New Bosch washing machine | 3 hours and 50 minutes cotton cycle | WTF?

[ThisOldThang]

Our old Bosch washing machine gave up the ghost. The cotton cycle took around 90 minutes with extra rinse selected.

The new one has a 3 hour and 50 minute cycle.

How is that acceptable to anybody?

From what I've read it's all due to water efficiency. I live in Britain. We've got shit loads of water falling from the sky. This isn't an arid Greek island.

Am I unreasonable to think this is total bullshit and not what any family needs? Which morons allowed this to happen?

Absolutely do not run household appliances overnight.
House fires are often caused by dishwashers, tumble dryers and washing machines running overnight.
The best way to reduce use of resources is to stop washing so much.
It's an obsession on here to wash , wash, wash everyday.
Fuelled by , guess who, makers of washing products!

Well you all need to get out more and start listening to your customers instead of lecturing them that you know better.

I’m not interested in running cost savings, it doesn’t cost much to run a washing machine annually. I’m interested in time and energy savings - mine - not electricity.

I mean, we obviously literally have and do do this.

Do you genuinely think we’re idiots who don’t realise that working mothers are the main users?
This is literally our full time jobs to think about these things!

The whole reason a ‘quick wash’ cycle exists is to cater for people in these circumstances who need to get a load done in a shorter time.

I’m simply pointing out that when you choose to use that cycle it uses 30-60% more energy depending on model, which means it costs you 30-60% more, it doesn’t break down stains, oils or sweat as well, it removes less bacteria and allergens and it increases wear and tear of your clothes.

By all means - use quick wash every time, no-one is stopping you but we can’t change the way the material world works so a quick wash cycle is always going to have these issues and an eco-wash cycle is always going to take time.

Okay, cool. So we gave you the quick wash setting for that. And presumably you use it, so what have we missed?

There is a setting that people who don’t care about climate change or cost can use every time - quick wash.

What’s your point?

Several loads of washing a day - and that is part of the issue, isn't it? This idea that if your child changes out of school uniform into a t-shirt at 4pm and changes again into pyjamas at 7.30pm, that the t-shirt they have worn for 3 and half hours is "dirty" and needs to be washed. Or washing towels after each use, new pair of pyjamas daily, bedding washed twice a week etc etc etc.

And don't get me started on all the shite marketed at people like scent boosters, fabric conditioner, laundry sanitiser.

Would love to know what people think the benefit is of Beko, Bosch and the rest of them lying about how much energy their machines use.

Oh FGS!!!
All this nonsense trying to make consumers read women feel guilty about doing their bloody washing!

Absolutely 💯

Well think about it a bit harder then. You have a thread of women telling you they don’t want 3 hour + cycles and you’re lecturing them you know better..

As I said above quick wash cycles are often too quick - on my Bosch it’s 15 mins. It needs to be flexible so you can choose a quick wash for 15, 30, 45, 60 mins, And I need a soak cycle, so I’m not putting things in bowls. And fewer interminably long cycles that never get used.

I always set mine to the temperature I want and then use a timer for 40 minutes approx and then turn off and put back onto rinse and spin. I have been doing this for the duration of owning this machine which must be 13 years old now.

In fact there are, what, probably ten or twelve settings you can use and by the time you add in that you can probably (depending on model) also vary your spin speed, whether you have a pre-wash, an extra rinse/spin cycle and temperature outside of the standard settings the average washing machine has just about as much flexibility as you can build into it.

Theres something like 5,000 different combinations between the standard settings and these independent dials.

No-one forces anyone to use the Eco mode. I’m simply explaining the benefits of it vs a quick wash. If you don’t care about those benefits, I’m not coming to your house and taking the quick wash option away.

Good grief.

You’ve missed my comments on quick wash.

Well think about it a bit harder then. You have a thread of women telling you they don’t want 3 hour + cycles and you’re lecturing them you know better..

I'm quite happy with a 3 hours plus cycle because that's not the only option. Have just put it on - mixed load, 40c, 1hr 19 mins. As @wheresmymojo says there are options within that setting - quick/standard/eco, 40c, 30c, 20c, cold. Spin speed selection.

