To save money, many people opt for a special program to wash their laundry. Be careful, using it too frequently causes a series of inconveniences and can damage your clothes.
The increase in the price of electricity and water has forced many households to significantly change their energy consumption habits. Whether it concerns heating, showering or the use of household appliances, everyone does their little thing to save as much as possible. But are all new habits good to adopt?
Regarding washing clothes, this has led to changes in the way of using the washing machine, more filling the machine for example, or even the use of new programs. More and more households are favoring short programs on their washing machines, attracted by the promise of fast, economical and eco-responsible washing. These express cycles, often lasting 15 to 30 minutes, are in fact presented as a solution to save time, save water and reduce electricity consumption.
However, this wash cycle is not necessarily the best for your wallet or your laundry. Its frequent use can have harmful effects on clothing, leading to premature aging of textiles and degradation of their quality, but also damage your device.
Short programs are mainly designed to freshen lightly soiled or lightly worn clothes. They use less water and operate at relatively low temperatures, often between 30 and 40°C. However, these cycles may not be suitable for laundry that requires deeper cleaning. Clothes worn all day, stained textiles or even heavier fabrics, such as cotton or linen, may not be properly cleaned and rinsed in such a short time.
In addition, the more intense friction due to the speed of the short cycle, associated with a shorter washing time, can cause premature wear of the fibers. The clothes certainly come out clean in appearance, but the fabrics can gradually lose their shine, their shape or even their softness. Likewise, if you use too much detergent, it will not be rinsed as well. This can damage your clothes.
Although short programs seem to be more energy efficient, they are not always as advantageous as you might think. In some cases, the machine must compensate for the reduced time with faster drum movements or more intensive use of water and detergent, which can paradoxically consume more energy in the long run. Additionally, inefficient washing may require repeated washes, negating any hoped-for water or energy savings.