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

[TheExMotherInLaw]

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?

[DownstairsMixUp]

My washing machine takes ages on a normal 40 wash to, I'd say about 1 hour 40 minutes? I use quick wash all the time and they always come out clean (even 16 month old ds clothes do) so I don't bother with the other settings now.

[Theoretician]

I haven't compared carefully, but I think most programs on my current washer-dryer take hours longer than the previous machine, for a wash and dry. Seriously, 4 hours or more is normal. I think it is trying to reach some standard of cleanliness and dryness that's of no interest to me. I always use the shortest, lowest-temperature cycle, and press the speedwash button as well, regardless of what I'm supposed to for the material in question. I no longer use the dryer. (So the same as WanneBeAMummy, except it takes 20 minutes in my case.)

[BertieBotts]

My new one is like this too. What it actually does, I've realised, is leaves the washing to soak for long periods in between which allows it to spend less time actually washing. It doesn't spin in the soaking period either because that uses the most power.

There's also a "time saver" button which I can press to reduce the time and it can condense the same program right down to an hour. There's a 20 min 3kg wash setting, too.

[BertieBotts]

I didn't understand it until somebody explained to me that the soaking and the letting the enzymes in the powder do the work allows the machine to get the clothes as clean or cleaner with far less actual spinning and tumbling, which saves power. That's how the newer machines are A+++ but take so long, they aren't doing anything for most of that time.

[Alicewasinwonderland]

that sounds awful, and completely unpractical.

I switch on the washing machine when I switch on the kettle first thing in the morning, and put the clothes on the line most days before leaving.

My Bosch takes around 1 hour for a 40 wash. I couldn't live with 4 hours! (It can't run at night too noisy). I am not sure the quick wash on mine rinse well enough, which is not great for the babies.

I know what to look for the day it dies.

[TheExMotherInLaw]

DH's jeans and Tshirts need stain removing blast the hell out of them wash - mucky gribbler!

[Sallystyle]

My 90 degree wash is about 3 hours 50 mins

It is ridiculous and it's quite a new machine as well.

[Sallystyle]

A 40 wash takes 3 hours! There is a 30 minute quick wash but nothing comes out that clean.

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

My new machine takes about 3 hours on a 40 degree wash. I think it's a Eco thing.

lurks on thread hoping someone knowledgable will explain why it takes forever

[BrianButterfield]

Mine takes about 2 hours for a normal 40 wash. It has 30 min quick wash at 40 but that's rubbish for anything with food on (which is 90% of my wash). I suppose it is about letting the powder do the work. Things often smell a little when they're dried after a quick wash, too - it's only OK for things like work clothes that aren't really very dirty.

[ijustwannadance]

My hoover washer dryer is 3 hours 27 minutes on 40 deg wash but it adjusts throughout wash and depends on weight. Only use it once a week for a dark wash or if doing the beding.
I do maybe 3 small washes in the week using the fast wash 40 mins, 10 min high spin then 1 hour dry while weather crap.
May not be economical but much quicker when needing uniforms or work stuff.
Shortest wash is 15 mins.

[ilove]

My loads are separeated into white ( and ONLY white), darks and reds (loads of red clothes in this house), and bedding and towels. I only ever use the 60 min wash, and I use the 15 min one for teenage changed-my-mind-what-to-wear-after-ten-mins-but-it's-now-dirty annoyances, where they need a minimal freshen up not that I've ever stuck them straight back into their clean pile, oh no

[thecapitalsunited]

My 40 degree cottons wash says it takes 3h20 but after about 15 minutes it will -depending on load - decide it will only take another hour and 20ish so 1h35 in total. It works it out based on weight or how dirty the water becomes or something. I can press a button to make it quicker but if you do that it skips a rinse which makes my skin itchy. I'm more likely to add a rinse than take one away!

The Eco cycle does take ages so I never use it but yes, it just sits there for ages letting the washing powder do its work rather than smooshing all the washing about to make it go faster. Thus less power and water required.

[GingerNutRiskIt]

Mine has all the usual preset options, plus it has the option to do whatever temperature you choose, on either a 15min or 30min cycle. All mine ever goes on is a 40° 30min wash. Otherwise it would be on 24hrs a day!

[Chippednailvarnish]

My Bosch does a 40° wash in 1hr 37 and on eco setting its 1hr 47.

[Stratter5]

WTF that's ridiculous. Koala, a Samsung? Wouldn't buy anything else now, gets the laundry spotless on a Quick Wash, only use a full for the bedlinen boilwash.

[WoodleyPixie]

We brought our Bosch machine last year and a normal 40/30 wash is 2hr 35. You can put the speed button on which takes it to 1hr but unusually switch it on as I leave for work and then sort out when I get home 6hrs later. I think Eco wash is over 3hrs.

[ouryve]

The eco wash settings on my washer list that sort of time. They need to to get their AA ratings.

I never use the eco setting - everything just ends up coming out smelling stale. I just use the standard 2 hour wash or the quicker 80 minute wash, if it's not a big load.

[ouryve]

And mine is a Siemens with a 15 minute cycle, as well. I only use it as a pre-wash for nappy-leak stained clothes or for freshning up the rags I end up using every night to soak up the flood the boys leave in the bathroom. It's certainly not meant for a big 7kg wash load.

[tobysmum77]

I love my Samsung.

Yanbu at all op its a mystery to me.

[AlisonWunderland]

Are all new machines cold fill only?

Left to its own devices, mine would take all day, and I choose the "faster" option which i think drops a rinse cycle.

My first dishwasher took 30 minutes.
My current one takes 2 hours!

[TheExMotherInLaw]

All machines cold fill only.
Machine has now tripped the ringmain 3 times.
Right - what do I buy?
1600 spin speed, max £550

[MsMims]

We have a Bosch that lists normal cycles between 2-3 hours, eco cycles 3-4 hours and fast cycles take about an hour. I don't find it a problem even though the old machine was much faster. Use the fast setting if I have loads of washing to do and the eco setting when leaving things to wash overnight.

The only problem with it is the time remaining screen on the front isn't accurate - it sometimes adds additional time onto the wash. Not sure if it's a problem with my machine or just something that Bosch machines do?

[SmallGreenBouncyBall]

look in the manual. my mashine measures how dirty the water is and adds another rinse cycle (=+15 min)

[GreenTomatoJam]

Yeah - my AEG takes FOREVER both to wash and then the dryer too.

I'm sure it's very efficient, but I really miss taking something snuggly hot from the dryer - this one never gets anything much above warm.