2 1/2 hour washing machine program

[Duckeggbluesy]

All the machines I've ever had have a 1 hour easy care program that I use for general washing that can be adjusted to 30/40/60 degrees wash. I've always used this cycle for my clothes and the kids clothes unless something is extra dirty or has special washing instructions and the clothes always come out clean, smell nice and last as long I would expect them to.

DP insists on using a 2 1/2 hour cotton wash for all clothes (yep, plenty of people say I should be grateful DP does his share of the washing) and the 1 hour wash isn't good enough. With school uniform, muddy sports kits and general laundry 2 1/2 hour washes it means the washing machine is in use for most of the weekend and still needs using during the week to catch up.

Aibu using the 1 hour easy care wash as standard or am I being lazy and the 2 1/2 hour washes are something that most people use? Wondering if I've been using the washing machine wrong for most of my adult life!

I do 45 mins at 40 mostly. Maybe a 2 hour at 40 here and there if I think things are really dirty.

We use the 3.5 hour eco cycle as its more efficient and cheaper on both electricity and water, unless we have lots to do in tight timescale in which case we use the more expensive 60 minute wash. Tend to put the machine on first thing in the morning, and it's out and on the line or airer by 10.30am.

We're generally quite organised and don't really let the washing build up, so rarely need to waste energy with the 60 minute wash. Only really after getting back from holiday, or if the washing machine has been out of action for a few days for some reason.

Mine has a 'quicker was' button which halves the was to just over an hour. I only use the full 2+ hour if I've still got stuff in my dry buddy I'm drying.

I find my daily wash one hour setting just doesn't get the kids clothes clean unfortunately

Look at your smart meters before and after a short wash and an eco long wash.

The long eco wash should use less energy as water heats slowly and it agitates less.

It’s like driving on motorway at 55 rather than 85. Yes, 55 takes much longer but driving for longer doesn’t cost more, but less as it’s a more efficient speed.

Yes to getting in habit of using time delay. Put a wash on over night. If you need to do another, do immediately you get up. That’s 2 done before lunch. If you’re needing to do lots more, spread more evenly through week.

It’s really about adjusting your habits rather than it’s impossible to manage without doing 1hr washes. When you realise it’s cheaper you’re more incentivised….unless you don’t care about money or environ at all. Honestly it’s not v hard to adjust the way you wash.

And then, if you v occasionally need to do a quick wash, just do it. But save for v occasionally not default option.

I do everything on the 1 hour wash mostly on a 30 but bedding and towels go on a hot cycle.

I've got a 59 minute cycle on my machine and use it for everything, just change the temp (if I remember). Nothing that goes in the machine is 'dirty' - none of the mud, grass stains or blood that are so popular in the washing powder/liquid adverts - so can't see the point in doing long washes.

clothes are done on a quick wash 1hour,
bedding/towels on eco wash,
woollens on a woollen wash

I checked the guide in the washing machine instruction booklet and the 2.5hr eco wash uses less energy than the shorter washes (on my machine anyway). If i'm not pushed for time I will use the eco setting whenever possible

Our machine has a 40* , 59 minute cycle and practically everything gets washed on that . I’d only use a longer cycle for really muddy / sweaty stuff

I use 30 min or 45 min wash for 99% of laundry.

All true but OP’s husband could easily be doing “worst of both worlds” - my ordinary cotton cycle is over two hours and it’s not at all eco, it’s just long. Unless he’s actually choosing an eco program it’s very possible he’s running a long cycle (which if it’s cottons will also involve a lot of agitation and wear on clothes too) but not actually saving any energy.

OP tell him to read the machine manual - I very much doubt it recommends a cotton cycle for sportswear for example.

2.5hrs isn't madness at all. It's cheaper (uses less water and electricity).
Put it on delay, it's finished when we get up, and gets hung up to dry during the day.

I never understand all this waiting around for the washing that people talk about on here. Just put it on, do whatever you need to do (whether that's for an hour or 2.5hrs) then deal with it when it's finished.

Of course sometimes things are needed in a hurry, so the 20-40 min programmes are a godsend, but I never understand the angst about washing programmes needing to be an hour or less for most things.

I use 1 hour or 30 min cycles. I want it washed and on the line to dry.

Only in the heatwave did I use longer cycles as clothes were drying quickly 24/7.

I use the 60 min wash. Who can be arsed with hours and hours with the washing machine going?

I have 15 min cycle that I sometimes use too but the spin isn’t great on that so it’s all really wet, so I don’t use it much.

I use whichever option most suits the load, so long cotton cycle for nappies, towels and bedding, wool cycle for jumpers, Denim for the rare times we wash our jeans, and synthetic for most other stuff. Synthetic cycle is about 2. 5 hrs long but I don't just sit there waiting for it to finish! Just put it on and go about my day then unload when convenient.

We have a 14 min wash I never use. I can also reduce the time for most other cycles but I never do. I can do the necessary amount of laundry without.

We don't wash most of our our clothes after every wear. Only underwear and T-shirts.

I have a Bosch which has a button that cuts the programmes in half. I've never used the full 2 hour programme.

1 hour at 30/40 or 60 (cottons) is what i use most.

I do a cotton wash for nearly everything. My boys are always caked in mud and food. My husbands clothes still smell if I use a quick wash and mine do in summer. I use 40 for most things and then a 60degree white wash with pre rinse and extra rinse for nappies. Washing machine is on average 3 times a day. I have 2 school age kids and a baby

I use 30c for clothes ,And 40c long wash for towels and sheets.Also use Dettol Cleanser in wash.Seems fine to me

I’ve actually realised just how lazy I am from this thread.

I don’t separate anything, it all goes in together on the 60 min cycle, regardless of the colour or what its made of.

I’ll see myself out.

Surely it is entirely dependent on what you are washing and how dirty it is.

The easy care setting is (surprise surprise!) for easy care fabrics (polyester). Fabrics that are quite hydrophobic and can take a lot of agitation.

The cottons setting is designed for low-thread count cottons. Higher temperature, more soaking.

Eco setting, less water, more soaking, lower temperature, cheaper all round.

Also, how many loads of washing are you doing if you can’t fit them all in vet a weekend!?!

Me too, clothes come out clean and fresh smelling.

Standard synthetic wash is 2hrs 15 mins... but I press the quick button once or twice to either get it to 1hr 30 or 53 mins depending on what it is!

Soiled clothing (toilet training toddler) is the only thing that sticks at the 2hr 15!

We do same also, I could never wait for the 2 1/2 hour wash.

Energy efficient programmes take longer, because there are greater periods of time where the clothing is standing still in the water to soak, rather than the drum spinning and tumbling the clothes to agitate them.

It's the trade off between agitating the clothes (shorter wash cycle using more energy) and soaking (longer wash cycle using less energy).

I only use the short cycle in an emergency. There's only 3 of us in the house so one load a day on the economy cycle is fine.