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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Do you use the quickwash program on your washing machine?

50 replies

Bodenbabe · 12/05/2010 21:48

I am researching a new washing machine and my mum says I must get one with a quick wash programme and I agreed as mine takes over 2 hours to do one load. However, it appears that these quick programs (15-30 mins) are only for a small load of clothes which merely need freshening up and aren't actually dirty. Well maybe 70% of my wash loads are like that but there are always quite a few items which are really stained (I have 2 young kids!) so that program presumably wouldn't clean those very well. And as I wouldn't want to run a quick program for half the laundry load and then a normal program for the rest, it seems like I might not use the quick wash after all?
Or do you find that the quickwash does get dirty clothes clean?

OP posts:

iloveasylumseekers · 12/05/2010 21:50

I have two DSs who get v filthy, and I find the longer two out of the three quickwash programmes are perfectly adequate. I use them all of the time.

TrinityMeemaRhino · 12/05/2010 21:51

I have a 30 min 30 degree wash which I do use and I've never found that it doesn't clean the clothes

BUT I dont use it all the time and I have a 40 degree wash that would take 2 hours 22 mins but if you press the quick wash button then it reduces the spin speed and the time is then 1 hour 19 mins

still quite long but I have a mental block that really I should use that one and not the 30 degree one...

Snowtiger · 12/05/2010 21:51

I use the quick wash cycle for all loads apart from very dirty ones or whites that I want to be washed very hot, so probably 70% of my washes - and yes, my clothes get perfectly clean!

HinnyPet · 12/05/2010 21:52

Are there good washing machines for these short washes you speak of?

hairymelons · 12/05/2010 21:52

We use the quick wash every time, unless DS has vommed/ soiled.

Always gets everything perfectly clean and we have a very messy 2yo!

CarGirl · 12/05/2010 21:54

If you get a large capacity machine then the half load you actually put in gets washed very well on the quick wash IYSWIM!

SixtyFootDoll · 12/05/2010 21:55

My 30 degrree quickwash gets most things clean apart from the rugby kit!

CMOTdibbler · 12/05/2010 21:55

The express wash on my Miele works really well. I only use the long washes for light coloured stained things that need washing at 30, or really really grubby things

Hopandpop · 12/05/2010 21:56

i have a quick wash that takes 50 mins we use it for everything and works fine, unless we have v soiled or doing bedding, i also have a 30 min wash that works fine if were in a rush

fineally · 12/05/2010 23:00

I always use the quick wash (unless washing a very large item like a chair cover) and it works very well indeed. Quick wash takes about an hour on my relatively cheap, 8 kilo Candy washing machine. It saves loads of time if you need to do kids stuff, colours etc in different loads.

BusyMummyof3 · 12/05/2010 23:10

I have a quick wash (30 mins) and usually use it in the evening when I've just realised I need something washed and dried for the following morning! It always seems to get things clean.

Fizzylemonade · 13/05/2010 10:10

My machine is a 7 year old bosch so I use the reduced time button, means my 30 degree wash takes 40 mins and a 40 degree wash takes 45 mins.

For day to day wearing of clothes it cleans perfectly.

bibbitybobbityhat · 13/05/2010 10:13

I never ever use the quick wash! Don't trust it . And I don't do lower than 40 either.

weblette · 13/05/2010 10:15

My Bosch 8kg has a great 45 minute quick wash which gets everything really clean at 30c. And that's with four kids, three of them particularly messy boys

fuzzywuzzy · 13/05/2010 10:16

I use the quick wash programme to wash school uniform, ie dd2 will always come home from school having spilt something down her uniform so her uniforms have to be washed every single day, the quick wash programme save a lot of time.

throckenholt · 13/05/2010 10:16

mine has quick wash that I use - but it only knocks about 1/2 an hour off the was (so normally between 1-1 1/2 hours depending on temp).

I do find though that stains rarely get cleaned regardless of what temperature, time or powder I use - so maybe I am not a good person to comment. I have an inability to do washing properly

TulipsInTheSunshine · 13/05/2010 10:17

my machine has a 39 minute quickwash which i use for almost everything (apart from nappies and anything else that has bodily fluids on it or is caked in filth) and it's extremely rare that anything comes out still stained.

my kids are 5, 3 and 1 and absolutely destroy their clothes.

Also i don't use it for half loads, it gets pretty much a full load each time and works just fine.

Monty100 · 13/05/2010 10:18

I use the quick wash programme regularly and would not consider a washing machine without one.

mosschops30 · 13/05/2010 10:21

On my new machine you can set every progarmme to 'super quick' (apart from the already short ones).
As it takes up to 2 hours normally its great for days when I have 6 loads or so to do (like yesterday), it cuts it down to 40-60mins.

Its the same wash just quicker, not super short. I have a 'mini' wash for things like youre talking about that just need freshening up in 15 minutes.

I also have to have hand wash on my machine because I bloody hate handwashing clothes its such a faff

Meglet · 13/05/2010 10:22

I have a zanussi and use the quick 30 min wash most days. It does get 'normal' dirt out, but anything really filthy goes in a 40 or 60 degree wash.

towels and sheets are usually washed on a hot wash though.

AnAngelWithin · 13/05/2010 10:29

I would be lost without my quick wash!! I put a lot of things in on it, except anything really dirty, towels or bed linen.

ashcloud · 13/05/2010 10:30

I have a 30 min quick wash cycle, but my last machine had both 30 and 60 minute versions. I'd only use the 30 mins for a few things that need freshening up, or for washing that I've left wet in the machine a bit too long, so I give it a quick re-wash before hanging out.

Lotkinsgonecurly · 13/05/2010 10:33

I put everything in my 30 degree quick wash about 30 mins. Everything get clean, occasionally put bedding on 60 degrees but use the quick was function on that too.

Have got Hotpoint Aqualtis, max load 7kg and am happy with it.

ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave · 13/05/2010 10:36

We have a "Refresh" wash which sounds like the one you are describing, and I do only use that occasionally. But the regular wash cycles also have an option to reduce the time you can set them to full time or (roughly) 2/3 time or half time and I do use the half time option nearly always, unless I have a particularly grubby load.

I'd consider a washing machine without a "Refresh" programme, but not one that didn't let me do washes shorter than 2 hours.

emsyj · 13/05/2010 12:02

The quick wash on my Miele takes 32 minutes and washes at 40. It's ok for a refresh, but I prefer to use the full cycle most of the time. It has a variety of programmes with wash times ranging from about 50 mins ish to over 2 hours, and as I have the model with the 'time left' indicator thingy I can see how long it will take before I switch it on which is fabulous. My mum uses her quick wash cycle (she has a Miele too, but an older model than mine) for virtually all her washing but then does an occasional 'overhaul' wash with a full cycle every couple of months or so.

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