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?

SmallGreen and Oldraver. Even before we went to solar power with electrical backup for winter (rarely used), we just ran the hot water system. Must be extremely frustrating in UK winters on laundry day, especially when you have the drying problem as well.

guess this are the eco cycles. ours takes 3.5 hours for 40 degree in eco. I use it a lot but there are normal and super fast settings as well if I need to get it done quickly.

you just organise youself around it. no big deal.

It is a big deal to organise yourself around laundry when the intersection of all the other things you have to organise yourself around starts confining your life in annoying ways. A four hour wash would do that.

I have a hot point which does any temp for 15 mins or 30 mins
Only for a half load and lightly soiled but this is great for delicates and stuff I only wear once
Means the machine is on almost everyday but always on top of things
4 hours is too long for even heavily soiled stuff

I can only imagine cold fill only washing machines came in when people starting getting combi boilers. You won't have a tank of hot water to draw on so it doesn't really matter which machine does the water heating.

Plus it means that bio detergents will be more effective - anything over about 50 kills the cleaning enzymes but with cold fill only they get a chance to work while the machine heats the water.

My washer-dryer just took 4 hours to do a load on 'quick wash'

Your machine is taking the piss out of you, Sorka!

sorka 4 hours for wash&dry and folding and putting away?

Yep. I can't believe how long it takes.