Washing machine - Fast Wash

[bellissimiaow]

Following on from a laundry thread yesterday, what setting do you use on your washing machine if you're just doing a 'general' colours wash?

If you have a Fast Wash function does it get clothes clean enough? My Hotpoint's main settings all take ages - 3hrs plus for a some - so I've been using the Fast Wash which gets it done in an hour. Guessing this is ok for just general daily dirt? It doesn't say what temperature it washes at though.

Does anyone have any issues and if so what do you use?

Fast wash tends to be for a smaller load and uses less water so clothes may not get as clean if you use it for a full load. I'd check your manual

no
fast wash (20 min in my case) only takes 2 kg of washing and only rinses once.
it's great for rinsing the swimming kit. or lunch bags. or the mop.
but not for clothes that you actually need to get clean.

I was surprised at how long the standard wash programmes are on the machine I have now. My previous one did a standard wash in just over an hour , whereas this one takes about 2 hours. I have used the fast wash setting for smaller washes and it is fine, but for a full load I don't find it as effective. I suspect part of the reason programmes take so long now is because washing machines now are cold fill only and it takes time to heat the water, whereas my old machine had hot and cold fill, so the water was at the right temperature straight away.
I would definitely check your manual though - my fast wash default temperature is 60°c and I always have to lower it to 40°c when I use it.

There's several variables. Some machines only allow a smaller load for a fast wash, others use more energy by heating faster or agitating more. Machine quality might also be a factor. Some will clean better than others.

Plus you have to account for the Mumsnet 'wash everything after one wear so many things aren't actually dirty' factor, where the fast wash might get lightly worn outer clothes clean, but won't do so for anything heavily soiled.

I have a daily wash on mine which takes 5kg and takes 1 hour, it's perfect. Sometimes I'll do a cotton wash which takes 2 hours 30 give or take if things are really mucky or its bedding.

Probably best that you have to try it yourself and see how it works for your circumstances.

But even if you think it looks clean, we now have Mrs Hinch doing adverts that say that apparently clean washing is actually soiled with loads of 'invisible dirt' that can be solved by using whatever product she's being paid to promote .

I have to say that I don't mind the 3 hour eco wash anymore.
our machine takes an 8 kg load and I can wash 3sets of single bedding in one go.

I can put the wash on in the morning and hang up during lunch break when working from home. but even if I were to put the wash on after back from work that would still be fine.

and it really shows on the electricity and water bill.

Fast wash knackers the bearings and wears out your machine. The 2/3 hour wash uses less water and less pressure on moving parts as it spins slower. Load the machine at night, set the timer to finish in the morning so it's ready to hang up when you wake up.

Mine washes ok on the quick wash but doesn't spin as well so the clothes are wetter coming out, so take longer to dry which defeats the point a bit! I use it for things like school shirts, never jeans or towels or the like.

Could you not do an extra spin if your clothes are still too wet

I only use 1hr wash really, it’s fine.
Shorter than that (30min) doesn’t really clean things, just rinses them.

I use a cottons wash for almost everything, 30 or 40 degrees with biological washing detergent. I wash cloth nappies at 60 on an intensive cottons wash.
I don't think non bio cleans very well, I am not originally from the UK and I had never seen it before moving here.

Thanks everyone, i think I'll try using the longer setting but putting it on at night so it's ready first thing.

Synthetics wash at 60 on super fast setting. Takes 55 mins. Zanussi aquafill. Washes perfectly.

Mine has a mixed load, whatever that means!? 40 degrees 1.57 mins v precise 😂

But it does have delay timer so I put it in the morning and set it to finish when I get home

It also has a white wash that takes 3 bloody hours 😳