Washing machine settings

jason589

Thanks for all of your posts, all very helpful!
I have printed off and kept near to machine!

meritaten

Sheets and towels go in at 60% on the hottest synthetic wash and everything else goes in at 30 on the 'quickwash'. I use Bio powder (Almat from Aldi) and find these the optimum settings for things which are just normally dirty.

j.e.j.

You can put items like denim or cottons or anything that will stand up to a longer wash and more agitation/spinning on a cottons wash.

The synthetic cycle takes a shorter time, and probably does not spin the clothes about quite so much.

Also FWIW I always do an extra rinse, because most modern washing machines these days, even the better makes, don't rinse that well, as the companies are aiming for lower water consumption.

Those are about the only 2 cycles I use. Normal clothes go on at 40degrees, bedding at 60, towels at 60 or 90.

Anything made of pure wool/lambswool should go on at a cooler temperature, maybe 30 degrees or even less, as I've found ..

Missli

My standard wash for mixed fabrics is a 40° synthetic wash, as that cleans my clothes fine, without wear. I select a 30° quick wash when in a hurry, and hand-wash for delicates.

For cottons, such as bath towels I use a 60° cotton wash. For white cottons I sometimes use a 90° cotton wash, only if necessary (rare).

bargainbetty

I use half the recommended amount of bio powder and white vinegar instead of softener (this helps with the shorter rinse, as something in the vinegar helps clear out the soap - apparently!)

30 degrees fast wash for all clothes. 40 degrees fast wash for sheets, 60 degree fast wash for towels. I have nearly 30 settings on my machine - I have used these three. Find Fast Wash. Fast Wash is your friend.

Oh, tell a lie, it smelt a bit funny once, so I threw in some vinegar and ran it at 90 degrees to clean the pipes. That's it.

pollypenny

I just wish i could get clothes clean at any temperature! No matter what powder I use, at what setting, I invariably find stains when I'm ironing.

zippychick

ive merged this with our thread on washing machine settings.

Zip

pigpen

The detergent won't have dissolved properly at 15'C.. don't believe what you read on the box over what you can see.

My machine has a 15 minutes 30'C program.. then has an extra spin and is super.. it means I can whizz out delicate stuff and hang to dry while the heavier stuff is respun

I love!!! my washing machines!

zippychick

ive merged this with our washing machine settings thread

Zip

OlGreeneyes

Okay, I wouldn't advise anyone else to do this - unless you've got a really old machine you're on the point of replacing - but this is what I've learned that I can get away with with mine.
Firstly, lightly soiled things I wash on the Fastwash (cold water) and with very little powder. Most other things at 30 degrees. Now - bearing in mind that when I was young we washed everything by hand and nothing got more than a five minute pounding in the sink, I don't see why I should let the machine to go through a 90 minute cycle. I let it do the wash and one rinse - then I switch it off. Turn the dial to spin and turn the machine back on. This way, most washes are done in 10-15 mins and save me a fortune on electric. I've been doing this for several years with no problems.
Lately, too, I've taken to washing lighter stuff by hand and just using the machine as a spin-dryer. If it wasn't for my arthritis I'd probably give the machine a miss altogether in the summer.