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 can be a lifesaver. Quick wash cycles can be as short as 12 minutes, though it’s more common to see times of 14, 15 or 20 minutes.
It’s important to understand that quick wash cycles are designed to handle a smaller amount of clothes than regular cycles, and are intended for refreshing clothes that are still fairly clean rather than tackling really dirty laundry. Therefore, you shouldn’t rely on the quick wash cycle all the time, and shouldn’t try to wash full loads on this setting. Unfortunately, if you want to properly clean a big load of laundry, you’ll still have to run one of the longer programmes.
Most washing machines on the market these days have at least one quick wash option, which is sometimes named “Rapid” rather than “Quick” or “Quick Wash”. Many machines have a choice of two or three quick wash cycles, for example 15-, 30- and 45-minute options.
Selecting the best washing machine with a quick wash cycle isn’t as simple as finding the machine with the quickest cycle, though we have done that below! Quicker isn’t always better, and it’s fairly standard to have a cycle of just 15 or 20 minutes, so you’d only be saving a few minutes by getting the quickest machine. We’ve researched the market and picked out some excellent washing machines in different categories. Hopefully one of the products below will meet your needs.
Our Top Picks
1. Bosch WGG254Z1GB (Best overall)
Quick wash specs:
| Programme name | Super Quick ‘15 | Super Quick ‘30 |
|---|---|---|
| Time (minutes) | 15 | 30 |
| Max capacity | 2 kg | 4 kg |
| Max temp. | 40 °C | 40 °C |
| Max spin speed | 1200 rpm | 1200 rpm |
Why we picked it:
The Bosch WGG254Z1GB is a great all-round washing machine, and is one of the most popular and highly rated models on the market in the UK. It’s a freestanding machine with a 10 kg capacity on regular washing programmes. It offers two quick wash cycles: Super Quick ’15, which can clean 2 kg of clothes in 15 minutes; and Super Quick ‘30, which can handle 4 kg in 30 minutes.
What we like:
- Very highly rated by users
- Handy selection of two quick wash cycles (15 and 30 minutes)
- Generous 10 kg capacity for standard washing programmes
Potential drawbacks:
- It’s a mid-priced machine, and there are several cheaper options on the market
- Energy usage on longer cycles is higher than average
Check price and reviews:
2. Hisense WF3S1043BT3 (Best budget model)
Quick wash specs:
| Programme name | Quick ‘15 | Power ‘30 | Power ‘49 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time (minutes) | 15 | 40 | 49 |
| Max capacity | 2 kg | 4 kg | 4 kg |
| Max temp. | 40 °C | 40 °C | 40 °C |
| Max spin speed | 800 rpm | 1400 rpm | 1400 rpm |
Why we picked it:
The Hisense WF3S1043BT3 is an impressive washing machine for the price, and could be a good choice if you’re looking for an affordable family washing machine. In terms of quick wash cycles, the Hisense WF3S1043BT3 has a 15-minute cycle that can handle 2 kg of clothes, as well as 30- and 49-minute cycles that can wash 4 kg of clothes and spin them at a fast speed of 1400 rpm.
What we like:
- Good value for money
- Nice selection of quick wash cycles (15, 30 and 49 minutes)
- Large 10.5 kg capacity for standard washing programmes
Potential drawbacks:
- The shortest (15-minute) quick cycle has quite a low spin speed, so your clothes might come out quite wet
Check price and reviews:
3. AEG LFR61144B (Best quick wash capacity)
Quick wash specs:
| Programme name | 20min 3kg |
|---|---|
| Time (minutes) | 20 |
| Max capacity | 3 kg |
| Max temp. | 40 °C |
| Max spin speed | 1200 rpm |
Why we picked it:
The AEG LFR61144B offers a quick wash programme that lets you wash 3 kg of clothes in 20 minutes, which is a good compromise if you need something quick that can actually handle more than a couple of items. There’s also a relatively quick 69-minute cycle that can wash 5 kg of clothes and can be used at a higher temperature (60 °C) if you choose to.
What we like:
- Can handle a relatively large amount of laundry on the quick cycle
- Reasonably priced (though not the cheapest option)
- TimeSave setting can be used to speed up regular programmes
Potential drawbacks:
- The shortest cycle is 20 minutes, whereas many machines have a 14- or 15-minute cycle
- Spin noise is 76 decibels, which is louder than average
Check price and reviews:
4. Candy CBW28D4WM5J-80 (Best integrated model)
Quick wash specs:
| Programme name | Rapid ‘14 | Rapid ‘30 | Rapid ‘45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time (minutes) | 14 | 30 | 45 |
| Max capacity | 1.5 kg | 2.5 kg | 3.5 kg |
| Max temp. | 40 °C | 40 °C | 40 °C |
Why we picked it:
There isn’t a big choice of integrated washing machines on the market. This is one of the most popular and well-reviewed, is reasonably priced, and also has a choice of three quick wash programmes (14, 30 and 45 minutes).
What we like:
- Good value for money
- Standard programmes are more energy efficient than average for an integrated machine
Potential drawbacks:
- Some users find that it leaves clothes quite wet after the spin cycle
Check price and reviews:
5. Xiaomi Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer Pro (Shortest quick wash cycle)
Quick wash specs:
| Programme name | Quick Wash |
|---|---|
| Time (minutes) | 12 |
| Max capacity | 2 kg |
Why we picked it:
The shortest quick wash cycle available at the time of writing seems to be 12 minutes, though this is very rare. The Xiaomi Mijia Front Load Washer Dryer Pro is one of the few machines to offer a cycle this quick, though it’s technically a washer dryer rather than a washing machine. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing though – in fact, it’s quite convenient to have a tumble drying function in the same machine, especially if you need to wash and dry clothes as quickly as possible. If, however, you don’t want a washer dryer, you another option with a 12-minute quick wash cycle is the integrated Lamona LAM8778.
What we like:
- Very quick 12-minute cycle
- Built-in tumble dryer could be handy
Potential drawbacks:
- Not many user reviews yet, so long-term performance is unclear
Check price and reviews:
FAQs on Quick Wash Cycles
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.
In The Wash is your guide to the best laundry and cleaning products, tips and tricks. Our mission is to solve the UK’s cleaning and laundry dilemmas!
