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washing machine programs

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hi
what programs do you all use on your machines and do you use calgon or similar
ive just got a new machine and if i was to start using calgon i need to do it now, before i just did a maintenence 90 deg wash once a month with white vinegar or something
the cotton eco 40 deg wash takes 2 1/2 hrs! with no option to press the quicker wash button
the synthetics cycle will only spin at 800 so i have to spin again higher separatly
the quick wash option says i should only put half a load in. would it matter what i put it?

just wondering about the cheapest way to wash
thankyou

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 17,413 Forumite
    10,000 Posts I've been Money Tipped!
    I have an Indesit machine which is brilliant and have had it for two years
    for normal washload I use no. 3 which does a perfect load for me, towels sheets etc 1 hour twenty five minutes and for a quick wash I use no 10 which does it in 30 minutes I have never used Calgon in my life and don't intend to start now .I know an engineer who mends machines and he says he has never ever in 35 years seen anything like the thing showed in the advert for Calgon, he says its a marketing ploy .He recommended an egg cup of white vinegar in the conditioner compartment every time I used the machine and said to use half the amount it says on the washing powder/liqiud box/bottles as they always say to use more than you need.It really doesn't make the clothes any cleaner.I usually use a handful of soda crystals if stuff is really grubby,not often as my clothes are never that grimy anyway.
  • maman
    maman Posts: 29,692 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Sorry I can't help with your machine as mine (John Lewis own brand) does have a facility for shortening the time and that's what I use.

    I want to echo what JackieO said. I use really cheap powder (Asda SP) and vinegar (brown, again AsdaSP) as softener. I use a couple of tbsps of powder for each ws. My washing is fine although we don't have anything really grubby. I definitely don't use Calgon, even though we're in a hard water area.
  • lollipopsarah
    lollipopsarah Posts: 1,333 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    hello, I've been using white vinegar in the rinse for about a month now (thanks to MSE) and when doing a white wash use half the powder and some soda crystals - all on the mini wash which is about 45 minutes.
    No more yucky black stuff in the drawer and clothes feel so much better and seem to have less static, so easier ironing. (not that anyone else has noticed).
    I really must remember to give the machine a good hot wash with soda to clean it up, oh and it's a good idea to leave the door open for a little while, and I use kitchen roll to soak up the water in the door seal thingy.
    xx
  • fwor
    fwor Posts: 6,861 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    hmc wrote: »
    just wondering about the cheapest way to wash

    Wash almost everything at 30 degrees! Up until last year I washed at higher temps, and then someone pointed out to me that they now use enzymes that are optimised for lower temperature. Too hot and they just don't work so well.

    Since then I've been buying cheap Aldi detergent, and washing everything other than white cottons at 30 degrees and results have been very good.
  • There's only the two of us.

    His work shirts: 5 per week are washed on the quick wash I reduce the spin speed to 600 rpm. We don't do ironing.

    His keks and socks are washed using the same program at higher temp' and max spin speed.

    Our trousers/jeans are washed as above again the spin speed is reduced.

    My 'delicates' are done using the delicate's program:rotfl: With an extra rinse.

    Towels are washed only with vinegar and spun at the max.

    Bedding at 60c and only with vinegar. Minimum spin cycle.
    I'm not that way reclined

    Jewelry? Seriously? Sheldon you are the most shallow, self-centered person I have ever met. Do you really think that another transparently-manipu... OH, IT'S A TIARA! A tiara; I have a tiara! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me!
  • Linda32
    Linda32 Posts: 4,385 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I use Aldi Almat liquid now or the powder depending on what is cheapest.

    In the past I've used Aerial and basic/value (don't shop at Aldi so never used Smart Price)

    I don't use vinegar, softner, soda crystals or calgon and never do a maintenance wash. I have used vinegar and soda crystals after reading on here, but since I never bought softener anyway I was spending more on vinegar, and never noticed any difference anyway.

    I use a cycle which is the shortest at 50 minutes, the temperature for that is 50 degrees. I went for the shortest time rather than the temperature.

    HTH
  • hmc
    hmc Posts: 2,483 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    thankyou all for your views
    i did a 30 quick wash 1000 spin yesterday and it was clean
    i wont buy calgon then will carry on with white vinegar now and again
    its just that the quick wash says only half load the machine, is that because of less water? i thought it was more eco to fill your machine
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