Bosch Washing Machine: what programme do you use?

_Jem_

neilmcl said:

It depends on the weight of the load too. The mixed load programme is only suitable for a half load. If I'm at my dads I stick most things on the Cotton wash but reduce the temp to 40C unless I'm doing whites or sheets, I might occasionally use the speed perfect programme.

I've a much older Bosch machine (20 years or more old) at my house where the settings are a much simpler affair, just cottons, delicates, wool etc and you choose the temp manually. Also washes a lot quicker but no doubt not as economical. I much prefer it.

If you have a full load which wash cycle do you suggest? 

neilmcl

_Jem_ said:

neilmcl said:

It depends on the weight of the load too. The mixed load programme is only suitable for a half load. If I'm at my dads I stick most things on the Cotton wash but reduce the temp to 40C unless I'm doing whites or sheets, I might occasionally use the speed perfect programme.

I've a much older Bosch machine (20 years or more old) at my house where the settings are a much simpler affair, just cottons, delicates, wool etc and you choose the temp manually. Also washes a lot quicker but no doubt not as economical. I much prefer it.

If you have a full load which wash cycle do you suggest? 

As I said in that post, use the standard Cotton wash and reduce the temp to 40C or less as I think it defaults to 60C.

givememoney

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

_Jem_

givememoney said:

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

What did you put in the machine that made it stink, it should clear any smells if you put vinegar in it at the highest temp. 

givememoney

_Jem_ said:

givememoney said:

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

What did you put in the machine that made it stink, it should clear any smells if you put vinegar in it at the highest temp. 

Mystery to me. Just presume doing at the hot wash disturbs something. Never smells at normal temperature.

neilmcl

givememoney said:

_Jem_ said:

givememoney said:

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

What did you put in the machine that made it stink, it should clear any smells if you put vinegar in it at the highest temp. 

Mystery to me. Just presume doing at the hot wash disturbs something. Never smells at normal temperature.

You probably need to run a few more hot washes, I suggest 90 degrees with some washing machine cleaner. If you only ever do 40 or 30 degree washes then your machine is going to be a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.

chrisw

givememoney said:

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

Our last one was around 12 years old and we had the exact same issue. It was fine until a 90 degree wash and then it stunk for days afterwards. I presume it somehow activated the bacteria in it. Tried all the vinegar, bleach, dettol, soda combinations but nothing improved it.

We're determined the new one won't turn out the same and are doing regular hot washes to try and keep it clean. No smells so far.

I've never bothered with the load weight, how can you even guess without weighing it? 

_Jem_

chrisw said:

givememoney said:

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

Our last one was around 12 years old and we had the exact same issue. It was fine until a 90 degree wash and then it stunk for days afterwards. I presume it somehow activated the bacteria in it. Tried all the vinegar, bleach, dettol, soda combinations but nothing improved it.

We're determined the new one won't turn out the same and are doing regular hot washes to try and keep it clean. No smells so far.

I've never bothered with the load weight, how can you even guess without weighing it? 

lol Yes I have to be honest how do you know the load weight, I just chuck the clothes in... I'm guessing on newer washing machines if you exceed the weight the machine will throw a hissy with some codes or just simply won't work until you take some clothes out.

With smelling washing machines the trick is to get into the habit of doing a service wash at 90c that way you have less chance of having gunky smelling machines. I think it's a learning thing once you have had a washing machine that smells you tend to make sure that won't happen again. 

neilmcl

_Jem_ said:

chrisw said:

givememoney said:

My Bosch is 12 years old now. I use 40 degrees for whites and 30 degrees for coloured.  A couple of times I ran it at 60 degrees to wash it out.....big mistake, it stunk for ages after that.

Our last one was around 12 years old and we had the exact same issue. It was fine until a 90 degree wash and then it stunk for days afterwards. I presume it somehow activated the bacteria in it. Tried all the vinegar, bleach, dettol, soda combinations but nothing improved it.

We're determined the new one won't turn out the same and are doing regular hot washes to try and keep it clean. No smells so far.

I've never bothered with the load weight, how can you even guess without weighing it? 

lol Yes I have to be honest how do you know the load weight, I just chuck the clothes in... I'm guessing on newer washing machines if you exceed the weight the machine will throw a hissy with some codes or just simply won't work until you take some clothes out.

With smelling washing machines the trick is to get into the habit of doing a service wash at 90c that way you have less chance of having gunky smelling machines. I think it's a learning thing once you have had a washing machine that smells you tend to make sure that won't happen again. 

Surely you can tell the difference between what's a full load and more or less a half load.

If you want to get an idea of the actual weight of your laundry then stand on some scales with your laundry in hand then again without them and subtract the weights.

coffeehound

neilmcl said:

You probably need to run a few more hot washes, I suggest 90 degrees with some washing machine cleaner. If you only ever do 40 or 30 degree washes then your machine is going to be a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.

There's a particular problem with liquid detergents too in that they leave residue behind at 40º so really need an occasional 60º wash to clear that.