Is a 15-Minute Wash Cycle Enough?

When it comes to washing clothes, most people want the best of both worlds. They want a cycle that is short enough to not take up too much time, but also powerful enough to clean their clothes properly. Is a 15-minute wash cycle enough for you?

Here we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using a shorter wash cycle. We will also explore whether or not you have to sacrifice cleaning power in order to save time. Let’s get started!

 

Is a 15-Minute Wash Cycle Long Enough?

The answer to this question will depend on what you are trying to wash. If you wanted to quickly wash a small batch of clothes that don’t have any staining on them then yes, a short wash can be a great idea as it will freshen up your clothes and leave them smelling great. 

On the flipside, there are plenty of other times when it won’t be enough. If you have any heavily soiled clothes then 15 minutes isn’t going to be long enough to get the stains out. Also, 15 minutes isn’t long enough to clean a full load of washing, even if it isn’t stained.

 

When to Use A 15-Minute Cycle

There are three main scenarios when using a short washing cycle can be a great idea so let’s check them out.

In a rush

If you have no other choice than a quick wash, then this cycle can be a lifesaver. For example, you’ve forgotten to wash your work shirts, you’re just about to head out to the gym or perhaps you need to clean your favourite sports top. 

Even though the cleaning may not be perfect, a short wash is better than nothing.

Washing everyday clothes

Say you’re the type of person that wears T-shirts every day but doesn’t sweat too much or get stains on them. This is a great example of the type of clothes that would benefit from a short wash as they don’t need a lot of detergent. 

Need a refresh

It gets to the summer and you realise that all your hot-weather clothes have been sitting in your drawers for six months. They are clean but don’t smell fresh. A 15-minute cycle will bring them back to life. 

 

When Not to Use a 15-Minute Cycle

You shouldn’t use a 15-minute cycle if it doesn’t fall into any of the categories above. If your clothing has any significant stains then it’s unlikely that a 15-minute wash would be enough to get them out. 

Given how much energy you can save with a 15-minute wash, it’s a good idea to see if you’re lightly soiled clothes can come clean in a short wash. This can be good for the likes of school clothes which often have mild stains on them.

 

Benefits of a Short Wash

The obvious benefit of a short wash is speed but it goes beyond that. 

With soaring energy bills, using a short wash can end up saving you a lot of money. Given regular cycles will often last for 90 minutes or more, it’s clear the savings that can be made. Along with your energy bills, you’ll also be saving on water.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide if a 15-minute wash cycle is enough for your needs. If you have a lot of laundry to do, then you might want to consider using a longer cycle. However, if you only have a few items that need to be washed, then a 15-minute wash cycle should be sufficient.

 

Short Wash Tips

So, you’re going to use your short wash feature. That’s great but there are a few tips you should know first.

Don’t use too much detergent

If you use your regular full-wash amount of detergent then it will struggle to cycle through it in the short time. You’ll end up with clothes that have an overpowering detergent smell. Start by using around half of your regular amount.

Don’t fill the machine

Your clothes need to be soaked, the detergent needs to be run through the clothes and they need to be spun. If you’re putting in a full load then there is not enough time for that to happen. Aim to ensure that your drum is a maximum of a third full.

Leave out towels

Towels usually only wash clean water from our bodies, so surely they are a good candidate for a short wash? While this is partially true, short washing cycles only have slow spin speeds. This means your towels will come out very wet. You can combat this by running them on a dedicated spin cycle.

 

Final Thoughts

Hopefully by now, you have a good grasp on when and when not a 15-minute cycle would be a good idea. If you’re not sure whether your clothes would suit a short wash, just give it a try!

The worst that can happen is that they need to go back to the full cycle. The best that can happen is if you work out which clothes only need 15 minutes and save yourself time, energy and money going forward.