Washing machines.

I agree that my washing machine has too many complucTed programmes and I usually use the same 3 -60 degree short wash for towels, 40 degrees short wash for most things and 30 min wash for swimming things and DHs muddy golf clothes .
We recenly got a new tumble dryer as ours was recalled. I chose the simplest but it is ridiculously complicated and I only use the same setting with time button. On my old one it was on or off and I just chose the time.

I have never had anything dirty enough to warrant 4 hours washing, which is one of the programmes on my new machine. I set everything to a short programme, usually 40 deg, but 60 for towels and 30 for delicates. About 20 other programmes I will never use!

We bought the cheapest possible machine when we moved house. I use the 90 or 60 degree programme for bed linen and underwear, towels, dish cloths and tea towels . The 40 or 30 degree wash for practically everything else, and the cold wash for curtains (once a year!) and very occasionally the wool wash.

Ours regulates water intake to the weight of clothes you put in at a time, and is energy efficient.

I am never going to buy an expensive make again, as this one cost the third of a new Siemens, which I had had before, but washes faster and just as clean. Spin dry cycle can be adjusted to three different speeds.

I use the " easy iron" setting at 60% and 40% for most of my washing as these come out far less creased and just as clean. I don,t iron many things either as doing the wash on these settings and then tumble drying on medium heat there is really no need if you don,t overload it. Occasionally use the 30% setting for a quick wash of woollens but that's it.

I agree, there are far too many wash cycles. Recently I replaced a 25 year old washer with a newer model of the same brand. I have had synthetic knitted jumpers and cardigans for years and never had to iron them. The first time I used a synthetics cycle they were creased beyond belief and I was so mortified I had a rep from the company come to check it. Basically it spins while the washing is still hot, well it seems ludicrous to me.
So now I have to use a 30 degree wash , 400 spin until the end which takes almost 1& half hours, then a high speed spin after & yet another 16 minutes , why that long for a spin? The old one took 5 mins. I despair of modern machinery!

If its features are there its up to you to decide whether you want to use them. A year ago I replaced my trusty old banger, just about on its last legs/wheels, for a later model but appeared to do everything but sing and dance. I now question how I ever existed without it.

annsixty Completely agree with you. Well said.

I posted upthread that my Hotpoint washer/drier was so useless on the drier setting that I dont use it. Does anyone have a washer/drier machine who finds that the tumble drier does a good job and they're happy with it? My machine is quite old and I'd thought about replacing it at some point this year so would be interested if anyone has a good 'un.

I use 3 out of several choices of wash.. I generally wash at 60 deg with takes 1 hour and 10 minutes ..or 40 degrees which takes 55 minutes.

Then I turn to fast spin for most things which takes 16 minutes..

I mix colours and fabrics and have rarely had any problems , I always use a colour catcher!

I'm more careful about what I put in the dryer together..and on what temp.

I do wish they were called, 'boy wash' and 'girl wash' and 'everything else'.............it wou ld have saved me so much effort over the years. Why does anything have to be in there for 55 mins which is ages on eco setting?

I used to have a twin tub, things were in the wash bit, for a few mins, then spun and out on the line, several washes and house hoovered, coffee made and drunk in the time it takes for one load in current washer.

I only use 3 out of several variations.

And as for the useless tumble drier (Bosch) - I use one setting out of many as none of the others dry properly.
The engineer who came to look at the new tumble drier to see what was wrong with it recommended using the one programme so I could have saved myself £200 and bought a cheap one. He remarked on my Siemens washing machine and asked if I ever used the programme for 'Mixed Fabrics' and I said 'yes, all the time'. 'Oh' he said 'most people find that one doesn't work'.


The 60C hot wash for bedding, towels, etc, takes two+ hours.

I set off agreeing most of the programmes are unnecessary. But thinking about it, I realise I have used almost every programme my current machine has. I love the hand wash cycle because I refuse to do hand washing. also use the rinse only cycle for extra rinsing of bed linen for a visiting relative with super sensitive skin. I used to manage with simpler machines though. so perhaps it's all a load of pointless faff.

