Washing machines etc.

[katy]

Got a new washing machine on Saturday. Didn't bother to read handbook, looked more or less similar. Put in white towels on cotton at 60c as usual, selected Eco wash. After I pressed start button I noticed the wash time...4 hrs 12 mins my old one was 1.12hrs. Looked at book and correct.

I googled washing machine taking a long time and came up with some surprising stuff. Seems a lot of these wash programmes are installed so that they show up good on energy rules and regs etc. ECO washes aren't really that, eg. They could wear your machine out 4 times faster! Strangely had to replace dishwasher in December and that seems to take a long time as I also press ECO programme. Last night I didn't use dishwasher on ECO and half shorter and dishes looked just as good.

Don't anyone ask why I wash cotton at 60c. Daughter says I am crazy to do that

[Wicksey]

Our dishwasher is the same. Luckily we read instruction booklet first before using it and found that the ECO wash took the longest at 2:10. We always use the shortest wash on the dishwasher (about 30 mins) and everything comes out fine (although we do rinse off plates first as it takes a few days to completely fill the machine).

We were given a washing machine which we have in addition to our usual one but the instructions don't give any idea of the time it takes to do the different programs. I have tried it a few times but everything seems to take hours, even a short wash, so I stick to my original one that does a 40 degree wash in about 50 mins. I think my clothes would fall apart if I washed them for 4 hours each time

[chrissiehope]

When I was replacing my washing machine, the most important thing was wash time ! I got a Beko, which does a 30 deg wash in 39 mins . The only other wash I do is a 60 deg one for towels, and my son's chef whites

[costakid]

Our Spanish machine takes 3 minutes to open after it has finished its cycle. Drives me mad. That will be the 1st question I ask when we buy a new one.

[Wicksey]

patience Costakid Ours takes a couple of minutes, I think they all have this safety feature now. I don't sit there waiting for it to stop so it doesn't bother me. Our washing machine isn't in the house so I tend to forget about it anyway and it's long finished by the time I go out to check it.

[katy]

When I was replacing my washing machine, the most important thing was wash time ! I got a Beko, which does a 30 deg wash in 39 mins . The only other wash I do is a 60 deg one for towels, and my son's chef whites

I think I have learnt my lesson. Only things I looked at when choosing was a decent brand, spin speed and size of load. 2nd lesson, I shall read the instructions first strangely I am always telling OH he should read first. Anyway it seems satisfactory with the quick wash.

Years ago when my Daughter was young we bought some cute fitted bedroom furniture for her room, it was self assembly Lots of how to do it yourself diagrams and lots of bits and pieces. He started it alone but I was soon roped in. I spent considerable time standing on one piece whilst holding two others! When it was finally finished, after a fraught wasted day, there was a quite large piece left. We finally read the instructions properly. It said on a picture of the piece, install after putting together parts A and B. It was part C of up to parts P. Not feeling very pleased I opened the window and threw it in the garden.

[chrissiehope]

Actually, I've just realised that I didn't say the 60 deg wash takes 1hr 1 min - not that I want to rub it in or anything...

[katy]

I hesitated to say this as some will think I have an agenda but have been sent a Twitter conversation which includes "Thanks to EU regulations my new kettle now takes 4 days to boil"

[El Cid]

They were talking about reducing the output of kettles as they did with Hoovers, but I believe they (the EU) have just dropped that idea as it would pander to the Brexit brigade.

Sid

[TorreDelAguila]

Heaven forbid that we should use energy-wasteful appliances.

We generally now accept the desirability of low energy lighting, but oddly seem to ignore many of our high energy appliances.

Many vacuum cleaners use absurdly high wattages (1500-1800W is not uncommon), excessive for the work they have to do. Manufacturers have shown little interest in addressing this.

In the case of kettles, it has long been known that most are over-filled, thus requiring maybe two or three times the amount of energy needed to make the cuppa, or whatever.

