How long washing machine take

If you've just bought a new front loading washing machine or you've seen our washing machine reviews , you'll have noticed those cycle times creeping up. We've noticed it too — cycle times are definitely getting longer. While it can be frustrating, it's actually a good thing for the planet, and for your hip pocket, but it may mean you need to change your washing habits to accommodate the longer cycle time.

We explain some common washing machine cycles and why they take as long as they do, and offer some tips for cutting down your time spent in the laundry. Cycle times for front loaders are getting longer as water efficiency improves.

One machine we tested even took a whopping 4 hours 38 minutes to complete a cycle! In fairness, your patience is rewarded with great wash performance and it does have a quick wash option albeit suitable only for a small, 2kg load , but its running costs are also quite high, and according to the registration data, a full capacity load our test load is only 3.

This raises another important point — the cycle times we report in our washing machine tests are for a 3. Because top loader washing machines use a lot more water than front loaders they need enough water for your clothes to float freely, unlike front loaders which repeatedly pick up your clothes and drop them in the wash water , they don't take nearly as long to wash, although we find they tend not to wash quite as well, and are harsher on your clothes.

Interestingly, the average cycle time on a top loader hasn't changed much over the years — 55 minutes 10 years ago to 59 minutes today. So with a full cycle taking under an hour, a top loader may be the sensible choice if you need to wash multiple loads in a day. But keep in mind that these numbers are based on our 3. If you're frustrated with waiting for the washing, then help is at hand, as many modern washing machines offer a fast or quick wash program. Some fast wash programs take less than 15 minutes from go to whoa so they're great if you're in a hurry, but it's important to note these programs are only suitable for very small loads — a couple of kilograms, or just a handful of items at most, and only if they're lightly soiled.

Spill some juice on a business shirt and the fast program is for you, but don't expect it to get the grease out of a week's worth of mechanic's overalls — you'll need a more intensive program for that and probably a pre-soaker. If you've ever found yourself frustrated at waiting hours for your clothes to finish washing you've probably wondered why washing machines take so long these days.

Put simply, it's down to water efficiency — modern machines, particularly front loaders, are very water efficient. Wash: The clothes may be agitated for a little while and then allowed to "rest" so the detergent can do its work. A heavy duty wash cycle will have longer periods of agitation and soaking.

Rinse: The soapy water is drained away and clean water is sprayed over the clothes. The washer will add clean water, spin the load to drain it, then add clean water again to help rinse away the detergent and soils. On gentler wash cycles like Delicates, the washer doesn't spin as fast. On cycles designed for heavier soils, the washer may do more rinses to make sure the soils are completely removed.

This is a point where an unbalanced load may force the washer to pause to try to rebalance, extending cycle times. Final Spin: The final spin may include one more rinse, then your washer picks up speed to wring out clothes before they enter the dryer. This is when the washer spins at its highest speed. As with the Rinse stage, an unbalanced load can cause problems and slow things down. It takes more time for detergent to thoroughly penetrate your clothes and remove soils with less water and less agitation.

The increased friction caused by less water allows a more effective cleaning action via the clothes rubbing against one another and the sides of the tub. Understanding the proper use and care of your washer is the best thing you can do to ensure that your laundry comes out clean and your washer lasts as long as possible!

If you don't like how long your washing machine cycles are running, the first step is to look at your model's owner's manual. Some manuals will let you know if certain options add time to a cycle, or will show you the number of rinses a cycle or soil level setting has. Using too much detergent or not using HE detergent with a machine designed for it can extend cycle times.

Plus, your clothes may actually look dingier or even still be dirty at the end of a cycle , and leave residue in your washer that can lead to odors and mold growth! Some washers now offer detergent reservoirs that will automatically dispense the right amount of detergent for the load, such as Whirlpool Load and Go. Otherwise, take a closer look at your HE detergent's instructions.

Most loads need about a coffee scoop's worth of detergent about two tablespoons. Unbalanced loads can also extend cycle times. This can occur through overloading, mixing heavy and lightweight items, an improperly leveled machine, or even underloading although we don't see this as often. When your washer senses that a load is unbalanced, it will pause the cycle to try to fix the problem.

Top loaders will typically do this by filling up the tub with water to redistribute the clothes, while front loaders will ramp down the spinning and then try to spin back up to full speed again. Loading your washer correctly will help prevent this issue!

Sanitize and heavy duty cycles: Sanitize cycles typically run over 2 hours! Cycles like "Whitest Whites" and other heavy duty cycles use hot water more on that below. They may have extend the "soaking" periods in the cycle to let detergent penetrate the fabrics more deeply, as well as extended agitation and extra rinses.

Cycles like these can easily extend to 3 hours. Hot water washes: Most mid-range washers today have an internal water heater to bring the wash water up to the right temperature for the cycle and any selections you've made. The washer may even pause the cycle to heat the water to the proper temperature.

Aside from killing germs which is nice when it comes to sheets, towels, cloth diapers, and other items , using more hot water won't improve your detergent's cleaning performance. High soil level selections typically mean your washer will fill, spin, and rinse the clothes more times than it would for a lower soil selection.

Save the heavy soil option for heavy soils - it's unlikely to improve wash performance on a typical load. Extra rinses, prewashes, and soak options. Similarly to the heavy soil option, options to prewash, soak, or add an extra rinse should be saved for items that need it. An extra rinse alone can add minutes to the total cycle time. To discuss your commercial washing machine needs and find out more about our range, get in touch below.

Your critical equipment is just that — critical. So whether you need advice on how we can help with new solutions and servicing, booking an engineer or you want to talk to us about your account, get in touch below. Call us free: Menu Products Back Laundry Back. How long does a commercial washing machine take?

Talk to our laundry experts today. Company name. Business postcode. How can we help? Get a quote. Need help?