Laundry

I often wash my clothes without detergent. I think that unless you do a manual labour job or do excessive sweaty exercise, just water is fine.

I line dry, so they're in the fresh air too. Clothes always look and smell clean.

I don’t use fabric conditioner! All washing powder goes straight in drum, use ecover powder and line dry when weathers reasonable, if can’t I dry in our utility room on hangers or across units! I e never actually washed my clothes with no detergent though

Ive

Haven't used soap powder for a number of years now. Use soap nuts instead. Excellent.

I have just discovered (or rather, my d.I.l.) that my machine has a ‘daily wash ‘ programme - takes 15 minutes - so I only use a pinch of powder. Really handy when energy prices have gone through the roof

We use far too much soap powder. The cleaning of the washing mostly comes from the water running through the clothes and the bashing against the drum.
This was explained to me when I worked for Hoover many years ago. The method was likened to women in some 3rd world countries washing in rivers and using stones to bash the clothes against.

crazyH

I have just discovered (or rather, my d.I.l.) that my machine has a ‘daily wash ‘ programme - takes 15 minutes - so I only use a pinch of powder. Really handy when energy prices have gone through the roof

I use this. My DD likes soap powder and conditioner. I wait until the final rinse (about 7 minutes in) and add conditioner then. She's convinced all hers and DGS's clothes need a 45 minute wash to get clean. I use the 15 minute wash on all their stuff and she doesn't know the difference.

15 minute wash on mine with no powder/liquid at all. Just water.

OP, why did you only was pyjama bottoms and pants.
don't you wear pyjama jacket ?
also we can mostly cut down the amount of detergent used.
i always water down washing up liquid, hand soap.

Never heard of anyone else having it, drives me mad.

How would I discover/recognise the daily wash button, please? All sorts of hieroglyphics on my machine somewhat indecipherable.

We have a 30 minute wash,works fine as our clothes are never filthy,just need a freshen up really.

kim, do you have a display on your w/m ?
so for example on your usual wash, it might display temperature, length of wash, doo lock symbol.
end the end there is a tone and if you watch it, the lock symbol disappears, showing that drum has stopped and it is now safe to open.
so without starting the machine, go through all the possible settings, and see what is displayed.
you can then find the shortest available wash time.
good luck.
though i have heard that using a short wash/half load is less economical in terms of energy cost and water used.

welbeck

OP, why did you only was pyjama bottoms and pants.
don't you wear pyjama jacket ?
also we can mostly cut down the amount of detergent used.
i always water down washing up liquid, hand soap.

Because it was my nether regions that were itching. (TMI)

My Daily wash takes one hour 13 minutes. Fast wash is 15, but then needs a spin.I only use it for wool.

I use usually eco washing sheets in my WM. These do not have any sort of foaming up. Stopped using any sort of fabric conditioner many years ago .

Do think we have all been 'sold' the use of so much and the use of higher heats and longer times in our washing machines. So, powders or liquid (even those horrible plastic covered pods), then Conditioner, then drying sheets in our tumble dryers. The recent pandemic gave the excuse for us to be told we needed higher and higher heats for our washing, etc.

All need to take a step back and a big breath. Yes, water only wash is fine - in the past (do not have to go as far as washing clothes against stones in rivers) - large container and a big paddle and many of can still remember washing boards!!!

Fabric Conditioner should be banned (IMO), it causes all sorts of problems.
My (Hoover) WM has a daily wash of 59 minutes (set for 60 degrees- but that is controllable). Also has another
button which will give me a choice of 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes wash. Never seen any difference in cleanliness when I use these.

After all, few of us get our clothes, etc. really dirty. Okay for those is very dirty jobs, perhaps those clothes may need a higher heat, longer wash and some sort of soap - but for the majority of us, all of that is totally unnecessary. Perhaps one good thing which will come out of the recent hike in energy prices is that it will help, a little, towards saving the planet.