Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
thecapitalsunited · 26/01/2016 20:10

I have an AEG washer dryer and I love it. I would definitely buy an AEG again. Much better than my old ancient Bosch which took ages and didn't rinse properly.

JenEric · 26/01/2016 20:14

Mine does a 40 wash in 2 hours. It's a 7kg capacity machine though and if you put less in it goes down. I do 1-2 loads a day so it doesn't bother me. I never leave it on when I'm out though after my last washer randomly broke whilst washing and we ended up with a foot of water throughout our entire downstairs.

slightlyglitterbrained · 26/01/2016 20:18

So if you don't use bio powder then does that mean eco washes aren't going to work?

I'd rather leave something to soak first and have my washing machine actually do the washing.

lazyarse123 · 26/01/2016 20:19

Pootles2010 Can i just mention we were advised by the fire brigade (they came to do an inspection after a neighbours house fire) not to put washing machine on and go out as quite a lot of house fires are caused by washers overheating. I always used to put mine on when i went to work but now i never do.

madamginger · 26/01/2016 20:20

I have a John Lewis machine, 55minutes for a 40oC wash.

SmallGreenBouncyBall · 26/01/2016 20:22

non bio will still work, the surfactants (i.e. soap) will take away (some of) the dirt which can then be rinsed away.

catsrus · 26/01/2016 20:31

Just switched in the last 6 months from an ancient whirlpool (about 12 yrs old) to a Samsung .... Love it love it love it. Very flexible programming, I can change temp, no. of rinses, spin speed etc to suit. And there's a 15 min quick wash option. I tend to use the daily wash option and then adjust to suit the load. Typically 50-70 mins for me on a normal load.

vdbfamily · 26/01/2016 20:38

I too was perplexed by the 4 hour cycle being economy cycle. But my DH has convinced me it is best so I use the time, put it on before bed but delay start til about 4am and it is all done to hang up before work.

MuchasSmoochas · 26/01/2016 20:43

Far too long. I don't like to leave the house when I have a wash on so no way to four hours.

Maybe a bit OT but this makes me laugh

to think 4 hours is too long for a 40 degree wash?
Topseyt · 26/01/2016 20:47

Yes, all machines are cold fill only now as far as I can tell.

I think it is because they are also to be sold in countries where it is much less common to store hot water in a cylinder in the house the way we do in the UK.

Only my dishwasher has an eco programme. I never use it as it takes far too bloody long.

tobysmum77 · 26/01/2016 20:49

Blimey vdbfamily either you have a very large house or a family of deep sleepers .... At the risk of sounding like a broken record my Samsung washes a 8kg load in 55 minutes using non bio washing powder perfectly well at 40 degrees, although I do usually treat us to an extra rinse cycle (not evidence based tbh). It seems from reading this thread I managed to make the right decision as I am not the only Samsung evangelist.

My previous one was awful, clothes came out dry, washing powder on black ....

HungryHorace · 26/01/2016 20:56

We have an 11kg Hotpoint Aqualtis (or something like that!). The cycle times are quite long, but we found a 'hack' in one of the 60° cycles which, when you lower the wash temp to 40/30 the wash time can be lowered to 90/80 minutes respectively. Not speedy, but could be worse! There is a very quick cycle which is essentially for refreshing stuff, but we don't use it.

JellyTotCat · 26/01/2016 20:57

MsMims. My bosch does that too. I think it's when it hasn't managed to rinse all the suds out of the water so it does another rinse to get them out.

ouryve · 26/01/2016 20:59

Mine adds extra time if the detergent I've used has foamed up too much - often happens when I wash towels or small loads.

hookiewookie29 · 26/01/2016 21:06

I have a 'baby and toddler clothing' setting on my washer.
It takes nearly 3 hours!!!
Why???

PurpleCrazyHorse · 26/01/2016 21:15

I have a 5yo AEG Electrolux washer-dryer and it's brilliant because you can shorten (by two options) and add extra soaks etc to almost all the cycles. It makes it super customisable to the time available and I use the delay start to get it going just as I'm getting up, so I can get it on the line before DH leaves the house!

I have noticed that since purchasing a super eco dishwasher recently that the eco wash on that is 3hrs 20mins, our old dishwasher did the lot in an hour or so. However the eco setting uses a tiny amount of water and virtually no electric! I guess washing machines are going the same way.

tattychicken · 26/01/2016 21:27

HungryHorace which 60' cycle do you do that with??!! You've given me hope.

I've got the same machine and am beyond pissed off with the length of the cycles. The normal 40' wash should take 2h 5mins but invariably takes about 2 1/2 hours, drives me mad. My old machine did a normal cycle in 55mins and I miss it.

Pickitup · 26/01/2016 21:32

I have a 8kg Hoover machine.
Theres a 30 min wash ( 30 degrees) and 59 minute wash (40 degrees)

Im unreasonably happy to have this in my life :-)

Oldraver · 26/01/2016 21:37

My machine is quite old but was one of the electronic ones. The normal 60d wash takes 1.30 and a normal 40d takes 1.45. There is a 30 min fast wash but it spins at 800.

I figured only last year I could used the 60 wash but reduce the temp to 50/40/30/25 degree so reducing the time...

HungryHorace · 26/01/2016 21:37

Tatty, it's the one at about 11 o'clock on the dial! Take it down to the temp you want and then hit the reduce time button. Took me a few months to find it!

tattychicken · 26/01/2016 21:41

Thanks Horace, I'm off to investigate!

vdbfamily · 26/01/2016 21:41

tobysmum77 I really do not hear it but with the long cycles they do seem to be very long and gentle and the odd thing is that although front loading and taking a 7kg wash,you can press stop and open door at any time as it uses so little water.I think other than the final spin it is all fairly noiseless. I cannot pretend to understand it but decided tonight I need to hang the load out before bed so was able to choose a shorter cycle. The temp and length of cycle can be changed on ours so you pick a cotton eco cycle which will be 3.5 hours and then lower temp from 60 to 40 and then choose quick or super quick and time goes down accordingly.

Woodhill · 26/01/2016 21:46

Siemens one is very good, still going after 5 years. 30 for 50 mins or 40 at 80 mins or sometimes machine reduces time automatically.

MsMims · 27/01/2016 00:43

Thanks for the replies about extra washing time - good to know it isn't a fault.

Swipe left for the next trending thread