Why does washing machine take so long to wash?
Wash cycles are longer because machines now use less water and lower temperatures to meet energy efficiency standards. Less water means rinsing takes longer, and lower temperatures require extended wash times to achieve the same cleaning results. Economy programmes take even longer for the same reason – using less heat means compensating with more time.
Modern washing machines take significantly longer to complete a wash cycle than older models. This is not a fault with any particular brand – all washing machines have become slower over time, and there are clear reasons why.
Why Do Washing Machines Take So Long Now?
Several factors have combined over the years to make wash cycles progressively longer:
- Less water. Modern machines use significantly less water than older ones. Less water makes rinsing less efficient, so rinse cycles have to run for longer to achieve the same result.
- Energy efficiency ratings. The introduction of mandatory energy labels has forced manufacturers to reduce electricity and water consumption. Washing for longer at lower temperatures and with less water is how machines pass these tests.
- Lower temperatures. The shift towards lower wash temperatures requires longer cycle times to achieve equivalent cleaning results. Higher temperatures dissolve and remove soiling faster – lower temperatures need more time and mechanical action to compensate.
- Cold fill only. Most modern washing machines take only cold water and heat it internally, rather than drawing hot water from the household supply. In the UK this has limited impact on most households’ overall wash times, but it is a contributing factor. See: cold fill versus hot and cold fill washing machines.
- Load balancing. Many modern machines go through extended procedures to sense and balance the load before spinning. An unbalanced load can cause repeated balance attempts, adding significant time to the overall cycle.
Ironically, while longer cycles are driven by environmental targets, running a machine for twice as long puts more wear on its components – which is likely to shorten its lifespan and lead to earlier replacement. This is not environmentally beneficial.
Do Not Try to Cut Down Wash Times
Many people find long cycle times frustrating and turn to quick wash cycles or option buttons to reduce them. This approach is counterproductive and can damage the machine over time.
The machine never gets hot enough or runs long enough to clean itself internally. See: causes of grease, slime, black mould, and smells inside washing machines.
One Way to Do More Washing in Less Time
If long cycle times are a genuine problem, buying a washing machine with a larger drum capacity allows more laundry to be washed in each load. Fewer loads per week can offset the longer time per cycle, reducing the overall time spent on laundry without compromising on wash quality.
Why Do Economy Programmes Take Longer?
This is a question that surprises many people. If an economy cycle uses less electricity, how can it also take longer to run?
“How is it that the ‘Economy’ cycles take twice as long as the regular wash? How is that economical? I would have thought that would use more electricity.”
The answer lies in understanding where washing machines actually consume electricity. Heating the water is by far the biggest energy cost – it uses far more electricity than the motor, pump, and controls combined. A machine running with the heater on for just 15 minutes will use considerably more electricity than the same machine washing without heat for several hours.
Economy programmes save energy by using lower temperatures or no heat at all. But because a lower temperature is less effective at cleaning, the machine compensates by washing for longer. Heat pump tumble dryers work on the same principle – recycling warm air rather than generating fresh heat is more efficient, but the lower thermal output requires a longer drying time. So economy cycles take longer but use less electricity overall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my washing machine take so long to wash?
Modern washing machines use less water and lower temperatures to meet energy efficiency standards. Less water makes rinsing less efficient so rinse cycles run longer. Lower temperatures require extended wash times to achieve the same cleaning results. Load balancing procedures can also add time. This applies to all modern washing machines, not any specific brand.
Why do economy wash cycles take longer than normal cycles?
Economy cycles save electricity by using lower temperatures. Heating water is by far the biggest energy cost – running the motor and pump for a long time uses far less electricity than heating water for a short time. A lower temperature is less effective at cleaning, so the machine compensates by washing for longer. The result is a longer cycle that uses less electricity overall.
Is it OK to use quick wash cycles all the time?
No. Regularly using quick, short, or very low temperature cycles prevents the machine from ever running hot enough to clean itself internally. Over time this causes a build-up of grease, detergent residue, and black mould inside the drum, door seal, and pipes. Using a full temperature cycle regularly – at least once a week – helps prevent this. See: washing machine smells and black mould.
9 Comments
Grouped into 5 comment threads.
1 reply i bought a washing machine and it was from hotpoint it took 3 hours and a bit to compleate a wash cycle a used to have the hotpoint wm22 which was the best machine a think hotpoint did since th new ones have come out they are a compleate waste of time and a dont see how a washer will use less electricity for 3 hours when the hotpoint wm22 had the wash compleated with in 45 mins
1 reply Helloooo, I'm surprised more people aren't lamenting about why washing machines take quite so long these days! It really is rather infuriating! All this energy saving nonsense - it's political correctness GONE MAD! I simply cannot bear to buy a swanky new machine which takes 2 -3 hours for a wash. I am after all an incessantly busy young man! So Andy Trigg from white goods please help me. Which washing machines available in the UK offer the quickest standard cycle? Your humble servant who cannot wash his clothes quick enough, Abid N.B. I'm not interested in this quick cycle malarkey as I like my clothes crisp and clean (and my housemate does occasionally soil himself).
Helloooo, I’m surprised more people aren’t lamenting about why washing machines take quite so long these days!
It really is rather infuriating! All this energy saving nonsense – it’s political correctness GONE MAD!
I simply cannot bear to buy a swanky new machine which takes 2 -3 hours for a wash. I am after all an incessantly busy young man!
So Andy Trigg from white goods please help me. Which washing machines available in the UK offer the quickest standard cycle?
Your humble servant who cannot wash his clothes quick enough,
Abid
N.B. I’m not interested in this quick cycle malarkey as I like my clothes crisp and clean (and my housemate does occasionally soil himself).
