Cold wash or Quick wash?

sofababe

I normally use the quick wash cycle on my WM but recently read on here about cold wash. So now I have set my WM to cold wash to save leccy, BUT the cold cycle takes and hour and the quick cycle takes 40 mins SO is it cheaper to run a longer cycle with cold water or a shorter one at 30c???

lil_me

Depends on your washing machine, your manual should give you the usage for each cycle if it doesn't it'd be a case of using a meter or similar. Don't forget the service wash to stop it getting gunky if you're using cold or quick washes.

BitterAndTwisted

Who knows? Perhaps you could compare your meter readings after you've done one of each wash? My own feeling is that heating water from cold would cost more in electricity that just running the machine.

mommygoose

I use quick wash and change the temp to 20. Has your machine got variable temp?

Fruball

Running the machine isn't where the costs mount up, its in heating the water so a cold wash is going to be cheaper even if its longer

HTH

lil_me

Fast spins can cost as much as heating the water hence most Eco washes leave clothes wetter

sofababe

I don't have variable temp on this machine, but lots of progs to choose from. I usually do a 90c wash every week or so (my son's towels are filthy as he works in a garage) so it gets a good clear out and I always use soda crystals in every wash. I'll dig out the manual but I guess heating the water would cost more than an extra 20 mins on a cold wash.

Thanks

Penelope_Penguin

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll move it to the utilities board where their experts will be able to give you more advise on energy efficiency

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere (please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]!!!!!![/EMAIL].