If there aren't enough options on the washing machine then you need to get a smart one. You can tweak the settings on the app to suit you

There’s not really tons of water falling from the sky. Our climate is getting drier and drier. Coupled with the fact that our population has increased but we’ve not invested in new reservoirs etc.

it’s a long cycle if you put it on in the morning and want to hang it out whilst it’s dark. So the best solution is to put it on a few hours delay last thing at night.

I know old habits die hard but you gotta try to roll with the times. As stated above a lot of research goes into these cycles.

Lucky you, my shortest is 1 hr 48, The there’s 2 hrs, 2 hr 20 and 3 hrs 20.

Don’t have a quick wash function other than short wash

Why should I have to buy a new washing machine and add yet another app to my phone to achieve basic functionality that used to be standard in previous machines I’ve had,

So you bought the wrong machine for your needs then?

It's not more efficient because it heats the water slowly - as said that makes no difference.

It's more efficient because heating water is the most energy intensive process in the wash cycle, so if you reduce the amount of water used, you reduce the energy needed massively.

However, less water means longer periods of soaking and agitation are needed in order to get the clothes as clean. The longer cycles really do use less though - if you have a smart meter or one of those plug things that measures energy use this is really clear to see. It surprised me because I was also sceptical, assuming that spinning a big heavy load of washing would use much more electricity than heating up some water, but apparently not.

There is often a button somewhere in the cycle options, where the buttons are to select things like spin speed, water temp, add rinse etc, which will speed up the cycle using more water (and therefore power) but less time. This should not reduce the load capacity - check the manual. If you want to reduce energy use on a shorter cycle, choose a lower temperature. Often a lower temp shortened cycle is less energy intensive than a higher temp long cycle.

Using a designated "quick wash" will often give you poor cleaning results as those are meant for smaller loads and/or less dirty clothing.

Personally I don't mind a long cycle, it's not like it makes a difference to me unless I need to put several loads through in one day or the noise will be disturbing. I just stick it on and let it do its thing. Doesn't make much of a difference if it takes 1 hour or 4.

I agree the apps are pointless. The app on mine doesn't even let you change anything. You can download new cycles but only one at a time, and it will overwrite the rinse + spin cycle - which, WTF. Why wouldn't it override something more niche, like sportswear or duvets?? I didn't even bother to reinstall it when I got a new phone.

To be fair, it's not exactly easy to check these things out before purchase. The details of which cycles are offered and how long they are are never displayed on the websites. Sometimes you can download the manuals from the manufacturer's website but it's a huge PITA to do this and they don't always have all cycles listed anyway. They aren't usually plugged in in the shop for you to cycle through the options and see what is offered. Or they can tell that the water isn't plumbed in/are waiting to weigh the load so they don't display times anyway. The EU energy sheet only gives certain details. I found it really difficult to find out actually useful information about different models last time I bought a washing machine, there is lots of marketing fluff about what new features each model has, none of which are usually of any interest for the practical use of the machine.

I can see the PP's point because the cycles she's mentioned used to be much more standard on every machine.

You've clearly bought the wrong washing machine for your needs then

I don’t watch the washing machine but I can’t concentrate on tv or a book when it’s on its final spin

I use the multi fabric option for pretty much everything and just alter the temp. It's about 1.5 hours.

I disagree with your assessment.

I think the conclusions of those tests was to use lots of water and agitation, but they've been overruled by politicians dictating energy and water usage. Do you really think that all the scientists and engineers in the 1980's and 1990's were too stupid to design a machine with the optimum washing characteristics?

Manufactures now need to obey the rules by providing an 'eco wash' that is measured and rated for power consumption and water usage. The only considerations are energy and water. Cleaning performance is secondary.

I want the best cleaning performance in the shortest amount of time and that's what manufacturers used to provide.

Yes they provide an eco wash. You are not obliged to use it

This is why I am sitting at ex's using his machine.

Need a new one and it's too difficult to work out which machine I need for a short cycle. Live in a flat so the damn thing needs to be off by 9.30. You just can't fit in a long wash in the evening.