Which 30 wash do I need?

[bloomingcovid]

I'd really like to start washing on 30 degrees (saving money as well as the planet!) but my washing machine has two 30 cycles. One for wool and one for delicates/silk. Both are approx. 45 minutes long. Does anyone know which one to use? It's just for general T-shirt's and school uniform. Pants and socks etc will get a 40 wash. Thank you!

I don’t think either of those would give a proper spin so things would maybe come out a little wetter & take longer to dry.

Is it possible to change the temp on your other wash settings? Maybe Google your machine handbook, that’s how I found the most eco setting on my machine. It wasn’t the one I thought it would be!

Do you set the spin speed too? I am assuming that, as they are the same length, that spin will be the only difference. I don’t think it should matter which one, I tend to go lower temp and highest spin just get as much water out as possible. But I’m no expert!

Oh yes, agree with the PP. You may be able to use your usual program and just lower temp

Do you have a washing machine that allows you to separately control the temperature for each wash cycle? My old one didn't but my newer one does. So I can do a cottons wash on 30, 40 or 60 etc.

I'd be worried that a delicates or wool wash wasn't designed for a full load. It could end up wearing the machine out if you constantly overload it.

I was watching a YouTube video by an appliance repairman, he was saying that longer wash cycles are more energy and water efficient and better for the machine in the long run.
I don't think either a wool or delicates cycle would be particularly effective at washing normal clothes, they wouldn't agitate the clothes as much and probably have a lower spin speed.
My machine has programmes like "mixed" that you can alter the temp and spin speed and eco programmes.

Thanks everyone. I can't change the temp but I've looked again (doh!) and there is a 30 on the other side of the dial, but I need er use those because is says cottons and they all take soooo long! The 30 is 2 hours 15 minutes. Is that normal then? Five wash loads will take forever!! Have I been doing it wrong all this time?!

Sadly it's a rubbish 1200 spin and it all comes out soaking wet. (We rent and it came with the house). I was doing a 12 minute rinse and spin after each wash to try and get some more water out. This morning I ordered a little spinner like my grandma used to have. I may ditch the 12 minute extra rinse and spin now (guessing the spinner is more eco friendly and don't need both)

No that's good/normal, you need longer times at the lower temps because the clothes need to soak for longer, otherwise they don't get as clean. It takes a bit of organisation but I find I can fit long cycles in and there are 5 of us including a very leaky baby. That said I don't tend to bother with 30 washes, I do 40 for most things and 60 for anything that stinks or is unhygienic like cleaning cloths.

What's the easy care 30 on the other side?

I'd use the easycare 30 on that machine, it's likely to be a shorter cycle than cottons.

2 hours cycle sounds about right.

I usually add an extra spin. clothes take a lot less time to dry that way.

@dementedpixie oh my goodness. I am so dim!! I just followed the horizontal lines on the left side and didn't see the 30 at the top!

How stupid am I? I feel really silly now.

It's 1 hour 35 minutes which doesn't seem too bad. I'm actually really glad I posted though (even though I'm feeling a tad embarrassed) as I've had some great advice here about wash times. Maybe I shouldn't be using the quick 53 minute 40 wash either. Lessons learnt today!