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 don't have a smart meter, how does it isolate one appliance? Do you have to switch everything else off while you do the comparison washes or is there a way to do it without that?

@VisionsOfSplendour no, we're not over accurate about it, but we know roughly how much we use normally ( if only fridge freezer/laptop/radio are on till lunch time it says about £1.50. Oven on for an hour whacks it up - literally watch the numbers go up. But if washing machine is on for a long wash the numbers are higher than the short wash (which we use at 30c - the long wash goes on at 40c) The tumble dryer uses surprisingly little - numbers go up by less than £1 for a full load (70min approx)

You can also get smart plugs which measure usage for a single device.

Yes, I do it for all washes except for towels. It works and keeps the clothes in better condition for longer. Good for the environment, for your pocket, for your clothes, for your time!

It's definitely not better for the environment, your pocket or your clothes. You should have a read of the full thread.

I have a Miele that has an express wash function with 20 and 30 minute options. It also runs a cold option . I use it for everything bar heavily soiled items such as the tea towel and kitchen cloths which get pulverised at 60, simultaneously, giving the machine its hygiene wash.

Am I being really stupid?!

Everyone keeps mentioning the 'eco' wash. Mine doesn't seem to have one?

As a serial 'fast wash 60•' user (with temp set to 40• and 'extra rise' applied), I'm not sure which programme I should be using for day to day bits. I don't separate clothes based on material e.g cotton vs synthetics, just by lights and darks with colour catching sheets.

Can someone suggest what programme I should be using?! 🤔

the 20 min quick cycle is for rinsing swimsuits after a beach day or washing the lunch bags or the sportskit after a particularly sweaty run.
it's basically 2 rinses. nothing more.

I don't mind the eco cycles. have a big drum so don't need to do many loads. washing line is in the attic so not weather dependent.

how old is the machine?

as far as I know most eco cycles came about 10-15 years ago due to eu legislation.

what cycles are most economical should be in the manual.
there should be an overview that gives the different cycles, load volume, water and electricity usage.

I'm with you but my quick wash goes up to 40 and takes 26 minutes. Pretty much do every wash on that setting.

So because of this thread I weighed my wash this morning. I have a 7kg Bosch machine and checked the weight limit for my 40 degree, hour long wash. Weight limit is 4kg.
So dug out the full load I was about to put on (I could just about wave my hand in the top of the drum, which is what I've always done to check it's not too full) and weighed it with my luggage scales (I have a large mesh bag that I could put it in).
It came up bang on 4kg so just to say if you're worried that a full machine means your overloading you're probably not. This was a standard clothes wash, mix of fabric types and weights.

Thanks for all your replies everyone - I wasn't sure I'd get any!

So, as a result of all of the responses, I downloaded the WM manual. It doesn't say anything about maximum loads on a quick cycle. However, the machine does have a weighing facility and will tell you if the load is too heavy for a particular programme, and that hasn't happened to me.

I've had a think about when and how we wash stuff. DH and I both WFH so can put Washing on and hang it out whenever. I put towels on this morning, on a cottons wash, and chose the eco wash. It's going to take 4 hours! But I'll still get them on the line to dry this afternoon.

I go sea swimming most days so will still use the quick cycle for my swim stuff to get rid of the salt water. But otherwise will try to use the normal programmes and choose the eco option.

I have a one hour cycle that I use for everything. I couldn’t actually tell you what temperature it is, it doesn’t say.

Theres also a 15 min cycle that I use sometimes but it didn’t spin as well so clothes take longer in the tumble drier so it’s not worth it.

Couldn’t tell you a weight limit either. I stuff everything in, don’t separate, stuff it until it’s full.

I don’t give that much thought to laundry.

Thanks, that's pretty useful.

My machine also lets me know if it's overloaded. It usually when I try to wash the bath mat.

I only use the quick wash in an emergency. I use the eco setting for everything.

Quick wash normally uses more energy as it has to use agitation more than soaking.