I had to buy a washer/dryer 3 years ago as I have no room for both & no room for a "decent sized" rotary washing line. I only use 1 wash setting, 40C & select tumble dryer setting of either "wardrobe dry" or zero for items which cannot be tumble dried.

I have used the "trainer wash" programme twice in 3 years.

I have to be careful about the weight of clothes in a load as tumble dry capacity is less than wash capacity. Yes it takes an age to do a wash now, no I don't use most of the programmes. I hope someday to have room for a tumble dryer in an outside shed then I can have a (proper) washing machine again

For everyday washing (none of it really dirty as such), I use a 30 degrees quick wash, which takes 30 minutes. For teatowels, dishcloths, towels, a 40 degrees wash (they are all changed daily, so not particularly dirty), and bedding on a 60 degrees wash (changed twice weekly), which takes about an hour. I wash cardigans and jumpers (none pure wool)on the quick 30 degrees wash.

My washing machine is cold fill but I have solar panels that heat my water ( I don't live in UK). So I pour hot water into the machine with a jug before starting the programme or I would be paying to heat water that I had in the tank for free. Well not free as the panels aren't cheap, so all the more reason to use the water. ☀️

The dishwasher a Siemens has been going since 1988 and we put it on after 10pm ? When we are on a cheap tariff.

I use, 40 for a hot wash that’s an hour.
30 for short wash for underwear 15 mins.
30 for a Wool wash which is 30 mins.
white towels etc. 1.45.
Don’t use any of the others they are over 2-2half hours long,
Got to think about electricity bills.

I think they're that much more complicated because they're largely designed by blokes who,love gadgets and making things unnecessarily complicated.
Microwaves are the same - umpteen programmes. Mine just has 2 settings, defrost and cook, and it's fine. I dread it dying and having to get one where I'll have to keep reading the instructions to remember how to work it.

I have a fairly new washing machine. It's actually a bit quicker than the old one, but I had to go through the instructions with a tooth comb to find out how to spin only after handwashing a jumper that needs it.
I use 90 occasionally for white cotton, otherwise it's 60, coloureds on 'mixed load' at 40, woolly/delicates wash now and then.
I've also used the v quick wash occasionally - can be useful.

My machine has 14 washing programmes and each one has choices within it. Most of my stuff how's on a number 6 wash at 40 degrees. I do use a rinse and spin cycle for my swimming kit 3 times a week. They make basic phones for oldies, why not a basic machine?

It's like most things nowadays, far too much unnecessary choice, and why does everything beep at you now.

Just why do the manufacturers make so many wash options.

It's quite obvious that most of us don't want or use them.

I only use three. Also, a rinse and spin setting for hand washed stuff.
If I ever buy another machine, it will definitely be a 9kg so I can wash a duvet and other heavy blankets etc.

I would love to have a machine that I could program myself, rather than having to use manufacturer settings. I would like to be able to select temperature, water level, degree of agitation, length of wash, number of rinses, spin speed, and end time. I'm sure I'm not the only one! Machines like this did exist for a while (1980s?), but seem to have completely disappeared.

Wash everything on 40, and woollens for items a bit delicate.

Excuse me ‘Lovebeigecardigan’ by what is ‘Engineer’ stuff???

I had my machine for 2 years before I realised the timings were not the actual time the washing took. It starts of with a long time, but once the machine starts it adjusts the time to the load by weight. Who knew? I only use Quick wash, Cotton Wash and Wool wash. Reading the manual, there does not seem much difference on all your he other programmes.

I use 40 degree wash for coloureds and 60 degree wash for white cotton. I don’t have ‘delicates’.... when I looked for new washer I went to John Lewis staff and said “ I want a washing machine please, 1200 spin and least programmes and the cheapest”... the assistant smiled said woman after my own heart and led me to JL brand and cheapest! I’ve had it 15 years and it never lets me down. Cost about £199 I think!