Many folks' reaction to the EU's requirement for lower wattage kettles has been along the lines of "It'll take days for the kettle to boil...". Well, it won't, but there is another tactic: just fill it to a more sensible level, and you'll almost certainly get there just as quickly!

Now the EU energy analysts aren't daft (and are, in any case supported by UK specialists in the same field) and know that, sometimes, actions need to be taken for the common good, and people's behaviour be allowed catch up and modify. Many examples of this: smokeless fuels, unleaded petrol, speed limits, immunisation, school-leaving age . . .

There are tens of millions of these appliances in use around the clock, so it does matter. It's not EU interference, it's simply a rational response to an energy and environmental problem.

[Stevemul]

[quoteNow the EU energy analysts aren't daft (and are, in any case supported by UK specialists in the same field) and know that, sometimes, actions need to be taken for the common good, and people's behaviour be allowed catch up and modify. Many examples of this: smokeless fuels, unleaded petrol, speed limits, immunisation, school-leaving age . . .][/quote]

Reminds me of a conversation with a building inspector when I was renovating a house in the UK about 5 years ago:

Insp: You are going to need an electric extractor in the bathroom
Me: Why?
Insp: How much insulation have you put in the loft?
Me: The regulation 12 inches
Insp: Then the vent in the bathroom window will not be sufficient, you'll get loads of condensation with all that insulation.

EU Energy analysts aren't daft eh?

[TorreDelAguila]

UK Building inspector, or EU energy analyst?
Which set of professionals are you writing off?

[Stevemul]

I'm not writing off, I'm writing of ( or more grammatically correct " about" ) UK Building Inspectors who are following directions and rules made by EU Analysts and others!

[TorreDelAguila]

Sorry, but I do not need corrections to my use of English.
Writing off = discarding, putting aside, judging to be a waste of time or space.

Still unsure what we are supposed to conclude from your report.

[Stevemul]

I did not " write off" ( your words, not mine) anyone; hence my interpretation of your comment as "write of" as in "write about" rather than "write off" as in your definition.

My point is that EU Analysts and other beaurocrats are often illogical in their desire to make a situation which has successfully evolved over a period, better - but often make matters worse. There was an instance a few years ago where a directive to shorten cables on electric kettles and irons caused more accidents as people had to perch them on unsuitable surfaces because the lead did not reach a safe place.

[Free at Last]

We had a new washing machine delivered yesterday (an LG model with direct drive motor, which is guaranteed for 10 years - which is why we chose it). Having seen this thread I checked the wash times in the manual and was surprised to see that although the capacity is advertised as 7kg, that is only for the cotton wash programme which takes 2 hours 54 minutes, and for all the other programmes it goes down to 3.5kg or even 2.5kg! It has gone on a cotton rapid wash this morning which takes 1.13, I didn't actually weigh the washload (does anybody, ever?). It also has a 30 minute quick wash facility so I might try that, although it says it only has 2.5kg capacity.

[chrissiehope]

My Beko quick wash also says a much lower weight - I just fill the machine loosely & press Start

[Enrique]

Hi,
I've never come across a Domestic Goddess that weighs the washing prior to loading.....

Being mechanically sympathetic I often hear the washing machine call to me to unload some of the wash, the worst offenders are the Dog beds (dogs have been removed, Sid ), they must triple their weight when loaded with water.

The drum paddles need to be able to beat the cr@p out, so an overloaded one will not work efficiently.


The above is just one Man's take on this subject and doesn't confer that other Guys agree.....

[Free at Last]

This particular beast says it has some kind of sensor which calculates the weight of your washload and adjusts the amount of water used and wash time accordingly - I had visions of it beeping at me and refusing to start if there was too much stuff in it for the programme I am using, rather like cars which beep at your if a seatbelt isn't fastened! Why do they have to make everything so complicated?

[katy]

FAL mine is similar. Not just that but if I put it on synthetic it won't let me spin higher than 900. I feel as if it is over-ruling me all the time