30 minute wash cycle - yay or nay?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

Very boring I know!

Our washing machine has a 30 minute option, at 30C. This is what I use for 90% of the washing. DH washes everything on the "normal" programmes which I think is a waste of time and energy. He thinks the "quick wash" options are for things that have barely been worn. I think it's for everything except towels and heavily soiled items.

Does anyone else use the 30 minute/quick wash programme as their default?

I do most stuff on a 20 min 30 degree wash and bedding on an hour wash at 60. If we had little kids with dirty clothes or jobs where we got dirty we'd wash longer but as it is it's fine.

30 min quick wash for gym kit (without fabric softener).

Eco Wash (3 hrs at 40, 50 or 60 depending on the load etc) for everything else. I put it on the timer to be finished when I get up at 5.30am.

Definitely check your manual. I have a 10kg LG washing machine.

the quick wash is only supposed to go up to 2kg!!!!

I use the eco setting wherever possible. The longer cycles work much better than the shorter ones if you're washing at a lower temperature, because they spend longer soaking.

I use the delay timer so I can hang up first thing in the morning, at lunchtime or when I get home.

I also love the cold delicates cycle for saving me from handwashing.

Quick wash used occasionally, in extremis.

It also takes more energy to heat the water quickly versus slowly.

It's not necessarily correct that the ECO cycles are the most economical. If your ECO cycle is called something like ECO Cotton 40 / 60 then they are energy saving compared to your standard Cotton 40/60 programmes but not necessarily compared to other programmes. My quick wash cycle uses significantly less electricity and a similar amount of water as my ECO programmes. I tend to use a 45 minute setting and turn it down to 20 degrees unless I'm washing towels / sheets which I do at 40.

Mine has a “wash and wear “ setting that takes 40 mins.
Must have some fucking heat generated in the drying.

I’m not brave enough to try it.

😁😁

I do use the eco cycle but set to 30. It washes just as well as 40 because I use the right low temp detergent at 20-30 (it does work at 60 as well) and I add napisan to most washes which works at 30. Only heating water to 30 and using the eco long wash settings save water and money, which adds up.

It takes ages for a wash but I use the timer so the wash ends when it suits me to hang it out when wfh at lunchtime or first thing in the morning if a non work day.

I still do some things at 60 (toddler bedding, towels, cloths, teatowels etc. And every gets a hot wash if anyone is Ill. We have an immune suppressed child and thier consultant confirmed this is fine as long as using low temp detergent as it is as effective at washing.

40 isn't really better at killing germs than 30 but a lot of standard detergent are designed to wash at 40+ so won't work well at lower temps. You do need to check the box but it means I can also.use this detergents a hand wash while away from home, which is useful too.

We do a 60 wash a couple of times a month and a tub clean periodically. We're in a soft water area which helps to preserve the machine too.

I use the hour programme at either 30C or 40C for most things.

I always use my machine's quick wash (60 mins cycle) plus the 'extra rinse' option at 40 degrees for most washes (60 deg for towels/bedding). I assumed it would be more economical but I'm rethinking this now!!

Washing for 1 hour at 30C uses less electricity than washing for 3 hours at 30C.

Yeah your DH is right. Issues with a quick wash are:

• it uses more energy
• it uses more water
• only good for a half load
• doesn't clean as well

I do one 40 degree load a week for whites/ knickers etc, the rest is done on a 30 degree quick load

My cousin does that. She always has a slight smell of baby puke around her but apparantly can't that herself. I still don't know how to tell her that she stinks.

Disadvantages with an eco wash is, it takes three fucking hours and I just like to get the laundry done and out of the way not take all day over it.

When the energy prices went up the myth that the quick wash was cheaper was debunked for most if not all machines. Pls above have explained why

You can carry on using it but now you know it's more expensive and not as good a getting things clean as a normal programme

That's not actually true.

The one hour wash is more intensive than the longer one.

I don't really get this, it's not like you're actually doing the washing yourself.

Does your machine have a delay timer?

That's not actually true.

The one hour wash is more intensive than the longer one.

85% of the energy used is in heating the water, so if you have to heat the water for three hours instead of one, it uses more energy. The movement aspect is only 15% of the energy use.

I use the 30 minute wash for extra dirty or muddy stuff. Then add the ordinary clothes of the same colour and do a normal wash again.

You don't get it?

I did three loads of washing in three hours in my machine today.

If I used the three hour cycle to do that I'd be still hanging washing this evening. I don't want to hang/fold washing in the evening as I can't get it dry on the washing line outside, and I prefer to do more interesting things with my evening than fold laundry.

God yes!!!! That's why I use mixed colours cuz it's the shortest full load 40 one😂

This is what I always thought - keeping the water heated to 30 or 40 for 3 hours must surely use more electricity than keeping it heated for one hour?

I use my 40 min 40 degree wash for pretty much everything. Sometimes 50 degrees for things such as sportswear but I have never had a problem with clothes not being clean and have hardly ever used a different/longer wash.

I use the quick 30⁰ wash for smaller loads that are lightly dirty.

My washing machine suggests a load limit for the quick washes. A full load wouldn't get properly clean on the quick wash