Do you leave your washing machine unsupervised?

ripplyuk

A lot of washing machines cycles these days seem to take around 3hrs. I know there are some quick wash options but those can often only take a very small load and they aren’t suitable for everything. I was always taught never to leave the machine running when I’m not home because washing machines are one of the most common domestic appliances to catch fire. 

However, I’m really fed up with spending full days at home babysitting the washing machine. It was different with the old machines that did a wash in about 40 mins. Do most people leave them unsupervised and go out? What about at night? Are you happy to leave the machine running overnight using the time delay? 

lisyloo

I'd expect a normal cycle to take around 1 hour.
Yes I'd leave the machine running when out or on a delay.

Was the advice you were given some time ago?

Yes there's always a risk, but a lot of modern materials are now fire retardent.

Grumpelstiltskin

I always put mine on when I go to bed.

3 hour wash cycle? What temperature are you washing at?

JJ_Egan

Its often unsupervised overnight , but yet to find its had a night on the town .

Brie

Ours is safely locked in a cupboard outside the kitchen door so any issues about it blowing up or leaking everywhere are very unlikely to affect us beyond having to get a new one.  We might need to do that in any case as we've had it for about 5 years and it was already second hand.

fyi - it does have one combination of cycles that means it can take about 4 hours from pre wash to extra rinse and spin.  I haven't timed it to see if it's less on a lower temperature but that's the 60c wash for the really grim stuff.

MaryNB

It's never occurred to me to wait at home for the washing machine to finish. I frequently go out when it's on or run it over night with a time delay. A standard load on mine talks approx 1.5 hours. Only a 60 degree cotton wash takes up to 3 hours. 

Soot2006

I rarely wash anything for more than 1 hour, but I usually set the timer on the machine to start washing either very early morning or mid afternoon, so it's ready to hang up when I get up/home.

ripplyuk

Grumpelstiltskin said:

I always put mine on when I go to bed.

3 hour wash cycle? What temperature are you washing at?

It depends. I use 30, 40, 60 and 90. The 3hrs is mostly for the 40 and above with a full load.

ILoveSittingDown

3 hours? We wash everything on a 1 hour cycle and put a full load in. Clothes are fine and I leave it unsupervised no problem. I'm a little more reluctant to leave the tumble dryer running when I'm out of the house as it gets really quite hot. I'll leave it on if I'm popping out but wouldn't leave it on if going out for a day trip.

SuzieSue

I would never leave it on overnight but I wouldn't stay in just because it was on.   I try to time my washes so that I am at home, but if that isn't possible then I just go out.

 You would be very unlucky if it caught fire, but at least you would be safely outside.  You can't let a washing machine dictate whether you can go out or not.

ripplyuk

lisyloo said:

Was the advice you were given some time ago?

My parents taught me that when I was young but also our local fire and rescue service repeated the same advice a few years ago when they were doing door to door visits after my neighbour died in a house fire. They said washing machines are one of the main causes they find.