With hundreds of washing machines on the market today, it can be incredibly difficult to pick out a washing machine that suits you. With plenty of styles, makes, colours and features to decide from, you really are spoilt for choice.
But one of the main features you really shouldn’t overlook, is how long the various washing cycles last on your chosen washing machine.
It might sound silly to you, because you may assume that all washing machines have the same cycle times. But when it comes down to it each appliance is different.
Picking a washing machine that has cycle times that you like and need is imperative.
The last thing you need is to be waiting around for your laundry to finish when you’ve already got a busy schedule to follow.
Of course, finding a washing machine with exactly the right cycle times that you desire is basically like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
However, I’ve done most of the looking for you, so all you need to do is scroll down the page to find a comparison of top brand washing machine cycle times – wasn’t that good timing!
What Washing Cycles Matter Most?
If you’re thinking about buying a new washing machine, one of the first things you should read up on is cycle times.
Think about it, if you’re someone who doesn’t wash big, bulky loads of laundry and you’d rather do quick washes as and when you need to, you need to pick a machine that can do that.
On the flipside, if you’re washing a whole load of cottons, the last thing you want is to be hanging around all day waiting for a cycle to end.
You need to choose a washing machine that has cycle times that suit your lifestyle.
At the end of the day, nobody wants to be sitting indoors waiting to peg the laundry out. You want washing clothes to be as hassle free as possible!
Let’s find out more about the washing machine cycles that matter most.
Note: There will be some variation between cycle times from one make to another, and from one model to another, please keep this in mind. Further to this, although most washing machine models will come with the cycles outlined below, you might find that some models may not have all the cycles listed.
Quick wash cycle
Average time: 14 minutes to 1 hour
The quick wash, as the name suggests, is the fastest washing machine cycle on most washing machines.
It has been designed with washing a couple of lightly soiled items in mind, so it’s not very suitable for extremely dirty or delicate items.
On average, a cycle of such nature is around 14 minutes to 1 hour long.
In addition to a fast wash cycle, laundry that’s being cleaned on this program also go through an intense and rather rapid spin session at the end, and this is also over fairly quickly.
Cotton cycle
Average time: 1 hour 30 minutes to four hours
A cotton cycle is most suitable for cotton-based items, such as bedding, towels and cotton clothes. During this type of cycle laundry is agitated a lot, and is exposed to quite high water temperatures that wouldn’t be suitable for most other materials.
On average, a cycle like a cotton one can last anywhere between one hour and thirty minutes to over four hours in some extreme cases.
Synthetics cycle
Average time: 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours
The synthetic cycle is usually used for everyday clothes that are made from materials other than cotton. These materials include polyester, acrylics and mixed fabrics.
Such a cycle is usually far gentler on laundry which is why it’s quite a common cycle to use.
In addition to this, this cycle is usually run with half a load of laundry. For example, if you had a 9 kg drum, you’d pop 4.5 kg of laundry in.
On average, this type of cycle takes about two and a half hours to three hours to complete, but this can decrease and increase in some cases.
Delicates and hand wash cycle
Average time: 45 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes
A delicate cycle is for delicate clothes that don’t fall under the synthetic banner. Laundry like lace and silk items would need to be washed using this cycle. Typically, this kind of cycle is quite calm with very little agitation occurring, and the water temperature is normally quite low too.
A hand wash cycle is usually kept for ‘hand wash only’ garments. You’d expect a similar sort of cycle to a delicate one, with an even slower agitation process too.
On average, these cycles can take around forty-five minutes to an hour and a half to complete.
However, it can be difficult to give an exact time as washing machine models vary, not all older washing machines have these features, and how much you wash at once will impact the time too.
Temperature cycle
Temperature cycles are cycles where you choose a temperature that you want your laundry to be washed at. You can usually wash your laundry on a cold wash, at a temperature as low as 20℃ or up to a temperature of 95℃.
However, how long each one of these cycles actually lasts varies based on the manufacturer, the washing machine model and how much laundry you put into the machine.
Here’s a quick recap of the average cycle times listed above:
- Quick wash cycle: 14 minutes to an hour
- Cotton cycle: One hour and thirty minutes to over four hours
- Synthetic cycle: Two and a half hours to three hours
- Delicates and hand wash cycle: Forty-five minutes to an hour and a half
- Temperature cycle: Variable times
Factors That Impact Cycle Times
Before we dive right in and compare washing machine cycle times across the top brands, there are a few things that you need to know about first.
Here are some factors that impact the cycles times of washing machines.
Each and every manufacturer does make their models in their own unique way, which means that there will be variation in how long cycles run.
So, you cannot assume that a quick cycle will last exactly the same time for every washing machine.
With this in mind, it’s worth pointing out that there is also variation in cycle times between the models one manufacturer makes.
For example, the LG TurboWash 360 F4V909WTSE can handle 5 kg of laundry in a quick wash cycle, however, this larger load makes the quick wash cycle run for longer – 39 minutes to be exact.
