting.

One annoying thing about my washer is that the buttons are touch sensitive. A few weeks ago I was in process of lowering the blind above my washer whilst it had a load in. Heard a beep and looked at the washer and noticed I caught a button and the time left increased from 40 mins to 2 hours. Knew which button I caught but it wouldn’t deselect. I was annoyed.

I use my Bosch eco cycle all the time. 3 hours 17 minutes. It’s not as if you have to stand over it.

A Siemens engineer who visited advised me against using the eco setting and instead advised a 40C wash with additional water. This takes the cycle down to 1hour and 14 mins instead of almost 3 hours. I add anti-bacterial in at the same time as detergent. Only towels get the full treatment and I never use softener.

Do you have Mixed Load? The instructions suggest that for most things - it’s an hour at 30/40

Well most of them have multiple options. My cotton one is 2.5hrs but I have a short button which reduces to an hour. A 20 min express cycle etc etc.
The point is if you're watching the pennies on the electric front, these eco cycles are brilliant

I have a Bosch Vario Perfect which is about 7 years old.

There is a speed perfect button when selected a 30c 1400 wash goes from 2h 28 to an hour. I do have a 15 min 30c program but only does 1200 max.

Who has time to do a wash cycle of 3 hours plus? My kitchen is one room lounge/diner/kitchen and I want to limit the noises.

This isn't an arid Greek island.

I'm in Yorkshire, and while we have had some rain recently our reservoirs are only just over 50% full, when at this time of year they should be over 70% full. We have had an exceptionally dry spring and summer this year and there is no sign of our hosepipe ban being lifted any time soon.

Ours is a Bosch washer and I use the 3 hour hygiene wash for towels and bedding. The rest of the time I use the one hour mixed load wash.

Like others I do the three hour plus overnight eco to save energy/cost.

Even aside from electricity our water bill has gone up by so much lately even though our use has fallen, so we're highly motivated to cut use.

I have working and tested smoke alarms for those saying about fire. I'm not sure I'd tumble dry at night.

What’s a duvet setting @Happyjoe ?
I don’t think I have that on my washing machine.
What brand do you have.

For those of you putting your washing machine, dryer and dishwasher on when you aren’t home, check your insurance in case of fire. My friend appliance caught fire but luckily was home. Was told had she not been, insurance wouldn’t have paid.

I have a baby clothes one 2h12 m. Never used-no baby. I use 2 programnes: the 40 degrees snd 60- that's it. It sounds like my dishwasher. The eco programme is the longest of all.

Yeah I was racking my brains back to physics lessons and thinking this.

Yes similar here, no way do I want each wash to last a few hours, god almighty