To hate the eco wash on washing machines?

[listsandbudgets]

I don't mind them OVER NIGHT... but today it's sunny, I'm at home and I've got a pile of washing that looks close to hitting the ceiling so decided to get a few loads done... out on the line and back in the cupboard

I've accidentally put on the ecowash - at 11am and the damned thing is still going and going. It's a nearly 4 hour cycle so not going to finish for at least another hour.

I understand it's cheaper but not all of us have enough time to wait 4 flipping hours just to get a load done... Watching all the lovely sunshine while my washing keeps spinning about in the wet..

Grumble grumble!!

I actually looked this up in my manual once, and my 4 hour eco cycle used more electricity, but less water than my 59 minute one. I'm not on a water meter.

As a result, I do all my washing on 40deg for 59 minutes with a 1600 spin. Then I dry it on the line or on the airer.

In theory. But as per many of the replies above, the longer eco settings don't actually wash as clean.
My machine shows how much energy each program uses with a bar scale, it's handy to choose between settings. It's a bit bizarre though, a 40⁰C wash uses more energy than a 60⁰C wash for example. They've also removed the pre wash, so now for really dirty clothes I need to do 2 washes, which is longer and presumably uses more energy and water.

It's almost as if the people creating the tech don't actually know how people use a washing machine.
Also the longer programs encourage overnight use which the fire brigade advises against.

I have a 40 degree quick wash - 20 mins - it’s the best.

I don’t understand the eco wash, is it meant to save energy or water? Better for my bank balance or the environment?
same with the dishwasher; how can taking 5 hours to do the dishes be environmentally friendly?!

I only used the economy wash on mine once.
It also has a 45 and a 30 min wash.
I use the 30 min, my ds uses the 45.

@SkyBloo there was a report about power / water saving showers the other week. It showed that people don't tend to use more water in a power shower as it's doing the job efficiently. Feeble little showers take longer to rinse and clean and waste just as much water. (Which is exactly what I'd suspected like you).

This is what I do if I put on the wrong program. Id google the model for an override if it doesn't have anything obvious.

It’s not the eco-wash cycle’s fault - it’s yours! The only problem here is moaning about a choice you accidentally made yourself.

My cheeky machine is pre-set to Eco when I switch it on. You have to "opt out" if you don’t want that cycle. Grrrr

My Hoover machine does a mixed load (40 degrees) in 1hr 10 mins. Theres also a 15, 30 and 45 minute rapid wash.

I’ve never used the Eco wash, but I’ve just looked and it takes 2hrs 57 minutes.

Too long for me.

My ECO cycle takes 2 hr 39 mins for 9 KG. I use it occasionally. My machine has so many different cycles and options. I mostly use cottons, delicates, silks, sport and powerwash.

I never use ECO on the dishwasher. I’ve been told by many sales people always set dishwasher to AUTO and it will last longer.

I don’t use eco or the short washes. Eco takes far too long and I’d never leave my washing machine on overnight. Short washes depend on having very little in the machine and don’t use as much water, so it’s not good enough for a full machine

I don't like the eco-wash on mine, I swear it doesn't clean as well as the standard synthetics/cottons cycles, maybe due to the small amount of water used?

I swear if someone made a washing machine with just three cycles - hot, 40 and cold, each taking about an hour, plus a button to vary the speed of the spin, they'd clean up. Who needs a washing machine with about 20 pointless programs. Does anyone here ever use more that 3-4? Yes, I do own a Miele that's more complex than a NASA control desk...

I prefer the eco wash on mine, it gets things really clean and it must save a few pence. 4.5 hours though, so takes forethought which I'm not very good at. So I do often use the quick washes when I don't want to miss a good drying day.

Our eco wash is about 2.5hrs, never had problems with clothes not being clean. A standard cotton wash is not far off 2hrs iirc. Lots of quick wash settings, hand wash, wool wash, denim wash.

Agree. I never use it. If things aren't dirty then I often use the 15/30 minutes quick wash option.

@Solocup
Eco cycles on machines use less water & less energy because they soak rather than agitate

some are good & some are crap.

quick washes agitate a lot & are harder on clothes and to ME they don't feel as clean.

I'll stick to my cotton wash 40° takes about 1.5 hours. A bit long on these mid season days, but at least they're clean and not taking hooouuurs!

I'm pleasantly surprised to read this as I thought it was a fault with my machine. An eco wash always takes four hours, comes out sopping wet and smells like I washed the clothes in the toilet bowl.

If I miss dial the wash programme, I immediately turn the washing machine off, give it a minute or two to compute, then turn it back on and re-dial the correct programme. Works every time (mine is Samsung EcoBubble).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xdbx
this is about dishwashers but I guess its similar with washing machines
they found that even if you factor in the energy and resource costs of making a dishwasher, using a dishwasher is more energy efficient than washing by hand

as a pp said, its about the soaking - thats how the energy is saved
our eco cycle is only 2 hours and I find it perfectly fine, the only issue is the spin cycle is not as fast so I have to do an extra spin (or I am using energy drying!)

I use the eco wash because it's another tiny thing I can do for the environment. In mine it uses less water and less energy (someone asked what made it eco).

I use a 40* 59 minute wash for most things . I do use the Eco wash on the dishwasher but also halve the programme time so it’s only 65 minutes .

Fortunately my AEG is too old to have eco washes. I'm dreading it giving up the ghost as I've no idea what I'll replace it with. It has variable everything so my washing takes as long as I want it to.

When I read the manual I found that my ‘eco’ wash uses more energy than the 30 minute one.

If the gov genuinely gave a crap about the environment we would have solar panels on every new building. Companies would be penalised for creating tech that fail after a few years are scrapped (including boilers) and that cannot be repaired.
The old boilers lasted 20/25 years now they are expected to last 10-15. More money for the manufacturers, crap for consumers and the environment.

I’ve never used the eco cycle but you can just switch it off and change cycle no? I have a Bosch so can limit time if stuff isn’t super dirty - might be 3 hours but can press a button and wash is then 1.20hr which means I may actually get it dry today if it doesn’t bloody rain - Scotland forecast is dodgy some day rain some not poised all day to run outside and bring in washing