On the other hand, the LG F4V509SSE can wash up to 2 kg of laundry in 14 minutes on a quick wash cycle.
Further to the above, how packed up your drum is may increase the length of a cycle you’ve chosen.
For example, the Hotpoint Core NSWR963CWKUK can take over four hours to complete a full 9 kg cotton cycle, but you could reduce the load and temperature to lower the time.
In addition to the above, once you have your washing machine at home, if you don’t stick to the guidance that you are given, you may notice that cycle times don’t run to time per se.
For example, if you don’t add the right amount of laundry for a particular cycle, this may increase the cycle time.
Without further ado, let’s compare!
Comparison Of Washing Machine Cycle Times
Below you’ll find a comparison of top brand washing machine cycle times.
The washing machines will be compared in line with the following cycles: quick wash cycle, cotton cycle, synthetics cycle, and finally, temperature cycle.
The top brands compared include: LG, Samsung, Bosch, Miele, Hotpoint and AEG.
Note: The comparisons below are made on washing machines that have a capacity between 8kg to 10.5kg and were leading washing machines at the time of writing.
Quick wash cycle times compared
LG
Some LG washing machine models can take as little as 14 minutes to wash a 2kg load of laundry. The LG EZDispense Turbowash F4V709WTSA is one of these models.
However, some other models by LG, for example the LG TurboWash 360 F6V1010WTSE, takes up to 39 minutes to wash a 5 kg load of laundry, which is quite a long time considering how little time other brands manage to complete a quick wash cycle in.
That being said, you do get to wash 5 kg of laundry which is a bonus!
Samsung
Generally, Samsung’s washing machines can perform a quick wash cycle in 15 minutes with a 2 kg load of laundry. The Samsung Series 5 ecobubble WW80TAO46TH is a model that can do this.
Bosch
Just like Samusng, Bosch’s washing machines can typically perform a quick wash cycle in as little as 15 minutes with a smaller load of laundry.
Miele
Unlike other top brands, Miele’s quick washes on average last from 20 minutes to 50 minutes, and this is typically for a 5 kg load of laundry.
The Miele W1WSG363 is an example of a model that can perform a Quick PowerWash of laundry in under 50 minutes.
Although these times seem longer than some other makes and models you’ll read about, you do get to add around 3 kg more laundry into the cycle, which is an added perk.
Hotpoint
Although if you’d like to be able to quickly wash a full load of laundry in just thirty minutes, look no further than the Hotpoint CORE NSWR963CGK.
With this particular model you can clean 9 kg of laundry in 30 minutes, which is exceptional considering other manufacturers aren’t keen on you filling your appliance up to max capacity when performing a quick wash cycle.
AEG
AEG’s washing machines can usually do a quick wash in just 20 minutes, but this type of cycle is limited to around 3 kg at a time.
However, there is a model that you can add 8 kg of laundry to, and it can quickly clean it in an hour. This model is the AEG 7000 Series L7FC84321BI.
Cotton cycle times compared
LG
LG cotton cycles that are run on a 40℃ wash typically take around four hours to complete. However, this is based on the user filling up their 9kg to 10.5kg washing machine drum.
Samsung
When Samsung’s washing machines run a cotton cycle at 40℃ they take around three and a half hours on average to complete the cycle. This is slightly less than that of LG.
Bosch
If Bosch runs a 40℃ cotton cycle it takes on average three hours and twenty minutes to complete this wash. This isn’t too different from Samsung.
Miele
When you run a cotton cycle at 40℃ with a Miele washing machine, you can expect the cycle to take around two hours and forty minutes to complete.
While this time may seem a little shorter than other top brands’ cycle times, it should be noted that the quality of the wash isn’t sacrificed.
A lot of users are very happy with this shooter cycle time and how clean laundry comes out at the end.
Hotpoint
Hotpoint, on the other hand, has quite a lengthy cycle time when it comes to washing cottons on a 40℃ wash.
On average, if you wash a 9 kg load of laundry on this type of cycle you can expect to wait around four hours and ten minutes for the cycle to end. This is even longer than the LG cycle!
AEG
AEG’s washing machines take on average around three and a half hours to complete a cotton cycle at a 40℃ temperature. This is very similar to Samsung!
Synthetic cycle times compared
LG
On average, LG washing machine models can complete a synthetic cycle with half a load of laundry in around three hours, when they are capped at a temperature of 40℃. However, there is some slight variation between models.
Samsung
In contrast, when Samsung washing machines run a synthetic cycle at 40℃, they can complete such a cycle in just under two and a half hours. You usually only add in half a load of laundry to get such quick results.
Bosch
If Bosh were to run a half load synthetic cycle at 40℃, just like the other manufacturers mentioned here have done, it would take on average two hours and twenty minutes for a Bosch model to finish this cycle.
This is slightly less than the time it takes Samsung to complete the same cycle.
Miele
When a synthetic cycle is run at 40℃ on a Miele washing machine, the cycle usually takes about two hours to finish.
