Do you use all the various programs available on your dishwasher / washing machine etc?

[TheKitchenWitch]

Chatting with some friends the other day and mentioned that the "low iron" setting on the washing machine really did work and was definitely worth using. Much astonishment that I used anything other than the standard setting, and even more incredulity when I admitted I also use different settings on the dishwasher depending on what I put in it.

Am I the only one? :D

I only ever use the economy setting on the dishwasher, but we probably only use it once a week now. I only use the economy 30 degrees setting on the washer, too. There are only 2 of us here now. Different with a family, I think,

I only use ‘Auto’ on the dishwasher as advised by the Miele rep at sales.

I also have a Miele washing machine and use nearly all the different cycles depending on what I am washing.

Two settings only here. Fast 30 minute wash and spin or 60degree cycle. Extra spin if needed. That's it for washing.

Dishwasher fast wash 50 minutes for everyday stuff. Longer cycle for serious stuff!

I think we find what works for us and stick to it in general. No kids or sweaty dirty occupations here either, so the above works.

Sorry OP but I actually LOVE how dull and boring your thread topic is 😂. I mean it! There’s so much shouting and ranting and misery and high emotion everywhere I look these days, it’s a welcome escape to have some mundanity now and then.

FYI I only ever use the eco programme on the dishwasher, almost all the programmes and add-ons for the washing machine and tumble dryer.

I use 2 almost entirely, occasionally a 3rd on the washing machine. No idea why there are so many

I only use the eco program on the dishwasher except very occasionally a pan wash run.

For the washing machine, various programs depending what the load is, of course. Eco for bedding and towels; wool program for wool and also fleeces; the Outdoor program for washing and re proofing walking coat; shirt program if it's shirts and a few other bits; dark program for dark wash. There are a few I've never used.

I don't own dishwasher, but on washing machine, yes. Not on tumble dryer though. I play with settings only when I don't want hot air drying (for fitted sheets for example).

Washing machine is either low iron or 30 min quick wash. Occasionally use a hot wash for cotton but it takes 4 hours so it's not really practical. I ignore the other 10 options.

Dishwasher is split between eco or fast wash. Don't bother with auto or intense very often.

We've deliberately only replaced our appliances with basic models of the brand we prefer.
We he really only use two maybe three of the dozens of functions ands settings.

We really don't need en extra turbo boost of high octane bismuth crystals to remove stains from silk hankies.

Eco program on the dishwasher.

Several programs on the washing machine, depending on what the load is.

Happy to provide some very boring entertainment 😂

Interesting that the washing machine programs tend to get used more than dishwasher.

What about (hang on to your hat, @Suemademedoit !) the microwave? I use the defrost and grill functions quite regularly, whereas DS1 and DH will use the Start/Quick button for absolutely everything.

Interesting that the washing machine programs tend to get used more than dishwasher.

Fabrics are a lot more varied and with different requirements than 'dishes'.

In addition to the different program I've also got a range of detergents - non bio, colour and normal bio, plus tech wash for outdoor coats.

I faff about with my washing machine cycles all the time I sometimes want a different spin or maybe a 30 but on a particular cycle. Dishwasher only has 2 settings so that's that 😀

I can vary the temperature, spin speed and time of wash so tend to stick to one programme but then change things according to the load. My main one is 30°, 50 minutes, 1400 spin but some things like towels and bedding get washed at a hotter temperature.

I must try the low iron setting!

As I only use my dishwasher when it’s full, approx every 5 days as I live alone, I use a programme that is set at hot and has a drying function at the end. The eco setting takes over three hours so I can’t be bothered to wait that long!

My tumble dryer does have a few settings but having tried them all, the only thing that seems to change is how long it takes so I tend to just select the 60 minute setting and if it’s not quite dry, put it on again for 10 more minutes. It’s got a large drum and holds a lot so I only need to use it once a week. I don’t dry clothes indoors in the winter as I get a lot of condensation on the windows if I do and having had mould problems in the past, I prefer to tumble dry rather than have to clean up mould.

My microwave has various options but I really only need a basic one as I only vary the length of time rather than any of the settings.

Gosh I think I sound such a boring person, I’m not honestly, I like to get boring jobs done quickly to give me for time for my hobbies so stick to tried and tested methods!

