Using the washing machine’s fast program is not necessarily a good idea. And it’s not just a question of savings.
The days only last 24 hours, and we’re all looking for ways to save a few minutes here and get everything done at home. Housework takes up a lot of our time every day and that’s why using the quick program in the washing machine may seem like a good idea.
Indeed, who wouldn’t want to reduce the time spent on laundry, especially in a busy daily life? However, this practice can have harmful consequences for your clothes, your machine, your wallet and the environment. Depending on what you use it for, this isn’t always a good option.
The main disadvantage of the quick program is the quality of the wash; it is not very effective on very dirty clothes. These shortened cycles, often 30 minutes, do not allow enough time for the water and detergent to penetrate deep into the fabrics. This means that stubborn stains and embedded dirt are not properly removed. Additionally, rinsing is often less effective, which can leave detergent residue on your clothes, potentially causing skin irritations and allergies.
Another major problem is premature wear of clothing. Fast cycles can be more aggressive on clothes, using faster, stronger spin cycles to reduce drying time. This can cause clothing to wear out more quickly, damage fabrics and deteriorate more quickly. They are not at all recommended for delicate garments made from fabrics such as silk, wool or lace.
If you use this program too often, it will wear out your device more quickly. Short programs are not the most sustainable option, as the washing machine runs at a higher intensity to complete the cycle in less time. These will be more energetic and will wear out the device more quickly, thus reducing its lifespan.
It’s also a bad idea for your wallet, as these programs often use more energy. Although logic tells us that the shorter the cycle, the lower the energy consumption, this is not true, since the washing machine must wash, rinse and spin all the clothes more quickly. Therefore, you must heat the water in less time using the maximum power of the resistances and its spinning will be faster and more powerful, so you will use more energy.
When to use the short cycle? When your clothes are slightly soiled, this can be a solution. Also take care not to overfill the drum. Quick wash is only effective for small loads, otherwise the water and detergent will not be evenly distributed on the clothes and they will not be washed well.