Best Quick-Wash Washing Machines (UK)

If you’re in a hurry to get your clothes clean – and let’s face it, in today’s world, most of us are – then the ‘quick wash’ feature on your washing machine will be a lifesaver.

A ‘quick wash’ cycle will work as its name suggests – it will clean your clothes at a faster rate than a normal cycle.

Depending on the machine, this can take anywhere from between 15 minutes up to 1 hour. While it can be tempting to use this setting for every washing load, one of the downsides to using a quick-wash setting is that it may leave your clothes without that perfectly fresh feeling.

However, quick washes are more eco-friendly, as it spins the clothes faster, extracting more water from them and therefore using less water overall. This will also cause less strain on your washing machine, so it will last you for longer and mean less issues in the long run.

But how do you find the best quick-wash washing machine? With so many great washing machines to choose from, it can seem overwhelming to find one that suits you and your lifestyle.

For your convenience, we’ve narrowed it down to five of the best quick-wash washing machines, along with our top tips to help you find your perfect product!

Let’s take a look at the best quick-wash washing machines to help you get your clothes cleaner, faster!

 

FAQs on Quick Wash Cycles

What washing machine has the fastest wash cycle?

Quick wash cycles can be an absolute lifesaver on a Sunday night when you have a last-minute school uniform emergency. Most modern washing machines do have a quick wash cycle, but exactly how long this takes depends on the brand and the model.

The vast majority of quick wash cycles have a 15- or 20-minute cycle that can handle just a couple of kilos of lightly soiled laundry. The fastest cycles available, however, tend to be about 14 minutes, including the Hoover H-Wash washing machine on this list.

That being said, there are some washing machines offering a 12-minute quick wash cycle, but these tend to be few and far between.

 

Is a quick wash cycle as good as a normal wash?

Quick wash cycles are designed for last minute emergencies of just a couple lightly soiled garments or clothes that just need a quick refresh.

When you wash just a couple of items using a quick wash cycle, the garments will come out clean as long as they aren’t heavily soiled. This is because the temperature does not get up as high, and the quicker wash and spin cycles means clothing will not wash or drain as effectively.

If you need to wash garments that smell, have stubborn stains or are heavily soiled, you will achieve much better results by washing using a standard cycle rather than the quick wash.

In the same way, if you attempt to wash too many garments using a quick wash, you might find that they either do not clean at all, or that they come out dripping wet because of the shorter spin cycle. You might also find residual soap left in the garments.

 

Can you do a full load on quick wash?

No, quick wash cycles aren’t designed to handle full loads. The quickest cycles, which can be as short as 14 minutes, are usually only designed to handle around 2 kg of laundry.

Quick wash cycles are good if you’re in a hurry and need to wash an outfit or a handful of laundry, but shouldn’t be used for full loads of laundry. You also shouldn’t use the quick wash option as your default, as it doesn’t do as good a job at cleaning laundry as a regular cycle would.

It’s best used for quickly refreshing clothes rather than cleaning them thoroughly.

 

Can you make your washing machine finish faster?

Aside from choosing the shortest cycles on your machine, like the quick wash option, there isn’t much you can do to speed your washing machine up.

Your washing machine will take as long as it needs to clean your clothes, while optimising for energy efficiency. It might seem counterintuitive, but newer washing machines are often slower than older machines as this helps them use less energy and water.

If your washing machine contains sensors to weight the load, it will probably finish faster if you clean a smaller load, as a smaller load of clothes will require less washing time.

If your washing machine does this and you want to wash something quickly, washing it with just a few other items should help speed things up. However, doing this on a regular basis would waste energy and water, as it would be more efficient to wash full loads.

 

Quick Wash Tips

1. Think before you load

While quick washes are, of course, great for getting your clothes washed speedily, and they can save energy and water, they aren’t the best option if you’ve got some heavy-duty stains to get rid of.

When this is the case, a quick wash won’t be as thorough, and you’ll likely need a longer, more powerful cycle to get the job done. This is because quick washes tend to use lower temperatures.

That’s why they’re ideal for loads that aren’t heavily soiled, but for items such as towels and bedding, it’s recommended to use a slower, full wash cycle for maximum cleanliness.

 

2. Use the right temperature

In order to fully kill germs and bacteria on your fabrics, hot temperatures are your best bet, and around 60 degrees will work well.

However, this isn’t the most environmentally friendly option, and it’s important to always read the care label on garments before placing them in a hot wash, as some items shouldn’t be washed on high temperatures.

 

3. Choose your detergent wisely

It’s essential that you choose the right detergent if you’re planning on frequently using the quick wash option.

For sensitive skin and delicate clothing, it is advised to use a non-biological detergent, as it doesn’t contain harsh chemicals, enzymes, or bleach.

This means it is not the most effective choice against removing stains, but is therefore more suited to a quick wash, which should be used for refreshing clothes and every day, lightly soiled items.

In addition to choosing a suitable detergent, it is also important not to overfill the machine when using a quick wash. It is advised to fill it to around 40% of its full capacity. This will give you the best results, as too many clothes inside means the detergent won’t be as evenly disturbed.

 

4. Clean your machine regularly

Low temperature washes on a regular basis, although energy-saving, can cause a build-up of bacteria within your washing machine. This can cause an unpleasant smell, too.

With this in mind, you can rectify this by simply running an empty wash cycle on a hot temperature around once every month or two. You don’t need to use any detergent, and you should then also clean the detergent drawers for extra cleanliness.

 

Conclusion

The quick wash function is a saviour in busy, modern life, and can help to free up a lot of time in your day.

However, not all machines come equipped with a great quick-wash feature, so it is essential that you consider this before you make a purchase. With that in mind, it’s not been easy to pick a winning machine from our product review. All of these products offer their own standout features that make them excellent choices if you need a high-quality quick wash.

After considering all of their features, though, my choice for the best quick-wash washing machine would be the Hisense WFQA1014EVJMT 10 kg Washing Machine since it has a large drum size, is relatively quiet and has a good choice of programs.

We hope this review has helped you to find the best quick-wash washing machine to help give you more time to enjoy your day and focus on what you enjoy!

Thanks for reading!