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Original poster

Fast wash on washing machine?

35 replies

fairgame84 · 02/10/2022 12:47

Will this save money AND clean the clothes properly?

The fast wash reduces the normal wash from 2hr10 to 1hr. Theres also a 30min and 15min fast wash but I feel they might not clean properly.

There's an eco wash as well which I've started using which takes 2hr20.

Not sure which is the best for energy usage.

OP posts:
VerbenaGirl · 02/10/2022 12:53

I’ve recently been looking into this, and it’s frustrating that there isn’t much clear info - as it’s all slanted by marketing. From what I can work out, the quick washes aren’t as efficient as they can only clean a smaller load - so you would need to do more washes overall. Full loads are more economical. The eco setting uses less energy by not heating or moving as much - so needs longer to get the washing clean.

girlmom21 · 02/10/2022 12:55

Fast washes don't clean properly IME.

Singleandproud · 02/10/2022 12:58

Fast washes are great if you need a couple of items clean NOW ie you've realised the children don't have clean PE kit for the morning. It won't do a proper clean on a dull wash.

Eco settings take longer, spin slower or fewer times, use less water and clean using a low temperature setting.

Don't fill the machine chocka block to try and use less wash cycles as the clothes will never get clean they need to be able to move.

Original poster
fairgame84 · 02/10/2022 13:07

Ah I thought that might be the case with fast washes just being for the times I've forgotten something.
I'll stick to the eco setting. I've definitely noticed it spins less as the washer isn't trying to escape across the kitchen!

OP posts:
MidnightMeltdown · 02/10/2022 13:08

I read somewhere that fast washes can sometimes use more energy as more water is needed to clean the clothes

glamourousindierockandroll · 02/10/2022 13:11

I also just learned that my quick wash isn't the most economical, as I had assumed. The eco wash in my machine is around 3 hours which is fine by me because I usually have it on a timer to finish by 7am each morning.

I only use the fast wash now if i've gotten behind and need to do a few washes on the same day to catch up.

snowgirl1 · 02/10/2022 13:11

I wish washing machine manufacturers explained a bit more why a longer wash is more eco than a shorter wash. I think lots of people probably think shorter = less energy, but as PP has said that's not necessarily the case if the washing machine has to move the drum more to get clothes clean in shorter wash. Even though it feels counter-intuitive, I assume that the manufacturers have looked into which wash is more eco and that it will either save water and electricity, so even though it's longer I always use the eco wash.

Original poster
fairgame84 · 02/10/2022 13:15

@snowgirl1 I agree. That's why I've always used a normal wash because the eco wash is the same temp and takes longer so it didn't seem to make sense. It's only since I read a post on here that explained why it was better that I've started using it.

OP posts:
nannybeach · 02/10/2022 13:17

I use a fast wash cold water cycle,it does get the wash clean. Obviously if it's kids white school shirts and socks, they get a pre soak,and often a scrub,GDs blazer is maroon and bleeds on the shirt collars . It's not heat that cleans it's agitation. You don't wash your hands in boiling water to remove dirt or bacteria. Surely everyone has at some point forget to add the detergent,and the items came out perfectly clean.

Thinkingblonde · 02/10/2022 13:54

snowgirl1 · 02/10/2022 13:11

I wish washing machine manufacturers explained a bit more why a longer wash is more eco than a shorter wash. I think lots of people probably think shorter = less energy, but as PP has said that's not necessarily the case if the washing machine has to move the drum more to get clothes clean in shorter wash. Even though it feels counter-intuitive, I assume that the manufacturers have looked into which wash is more eco and that it will either save water and electricity, so even though it's longer I always use the eco wash.

The instructions on my washing machine states that eco washes take longer because a lot of the time the load is inactive, it’s in effect soaking the load and letting the enzymes in the detergent do the bulk of the work, unlike the quicker wash programmes. The shorter ones use more water, are more active yet with a smaller load.

thepurplewhisperer · 02/10/2022 14:36

The eco setting is longer but the cycle uses less energy as it agitates and soaks rather that furiously washing laundry on a fast cycle.

Pootle40 · 02/10/2022 15:03

For normal day to day washing, I only ever do 30 minutes, sometimes 20 minutes. Unless you are spending your days in mud or profusely sweating I don't know why people think they need to put their clothes in a washing machine for 90 minute! I only do bed sheets in a 1 hour cycle, otherwise it's never used !

