Right, who has long Bosch cycles on their machine and are they worth it?

[CaptainWarbeck]

I've got a Bosch washing machine, all good, I like it, does what it says on the tin. But the wash cycles are SO LONG! I want to use as little water and energy as possible.

So would you -

a) utilise the shorter cycles on 'quick wash' in the thought that less time has to = less energy?

or

b) use the eco option (which can be up to 4 hours!) because: 'ECO', although how this can be I don't know.

The only thing i wash in cold water are items soiled with blood.

The long cottons cycle on my Bosch is 2h 30m+ long (longer if you fiddle with temp and pre-wash settings). I tend to press the speed wash button to make the cycle 1hr long, unless the stuff is particularly soiled or the load is particularly big.

Same here nom I wonder if we have the same machine.

So if the Bosch sensor will adjust wash times anyway, why can't I just bung a load in and press WASH and it do it all for me automatically

CaptainWarbeck the sensor will only sense the weight of the load. Not how dirty it is, the colour, the fabric etc.

Captain, I have a Bosch VarioPerfect Serie4, 1400 spin.

(Just read that off the front of my machine, it isn't info that readily lives in my head)

I have a Bosch.
I never use any water saving option. Basically if you do this your clothes aren't rinsed properly. Some attempts to save energy actually do the opposite - if it's not rinsed, I'll have to put a rinse wash on, which will require re-spinning.
Just like the sensor dryer, which thinks clothes are dry when they are still wet in the seams/thicker parts of the material and switches itself off. Well, then I have to put a timed cycle on as well.
Energy saving needs to be thought through a lot better. People think energy saving emblazoned on something is good. Generally it will mean the job isn't done properly and that's how the energy got saved.

Sorry to hijack your thread op, but whilst I have lots of Bosch users all in one place can I ask if anyone else finds that the aqua plus function sometimes comes on by itself? Mine does this and it drives me mad as the clothes are then sopping wet at the end of the cycle and I have to put them through to rinse and spin again.

I have a Bosch (it is our third and will be the last). It depends what I am washing, I use the mixed cycle a lot, so just under an hour, but I do tend to use an extra rinse (not just the aqua plus) because the machine just isn't up to the job of rinsing.

I also use the longer cycles but later in the day or at night so that I can hang the washing out in the morning, whereas if I use the machine in the morning I use a shorter cycle so I can get it out of the way.

It will also depend on what I am putting in and how grubby it is.

If I put a load in with no detergent at all I find suds throughout the wash and again through the rinse.

I have also tried topping it up with water, it still leaves suds. Apparently the valve can be adjusted to take in more water and I am strongly tempted.

Sorry just realised I forgot to say, I know machines are now HE but there is no water shortage and I would rather pay a bit more on the water meter and have cleaner washing. The residue that is left in mine is not great.

Mine doesn't do that, superking

My previous LG machine used to stop and show a 'suds' warning/error on the display panel if there was too much soap to rinse. I reduced the amount of powder detergent I was using (now use 1/3 to 1/2 a scoop depending on soiling or load size). I found it stopped the suds issue and my new(er) Bosch machine doesn't have rinsing issues either. The clothes still come out looking clean & smelling fresh.

if I use as much detergent as the pack says I should for the load and water hardness, I get a foam party in the kitchen just like in the movies
I use about half a scoop (1/3 of recommended dosage)

This thread is very interesting but very confusing.
So I shouldn't use the quick wash when I just want to wash a few things separately or a few whites? This uses more energy?

I read the eco function also heats the water at the most efficient speed and saves energy that way too. Apparently heating water very quickly uses more energy. I was told by the washing machine engineer to use the aqua plus button as apparently modern machines are required to use only tiny amounts of water and this can result in poor washing/rinsing.

I have a bosch, and the cotton eco wash is amazing.. It does take a long time but cleans and fragrances clothes really well. I use shorter cycles for t shirts and shirts and things that in the recent past you would have worn for two days if light use, and its fine but every now and then I treat all my wash to. A longer one and it really is a better cleaner wash. . I do use the timer n the winter too.

Bosch have by far and away been the absolute best washing machine I've ever had..

Please please please do not wash overnight or when you are out. The biggest cause of house fires is washing machines that have been left unattended. My DH is a fireman and won't let me put the machine on unless somebody is in. This also includes tellings the DD's to come downstairs periodically if we are out just to check the machine.

I don't have a Bosch but the last time I spoke to the washing machine engineer he told me not to routinely use the quick wash as it uses more water and energy and is only recommend for a couple of items so won't wash a load properly.

I've got Bosch. I use the 70 min mixed load a lot of the time and also sometimes use the 40 min delicates or wool cycles and also the 15 min quick wash for swimming costumes or single items.

Okay I have SOLVED THE MYSTERY by embarrassingly referring to the manual.

Speed perfect = reduces time, only suitable for half a load though

Eco perfect = uses half as much energy but takes longer, water consumption doesn't change.

The mixed load and easy care washes are for half loads, and so use less energy and water. However when you scale them up to a full load, using the full 7kg cottons cycle is the most economical.

Each increase of temperature for the cycle roughly doubles the energy consumption, so if washing at higher temps (bedding etc) using the eco cycle will reduce this back down to the consumption for the temp below. E.g. 60C on eco = 40C on normal.

I've realised from reading this however that my tumble dryer is an energy guzzling beast and the washing machine is really the least of my worries.

Correct, the water won't vary between speed perfect or eco perfect (the water level is controlled by the sensors which weigh the laundry in the drum).

What the eco feature on washing machines adjusts is electricity consumption (90% of your washers electric consumption is JUST from heating the water).

So on a shorter cycle (eg "speed perfect") it has one hour to heat the water to selected temperature.

On a longer cycle "eco perfect", it has 3, sometimes 4 hours to get to that temperature.

So the 2-3kw element that washing machines have to heat faster in a shorter cycle.

So eco cycles will always be longer (as you said, 60 degrees on an eco cycle, will use the same as 40degrees on a non eco cycle, as the eco cycle has longer to get it to that

*that temperature.

I use the speed perfect button loads on the dishwasher. On the washing machine I never use the 2 hour plus cycles and mostly use one that is 40c and 1 hour 40 minutes - mixed load, I think.

But what's being said up thread is that the mixed load cycle is only for half loads? That doesn't make sense. Am confused. I should probably get the manual out

I have just got one and am really struggling with it. It doesn't;t have a dial, its a touch one . I can't read the settings easily and the normal cycle takes 3 hours. I did look at the manual which I have now lost, but felt totally confused it was so complicated. I did notice though that the shorter washes use more energy. I didn't understand why, but reading this thread I now understand. I washed a load on the shorter cycle today and it didn't seem as clean.

I have a Bosch and I always use the shorter quick cycle for whatever wash I am doing unless heavily stained. Works a treat. If I'm super organised I set it to come on when my economy 7 kicks in (never as I slovenly)

I have an 8kg Bosch. If it's full like a full set of king size bedding or some really filthy stuff then it's a long wash. Anything else is on the 1 hour option. I do think the longer wash washes better