Likely replying to Abid
Hello Abid. It’s impossible for me to keep up with all the features of new models but the best way to check out such features (and whether they are any good or not) is to check out Which?.
In my opinion quick washes are either a gimmick, or misunderstood by many people. I think they are incorrectly named. Why wouldn’t we all want a “quick” wash? They should be named Light Wash which would imply it washes lightly (and therefore less thoroughly) which would hint that it may not be appropriate for many wash loads. The word “quick” just say – hey this cycle is quick, which we all want – but it doesn’t wash them properly which is why it is quick. Those cycles (as you say) are useless for anything but non dirty laundry – maybe a shirt that’s been worn for an evening etc.
Virtually all washing machines wash exactly the same way, they fill with water, wash detergent into the drum, turn the drum and heat the water. All drums are full of holes and have 3 paddles. Therefore, how can any washing machine wash quicker without compromising wash results? Having said that, if you check out Which?’s many washing machine reviews you will see there are definitely variances in wash quality. It dumbfounds me how so many washing machines appear to not wash very well when they are all virtually exactly the same.
1 reply For those of you complaining about washing machines, look at Speed Queen. Speed Queen are old school 1970's style top loading washing machines that get the job done with no mold, no horrible smell, lets you select the water level, lets you use HOT water, and has a 35-40 minute wash time. They are a bit on the high side though, but they are built like a tank. They have a commercial pedigree, used in laundry mats. A dealer in West Texas I spoke with, says he sells 30 a month because people are so fed up with HE appliances.
For those of you complaining about washing machines, look at Speed Queen. Speed Queen are old school 1970’s style top loading washing machines that get the job done with no mold, no horrible smell, lets you select the water level, lets you use HOT water, and has a 35-40 minute wash time. They are a bit on the high side though, but they are built like a tank. They have a commercial pedigree, used in laundry mats.
A dealer in West Texas I spoke with, says he sells 30 a month because people are so fed up with HE appliances.
1 reply I have the same problem. Im wondering which would be the best programmes to use though & what tempatures on mixed full loads as everyone is telling me different
I have the same problem. Im wondering which would be the best programmes to use though & what tempatures on mixed full loads as everyone is telling me different
Likely replying to sue
Hello Sue, the most commonly used program is 40° cottons. Most people put almost everything on that. However it does do a full speed spin at the end and some items may not be suitable for full spin. There may even be mixed load wash on some washing machines. Ultimately though, laundry should be washed according to the instructions on the wash label. Many people rarely look at these labels to determine what wash programs they should be washed on and many modern items have surprisingly restricting wash instructions. Failure to observe them can result in clothes shrinking, getting badly creased, getting damaged, sleeves going baggy, going out of shape etc.
0 replies I have just bought a Hotpoint HE8L493P washing machine which is totally useless to me. My son had an Hotpoint Aquarius WMF740 which I borrowed when my old one died. A great machine did a 40%/140 spin wash in 125 minutes, this damned thing which looked exactly the same except it was 8 kg load does the same wash in 185 minutes. It is the only programme suitable for me, none of the others are any good at all, won't take a 8kg load on the quick washes only 3.5, at this rate I will be washing all day and all night. On a Monday I change my bed duvet cover, sheet 4 pillowcases = 1 load 3 hours - I change the bath towells, 2 large bath sheets 2 handtowels, bathmat, cloakroom handtowels = one load = 3 hours. Underwear/nightclothes = 1 load 3 hours - weeks shirts trousers tops = 1 load 3 hours. Which means I shall be washing from 8am to 8pm - crazy. I feel so angry that I feel like taking the hammer to the thing, and finding a second hand old one somewhere. What I thought I bought is not what I have, I am a pensioner and cannot aford to buy another machine as much as I hate this thing. Would I have a case with trading standards, as what is the point of a 8kg machine when only 4 programmes can take 8kgs and the others are 3.5 kgs. I would be able to handwash and spin a load in half the time the machine takes to do it.
I have just bought a Hotpoint HE8L493P washing machine which is totally useless to me. My son had an Hotpoint Aquarius WMF740 which I borrowed when my old one died. A great machine did a 40%/140 spin wash in 125 minutes, this damned thing which looked exactly the same except it was 8 kg load does the same wash in 185 minutes. It is the only programme suitable for me, none of the others are any good at all, won’t take a 8kg load on the quick washes only 3.5, at this rate I will be washing all day and all night.
On a Monday I change my bed duvet cover, sheet 4 pillowcases = 1 load 3 hours – I change the bath towells, 2 large bath sheets 2 handtowels, bathmat, cloakroom handtowels = one load = 3 hours. Underwear/nightclothes = 1 load 3 hours – weeks shirts trousers tops = 1 load 3 hours. Which means I shall be washing from 8am to 8pm – crazy.
I feel so angry that I feel like taking the hammer to the thing, and finding a second hand old one somewhere. What I thought I bought is not what I have, I am a pensioner and cannot aford to buy another machine as much as I hate this thing. Would I have a case with trading standards, as what is the point of a 8kg machine when only 4 programmes can take 8kgs and the others are 3.5 kgs.
I would be able to handwash and spin a load in half the time the machine takes to do it.
i bought a washing machine and it was from hotpoint it took 3 hours and a bit to compleate a wash cycle a used to have the hotpoint wm22 which was the best machine a think hotpoint did since th new ones have come out they are a compleate waste of time and a dont see how a washer will use less electricity for 3 hours when the hotpoint wm22 had the wash compleated with in 45 mins
Likely replying to michael coyne
Hi Michael, it does seem crazy but I explained how they do use less electricity in my article :)