This is significantly shorter than other brands’ times, but as always, you should keep in mind that this time refers to a half load only.
Hotpoint
Like with other top brands, the synthetic cycle on a Hotpoint washing machine can only be run effectively if you only add half the capacity load to the drum.
With this in mind, 4.5 kg of laundry takes on average three and a half hours to complete. This is quite a bit longer than other top brands!
AEG
AEG is no different to other top makes in the sense that you should only wash half a load of laundry when running a synthetics cycle.
When running such a cycle at 40℃ you can expect the cycle to end in about two and a half hours.
This time is in keeping with Samsung and Bosch. Of course, if you were to add more laundry to the drum this time would take longer.
Temperature cycle times compared
LG
Most LG washing machines can be run on a cold wash, and they can increase their cycle temperature all the way up to 95℃ too. This, however, does mean that cycle times will differ for each different temperature.
For example, the LG EZDispense Turbowash F4V709WTSA can wash up to 5kg of laundry on a 20℃ wash in as little as 50 minutes.
However, when you increase the temperature to 40℃, you can only wash half a load of laundry, yet it takes three hours to complete the cycle.
Additionally, a 60℃ cycle can take almost three and a half hours, when you have filled the machine up to its max capacity.
Other larger capacity models made by LG, like the LG TurboWash 360 F6V1010WTSE, can take up to four hours and forty minutes to complete a 60℃ cycle with 10.5kg of laundry.
Samsung
Samsung, like LG, also has a plethora of temperature cycles you can choose from. These typically range from cold to 90℃, and as with LG, each one of these temperatures has its own cycle duration.
As a guide, a 40℃ cycle on a Samsung washing machine usually takes around three hours and twenty minutes, and a 60℃ cycle takes around three hours and forty minutes.
Bosch
As with other brands listed in this article, Bosch’s washing machines can also do different temperature cycles. Like Samsung, Bosch’s temperature range is between cold to 90℃.
You can expect a Bosch washing machine, like the Bosch Serie 6 i-DOS WAU28S80GB, to perform a 40℃ or 60℃ cycle in about three hours and forty-five minutes.
The 40℃ seems to take a few minutes extra than other brands, but the 60℃ temperature cycle seems on par with other top brands.
Miele
On average, Miele washing machine models take around three hours to complete 40℃ and 60℃ temperature cycles. This is again a shorter time frame than other makes, but Miele have ensured that they haven’t compromised on quality to get smaller cycle times.
Hotpoint
Hotpoint runs cycles of similar temperature to the other brands noted in this article – cold to 90℃.
On average, a 40℃ cycle takes around three and a half hours to complete. Although, this time only refers to half a load of laundry being washed at this temperature.
A 60℃ cycle, on the other hand, can be completed with a full load and takes four and a half hours to finish, the Hotpoint CORE NSWR963CGK is a model that can handle a cycle like this.
This length of time isn’t significantly different to that of a large capacity LG model!
AEG
When it comes to AEG you get most of the standard temperature that you see on other makes of washing machine. However, there is some slight variation between AEG’s models as to how long temperature cycles last.
For example, a 40℃ cycle with half a load takes almost four hours to complete, if you use the AEG Soft Water L9FEC966R washing machine.
But if you run a regular 40℃ cycle on the AEG 7000 Series L7FC84321BI, the cycle only takes three hours and five minutes on average.
In addition to this, if you run a full load at 60℃ in the AEG Soft Water L9FEC966R model, you can expect to wait almost four and a half hours for the washing to be done. But if you watch the same cycle in the AEG 7000 Series L7FC84321BI model, it’ll take you almost five hours.
These times are not hugely different from other times that have been listed, however, the cycles do appear to be some of the longest ones.
Note: The models, features and prices of washing machines discussed above were correct at the time of writing.
Final Thoughts…
Here’s a quick summary of how the top brands fare.
LG’s cycle times can be longer than average in some cases, but if you put less laundry into the machine the times can be lowered.
Samsung’s cycle times, on the other hand, aren’t too short but they aren’t overly long either. Generally, people don’t have too many worries and concerns over the cycle times Samsung washing machines have. Bosch isn’t too different from Samsung in terms of cycle times.
Miele’s washing machines have some of the shortest cycle times, and the brand is often seen as one of the better manufacturers of washing machines. Although they have got shorter cycle times, the quality of their craftsmanship, and the cleaning abilities of their machines doesn’t seem to have been compromised.
Hotpoint’s cycle times are slightly longer than other makes and models. However, they do have an overall great cleaning power, and their spin feature is very likeable.
Some of AEG’s washing machines cycle times are similar to Samsung and Bosch’s in some cases, but some of the cycles are overly long and could be quicker. Plus, there are obvious differences in cycle times across their models.
Bethan has a passion for exploring, reading, cooking and gardening! When she’s not creating culinary delights for her family, she’s concocting potions to keep her house clean!
