By using less energy, a quick wash will also save you money, too. But a quick wash isn't the best option if you need to wash stained clothes. The temperature is too low to lift a stain properly, so always use a full wash for this.
The quick wash isn't just quicker than the regular wash, though. You can quickly wash a few clothes without using a lot of energy, in fact, a quick wash can save up to 60% of energy* compared to a regular cotton cycle, and that's not all.
A QUICK wash is convenient and easy, but many of us also choose the cycle as it's cheaper - and greener when it comes to the environment. However, a new study by Which? has debunked this theory, and suggests that a quick wash will actually cost you MORE money.
Wash with a cold cycle
This is because most of the energy is used just to heat up the water in warm washes. Cold washes are just as clean as warm washes in most situation.
A quick wash cycle that takes approximately 15 minutes to complete will be able to clean lightly soiled items of clothing. However, this length of time is not going to be long enough to clean heavily soiled/stained items of clothing.
Also, 15 minutes isn't long enough to clean a full load of washing, even if it isn't stained.
All of the agitation and soaking during a longer washing cycle doesn't chew up much electricity. But the rapid hot wash, in the dishwasher or washing machine, will devour more electricity, so a cold and long wash is still more efficient.
Wash with cold water.
Using warm water instead of hot can cut a load's energy use in half, and using cold water will save even more. Cold water detergents can be helpful to ensure items get clean, and high-efficiency detergents (indicated by the "he" symbol) should be used when required by the manufacturer.
Go for 30°C cycle
Washing clothes at 30°C uses up to 40% less energy than washing at higher temperatures and is ideal for lightly soiled loads.
Wash in cold water.
Unless you're dealing with oily stains, washing in cold water will generally do a good job of cleaning. Switching your temperature setting from hot to warm can cut energy use in half. Using the cold cycle reduces energy use even more.
You Shouldn't Always Use It
The quick wash cycle should only be used for light stains and soiling, if your shirt smells a bit musty or has some light stains then a quick wash will do the job. But for more stubborn stains and bulky clothing, a quick wash simply won't do the job.
Good if you just want to refresh your laundry or deal with light soiling. A quick wash naturally won't clean as thoroughly as a full cycle. However, it would still be a good alternative if you just want to refresh your clothes or don't deal with heavy stains.
How Long is a Quick Wash Cycle? Typically selected for small, lightly soiled loads, the Quick Wash cycle takes between 15–40 minutes to complete depending on the model and brand. Quick Wash Cycle uses shorter periods of more intense washing to clean items quickly.
Normal: This cycle is for cotton or blended fabrics with average soil. The cycle combines high-speed wash action and high-speed spin, making it harsher on clothes. Heavy Duty: Select this washer setting for towels and sturdy fabrics like jeans. It is also appropriate for heavily soiled items.
How long is a wash cycle? A normal wash cycle usually takes between 50 minutes to an hour to complete. However, this time could be faster or slower depending on load size and the cycles or options you choose.
Bed sheets should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric, using a sheets cycle or the cycle recommended in your washer's use and care guide. If there isn't a cycle specified, a normal or regular cycle will usually suffice for cotton, polyester or linen sheets.
Use cold water
“Washing clothes in cold water can be a simple yet effective way to save money while doing laundry,” Sewell says. That's because hot water uses more energy. “By opting to use cold water instead, you can significantly reduce your energy consumption and, ultimately, lower your utility bill,” Sewell adds.
Washing a load of laundry that's too large or small is never a good idea. Too large, and you can damage your washing machine's drum and decrease its efficiency (in addition to keeping clothes from getting as clean). Contrarily, running loads that are too small wastes water and mechanical energy.
That's half the usual time of a 30-40 minute wash. It is also slightly gentler than the average cleaning cycle. So, the question is, does this setting still clean clothes? The answer is yes.
How often you should do laundry depends on what you're washing. Clothes you wear close to the skin, like underwear, socks and bras, should be washed frequently, while other types of clothing can be worn multiple times before washing.
People have been running their washing machine at night rather than during to day as the theory goes that your electricity is cheaper at night. However, for the vast majority of people, this just isn't the case.
There is no definitive answer to this question. Washing your clothes by hand will use considerably less water than using a machine but unless you use cold water, the energy required to heat the water in your home probably outweighs the electricity usage by your appliance.
The average washing machine can handle around 5,100 cycles, with low-end machines running about 4,000 cycles and high-end machines running 8,000 or more.