Cynderella · 02/10/2022 16:15

My half hour 40deg wash uses .35kwh, a fraction more than the cheapest programme. I use it all the time although I do whites on a 60deg normal wash. I have cut back on this and it's no longer every whites wash. We WFH and don't do sport etc - I don't feel our clothes etc need a long wash to get clean.

C4tastrophe · 02/10/2022 16:16

Pootle40 · 02/10/2022 15:03

For normal day to day washing, I only ever do 30 minutes, sometimes 20 minutes. Unless you are spending your days in mud or profusely sweating I don't know why people think they need to put their clothes in a washing machine for 90 minute! I only do bed sheets in a 1 hour cycle, otherwise it's never used !

Same here. 15 min cycle for 70% of stuff, 30 min for everything else bar the bedding.

ContSalw · 02/10/2022 16:34

Eco setting is definitely the cheapest. I tried it out last winter. It takes longer, so more organisation needed.
I'm very chaotic, so tend to use the mixed load 40 degree wash on eco. It takes 1hr 8 mins so not too bad.

needastrongoneagain · 02/10/2022 17:29

I use the quick wash feature a lot. Most of our clothes only need freshening up anyway. I can get two loads done and out on the line before leaving for work. I'm making the assumption that two loads of washing line dried rather than tumble dried negates the extra energy used via the quick wash!

GiantKitten · 02/10/2022 18:13

I have a 10-yr-old Bosch and do most washing at 30 on the mixed load setting, which takes under an hour (though I generally add an extra rinse, which is 10 more mins but no heat).
Everything comes out pretty clean 🙂
The other cycles all seem to take at least 2h30. It’s too long!

Bytrgrewd · 02/10/2022 18:21

Just bought a secondhand Bosch for £50. It has speed perfect and eco perfect modes - googled and apparently the 40 degree eco mode uses 66% less energy than a normal 40 degree cycle

TimeForMeToF1y · 02/10/2022 18:26

Pootle40 · 02/10/2022 15:03

For normal day to day washing, I only ever do 30 minutes, sometimes 20 minutes. Unless you are spending your days in mud or profusely sweating I don't know why people think they need to put their clothes in a washing machine for 90 minute! I only do bed sheets in a 1 hour cycle, otherwise it's never used !

You're wrongly assuming that the length of the cyclei s in some way related to the amount of washing being done. It's simply doing it in a more energy/water efficient way. It's not like too much washing is going on

Croque · 02/10/2022 18:30

Bytrgrewd · 02/10/2022 18:21

Just bought a secondhand Bosch for £50. It has speed perfect and eco perfect modes - googled and apparently the 40 degree eco mode uses 66% less energy than a normal 40 degree cycle

My Bosch has those functions. I use the fast wash because I am impatient but I know it is not great. Is the 40 degree eco the cheapest cycle to run out of them all?

MeanMrMustardSeed · 02/10/2022 18:31

Pootle40 · 02/10/2022 15:03

For normal day to day washing, I only ever do 30 minutes, sometimes 20 minutes. Unless you are spending your days in mud or profusely sweating I don't know why people think they need to put their clothes in a washing machine for 90 minute! I only do bed sheets in a 1 hour cycle, otherwise it's never used !

Of course you can do this, but your machine will use more water and much more energy on the heating and moving of the water to do the job in a shorter time.

Babyitstimetomoveon · 02/10/2022 18:34

See if you can find you machine instructions online. Mine tell me the energy usage for each program

scaredoff · 02/10/2022 18:59

I've always used the fast wash cycle which is 40 mins on my machine @ 40 degrees, and never had a problem with the results. I do notice sometimes it's not as clean if I drop it to 30 degrees though.

ivykaty44 · 02/10/2022 19:05

I use the 30 minute fast wash
most of my clothes are being laundered to fresh up not due to actual dirt. So a 30degree 30 minute wash is sufficient.

towels and bedding go on a 60 degree wash

tbe best thing for cleaning is line drying, the sunlight is a natural sterilisation method and the wind 💨 gets rid of lingering odours

its also free and with an average load of washing now costing £1.30 for an hour in the dryer that’s £474 for a load per day

Bytrgrewd · 02/10/2022 19:13

Croque · 02/10/2022 18:30

My Bosch has those functions. I use the fast wash because I am impatient but I know it is not great. Is the 40 degree eco the cheapest cycle to run out of them all?

Show quote history

thats a good question actually. I don’t know. It states it’s cheaper than the average 40 degree cycle but I have no idea if other cycles are cheaper!