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?

Horace I am tentatively excited! Have just put a wash on following your tip and its says 1hr 34 mins! Just need to wait to see how long it actually takes to finish and will report back! I am a sad cow.

My 2H49 minute 40 wash goes down to 1H29 after about 7 minutes, if it is not a full load. Presumably there are timings in between, according to the load weight/absorbency.

I am finding alternatives to the long 40 cycle which are much quicker and more suitable: Denims is 1H19, wool is 39, and there is an 'automatic plus' which is a shorter 40 cycle and varies temp, washing, time, and rinses according to the load (by magic ). So, with the 'short wash' option and '20min quick wash', things are not as bad as I thought.

I still preferred my old machine but it is dead now .

Horace ah yes thats what mine does (Hotpoint). I'd had the machine 9 years ans while I knew you could alter times and such it never clicked it reduced the time.

alter the temp....

I just got a new Bosch machine and the standard 40 degree wash is 3hrs. I was a bit disappointed but I think that new machines are all more Eco friendly and wash with less water but it takes longer. It's a pain in terms of convenience though.

Recently bought a new 9 kg Samsung. It has a "daily wash" cycle which is just over 1 hour - but max weight on that is around 2 kgs I think. If I actually want to make use of the 9kg load feature then I need to use the cottons wash and then it's nearer 3 hours.
Still like it though - plays a nice little tune when it finishes then shuts up rather than the Bosch that used to "beep" repeatedly.

I do love my Samsung. I'm looking forward to them making vented tumble dryers, afaik they only do condenser ones atm.

My newish 8kg samsung has a daily wash cycle which takes 1hr 3mins at 40deg.
Love it. It has a countdown timer on it too. The longest cycle is stain removal which has the laundry sit in the water with your stain remover detergent for an hour or so before continuing the wash.

How was it, tatty?! I was a bit excited when I worked it out old and sad !

Hi Horace! It wasn't the 1h 34 stated, went on for 2h 05 but that is still half an hour shorter than usual so that's marvellous! Thank you so much for the tip, I have 4 dc so washing is a permanent battle.

Mine weighs the washing so if i have a bulky load it can take 3 hours but i put it on a quick wash mostly so an hour 30 at most

Hmmm. Mine definitely takes nearer 1hr 34 than 2 hours. Clearly it's an awkward bugger!

And 4 kids?! I have 2 and struggle to keep on top of the washing. It must be non-stop for you!

Maybe I'm overloading it ? Other posters have said their machine weighs the washing and varies the cycle accordingly. Worth a try I suppose.

Oh I liked the Samsung tune when we played with it in the shop! :) My AEG plays an increasingly more irritated sounding beep. It was half the price though.

I've just looked in the manual for mine and it says that it adjusts the time 15 minutes into the cycle.

Ours weighs the washing so that is possible. Before kids I could never imagine that I'd have enough washing lying around to overfill an 11kg machine!

I always assumed that the exact time was to do with water pressure? But I'm probably wrong

Yes water pressure does play a part. The machine will assume that at worst it will take say 10 mins to fill the machine but it might only take 2 mins. Your machine has to fill about 5 times between the wash and rinse cycles so that is potentially a lot of time saved. But it all depends on how the washing machine is programmed, it might very well be programmed to increase the estimate if it senses your water pressure is bad. Who knows. Washing machines programming is like a dark art.

I do loads on the 30 minute quick wash. Seems clean enough to me...

The problem with quick washes is that they almost always skip rinses so you can end up with a build up of detergent in your clothes. I suspect they contribute to gunky pipes too.

But with the samsung you could have the same amount of rinsing as with a longer wash and it would still be done in 1hr25 on a daily wash. As I said upthread I always add one extra, its just instinct. It washes really well also.

Washing machines programming is like a dark art.

I have had most makes but my new one is the cheapest and best I think
It's a Blomburg 8kg machine . Quick wash 14 minutes , lots of different programmes . I usually use the 39 minute cycle
Everything comes out clean

Um. So do you have to put cold water in UK washing machines and then heat the water if you want a hot wash? Seriously?

ozzie
yes, that's the european way. it's more efficient to take cold water from the mains and heat it up slowly in the mashine, than to get warm water from the heating system (unless you have solar heated water).

Ozzie yes, its fuckign irritating. And I'm sure its why the inlets above the soap drawer get black mould so quickly...I never had that on hot and cold fills