Using the washing machine’s fast program isn’t necessarily a good idea. And it’s not just a question of saving money.
Days are only 24 hours long, and we’re all looking for ways to save a few minutes here and there and get everything done at home. Housework takes up a lot of our time every day, which is why using the washing machine’s fast program may seem like a good idea.
After all, who wouldn’t want to reduce the time spent on laundry, especially in a busy day? However, this practice can have harmful consequences for your clothes, your machine, your wallet and the environment. Depending on how you use it, it’s not always a good option.
The main disadvantage of the fast program is the quality of the wash: it is not very effective on heavily soiled garments. These shortened cycles, often lasting 30 minutes, don’t give the water and detergent enough time to penetrate deep into the fabric. This means that stubborn stains and embedded dirt are not properly removed. What’s more, rinsing is often less effective, which can leave detergent residues on your clothes, leading to skin irritations and allergies.
Another major problem is premature wear and tear on clothes. Fast cycles can be more aggressive on clothes, using faster and stronger spin cycles to reduce drying time. This can accelerate wear and tear, damaging fabrics and causing them to deteriorate more quickly. They are not at all recommended for delicate fabrics such as silk, wool or lace.
If you use this program too often, it will wear out your appliance more quickly. Short programs are not the most durable option, as the washing machine runs at a higher intensity to complete the cycle in less time. These will be more energetic and wear out the appliance faster, reducing its lifespan.
It’s also a bad idea for your wallet, as these programs often consume more energy. Although logic tells us that the shorter the cycle, the lower the energy consumption, this is not true, since the washing machine has to wash, rinse and spin all the clothes faster. As a result, you need to heat the water in less time, using the maximum power of the resistors, and its spinning will be faster and more powerful, so you’ll use more energy.
When should I use the short cycle? When your clothes are not very dirty, this can be a solution. You should also take care not to overfill the drum. Fast washing is only effective for small loads, otherwise the water and detergent won’t be distributed evenly over the clothes and they won’t be washed properly.
