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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think 4 hours is too long for a 40 degree wash?

110 replies

TheExMotherInLaw · 26/01/2016 14:49

DH is currently performing open back surgery on my washing machine, but has warned me it may be terminal, and to look for another. Having a look at some of the washers, they seem to list 195, 240 minutes for a 40 degree wash. WTF! When did it start taking that long to run a load?

OP posts:
Goingtobeawesome · 26/01/2016 14:51

That is ridiculous. My 90 degree wash doesn't take that long.

My machine is new and is great

Clothes in, I ask it how much detergent, it tells me and adjusts the baseline time. Off it goes. It adjusts the time again during the wash if necessary. Then helpfully says End on the screen when it has finished and then turns off all lights after a short time if I don't go to it.

HermioneJeanGranger · 26/01/2016 14:52

YANBU that's awful! Ours can do a 60 degree wash in an hour.

ceeveebee · 26/01/2016 14:53

Ours is like this - apparently it's about water efficiency. Is there a fast setting?

TheMouseThatRoared · 26/01/2016 14:55

Shock Yanbu!

whatevva · 26/01/2016 14:55

I have just got a new washing machine and the time is 2H39min for a 40 wash. It is only 1H39 for a 60 wash Hmm (It has 'eco' versions which take over 3H!!!!!) There are no times in my old WM instructions, and it never occurred to me that it would take longer in a new machine Hmm. Fortunately, there is a 'short wash' which I never bothered using on the old machine.

I am really not impressed.

KoalaDownUnder · 26/01/2016 14:56

Eh?!

Mine can do it in 39 minutes on Quick Wash.

ilove · 26/01/2016 14:57

I've got a Siemens which does a 40 degree wash in 15 mins, or a 1200 spin 40 or 60 in 59 mins, it's fantastic! Well worth the money

SmallGreenBouncyBall · 26/01/2016 14:58

my miele's eco 40 takes ages as well like nearly 3 hours.
stuff comes out impressively clean though.
but yes, it's to do with using less water

RumBabaPudding · 26/01/2016 14:58

My Whirlpool is on its last legs, but doing similar research I am horrified at the cycle times of the new models. I can have my washing dried and ironed within 4 hours.

Which machine do you have so we can avoid it?

Topseyt · 26/01/2016 14:59

That seems far too long.

I have a now admittedly ageing Bosch which can do one in about an hour.

mummytime · 26/01/2016 15:00

Mine has a 15 min "quick wash". Easy wash is 45 min at 40 degrees, higher temp is longer (30 degree is shorter).

starfishmummy · 26/01/2016 15:03

Good grief. If that's the case then I will need two washers. Or take up naturism, which will not be a pretty sight!!

whatevva · 26/01/2016 15:05

Mine has a 20min 'quick wash', but you can shorten the normal wash, which I will probably have to do if I want to get more than one load done!

I am also exploring the 'automatic load' option, where it magically alters the programme to fit - I have no idea how Hmm It came up with 1H29, which is better.

New washing machines are a problem - I hate the change Shock

redexpat · 26/01/2016 15:06

Yes the last 2 holiday flats we have rented have had v v long 40 cycles, but with a quick 30 and 60 option that took about half an hour.

TheWernethWife · 26/01/2016 15:07

I have a Samsung Diamond 6.0kg - quick wash is 29 mins at 30 degrees or 1hr 1min at 40 and 60 degrees, I love it.

DrivingMissLazy1 · 26/01/2016 15:07

I've often wondered why this is.
"Normal" washes take 3+ hours long. Luckily my machine has quick cycles of 29/44/59 minutes.
What's the saving water bit about then? Yes, you might save money but the leccy bill will be through the roof Confused

Pootles2010 · 26/01/2016 15:08

Ours can be that long, its the 'economy' cycle. I use it whilst i'm at work, but yes you can shorten it to 50 minutes if you want to.

NannyR · 26/01/2016 15:08

It should have a quick wash programme somewhere, but the reason for the long programmes is that it's more energy efficient to heat the water slowly and to use a smaller amount of water for a longer wash time. Not great when you have several loads a day though!

ThereIsIron · 26/01/2016 15:14

On our LG machine a quick 40 degree is 38 mins, and a normal 40 degree is 1 hr 40 ish.

DontOpenDeadInside · 26/01/2016 15:16

So do most of you put the washing on the "quick" washes? Mine takes an hour on a 40. A normal coloured cotton wash that's 120+ minutes (can't remember exactly). I thought I was being a cheap skate by using the quick wash, but don't feel as guilty if others do too.

Seriouslyffs · 26/01/2016 15:19

I'd only ever use the quick wash!
How silly though. Electricity is a much more finite resource than water, in the UK at least.

Original poster
TheExMotherInLaw · 26/01/2016 15:20

Lazarus has arisen!
The awful choice can be put off for another day - but I will need to do some serious research ready! I tend to amass laundry for a while, then have a massive sort into different temps, etc, then do about half a dozen loads in a day. That day was today - so far have one soggy, torn furry blankie. (my blankie, sob sob)

OP posts:
Leelu6 · 26/01/2016 15:24

Anything over 50 minutes for a normal wash is unreasonable, IMO.

I wash my clothes in silk cycle, takes 40 minutes.

Towels and bedding get 60 minutes in 60 degrees.

Pootles2010 · 26/01/2016 15:27

Seriously it heats the water more slowly, so less electric too! Doesn't matter to me how long it is, as its mostly overnight or whilst I'm at work.

WannaBeAMummy16 · 26/01/2016 15:28

I wash everything on my 30 @ 30 setting (30 degrees for 30 minutes). I can't be doing with checking the labels. I live on my own. It gets bunged in together. Yep, even whites go in with darks.