59 minute cycle at 30 degrees for 99% of washes. If any wool included I take spin down to 400 then remove the woolen items and respin the rest of the load. Never used any other settings.

Dishwasher only has 3 options. Mostly use the eco, occasionally the short one if a busy day. Extra hot only on a cleaning cycle.

Tumble dryer is crazy. I don't understand any of the settings. I use small load or cottons and none of the others.

Washing machine I use 40 degree eco, or 40 degree time saver plus stain removal (no idea what this does but it sounds good) or 60 degree standard if I need to wash anything really gross. 95 degree to clean the machine. Very occasionally hand wash. Or 30 degree wash to do stuff like car seat/buggy fabrics. DS1 uses the 30 min 3kg quick wash.

Dishwasher, DH and DS use the eco one that it automatically goes onto. I use auto 45-65 as I heard that is best at balancing cleaning needs and energy saving. Again the extra hot to clean the machine. The express cycle is not really needed because we can just wash something by hand if we need it urgently. I use the dishwasher for volume, not speed.

Tumble dryer only ever use cupboard dry, dry+ because nothing else gets everything properly dry, including the eco and express modes, which is a shame. It might be because I mix fabrics. There's a freshen up option that's supposed to refresh something that has been in a cupboard and smells stale, but it does nothing.

It has settings that make the clothes come out damp so you can iron them 🤣🤣🤣 I cannot for the life of me understand why anybody would want this setting. But I am not domestically inclined.

Nobody understands our microwave, it has a +30 seconds button and we just press that however many times.

The engineers who design these products must despair if they ever read these threads

You know, what I want on the tumble dryer is an option to select at what humidity it stops. It has a humidity sensor so it can supposedly do this but no direct control so the only way to influence it is to choose a specific mode.

I only ever use the eco setting on the dishwasher, but I use a few on the washing machine depending what I’m washing.

I need my glasses to be able to read the different settings, but can never be arsed to go and find them so I usually press the same buttons/point the knob in the same place every time

I use 3 different programs on the washing machine , but predominantly 1 of them and on the dishwasher I use 2 programs but predominantly 1 of them . Tumble dryer I use allergy + because I can guarantee that things will be dry , occasionally I stick it on a 20 minute timed .

Nobody understands our microwave, it has a +30 seconds button and we just press that however many times.

Same here

Theres loads of different options on our microwave, but none of us can work them out. We just press the 30 second button a million times

In part, in my case at least, that’s because my dishwasher has an ‘auto’ setting but the washing machine doesn’t. I wish it did - can’t be beyond the wit of washing machine manufactures to add a few sensors to detect colour, level of dirt and type of material!

i never use the eco setting on the washing machine- it takes too long. I use either 40 degrees or 60 degrees cotton for most things. Then press ‘reduce time ‘ as many times as I can to get to the shortest wash…usually just under 2 hours. Sometimes I use the 1 hour quick wash and dry, but not not often.

I generally only use the eco setting in the dishwasher (Bosch) although sometimes throw in a pre rinse.

The washing machine is a different story, I use nearly all the programmes at various times (Miele, lots of programmes) but NEVER the quick wash (an engineer told me that the quick settings on washers and dishwashers make heating element work really hard and it will wear out super quick - the dishwasher at work lasted four months of using quick wash, element replaced and quick wash banned and has been going for a few years now).

I do turn the temp down on a lot of the programmes though.

Dishwasher - normally eco mode but when we do a roast I put the chef program on. I also run it on this once a month empty for a clean.
Washing machine - I would say I just 80% of the programs.
Microwave - the defrost setting never works for me, I just put it on strengh and time and that's it. When we had a combi one, I used it a lot more.

In addition to the different program I've also got a range of detergents - non bio, colour and normal bio, plus tech wash for outdoor coats.

I used to have soap flakes for wool, bio and non bio, and a packet of washing powder that protects colours. Until one of the Kurdish ladies from the cleaning firm that I hired to blitz my house (including the cupboard under the sink) decided to free up extra space in the cupboard by emptying all the different washing powders into the biggest half empty box, and came to me beaming, holding the torn up boxes and miming a question of which was the paper recycling bin.

I think of her every time I get down to a new, different coloured layer in the big box. I can't be cross about it though, I don't think I'd be very good at deciphering the Kurdish alphabet and differentiating between the properties of very similar looking detergents.