False economy of a quick wash

USING the ‘quick’ cycle on your washing machine could be a waste of time and money – because consumer watchdogs say they are only half as effective.

Experts from Which? said the quick washes on modern machines fall well short on cleaning, rinsing and spinning compared to a standard cycle.

Which? tested cycles on ten popular appliances but while standard programmes got an average of four stars for performance, the quick cycles got two stars. This means that quick washes are only really suited to laundry without tough stains or lingering smells, such as a few shirts worn for only a day.

A spokesman for Which? added: ‘As quick washes don’t spin your clothes as thoroughly as a full wash, it will take longer for them to dry. If you use a tumble dryer, it will consume more energy - which will cost more.’