Laundry Detergent for Quick Programmes: How to Wash Fast but Effectively
A quick wash programme is tempting: 15, 30 or 45 minutes and your laundry is ready. But a short cycle means less time for the detergent to work, less mechanical action and often a shorter rinse. That's why a detergent for quick programmes needs to disperse easily, be dosed correctly and be used only when such a programme is genuinely suitable.
When is a quick programme suitable?
A quick programme is suitable for a small load of lightly soiled clothes: T-shirts worn once, clothes without stains, or a light refresh. It isn't suitable for a full drum, towels, bed linen, sportswear with sweat odour or stains that need longer treatment.
If the problem is odour, first read our guide to laundry detergent for sweat odour.
Why is liquid detergent often more convenient here?
Liquid detergent mixes with water faster, so on quick programmes it has an advantage over products that need more time to dissolve. We cover this difference in more detail in the article Washing Powder vs Liquid Detergent.
If you use quick programmes every day, choose a laundry detergent that is easy to dose accurately and suitable for lower temperatures.
The most common mistakes when washing quickly
- An overfilled drum. A quick programme won't wash a large load as well as a standard cycle.
- Too large a dose. A short rinse can leave residue behind.
- Too low a temperature for strong odours. When a smell has set in, you need not just detergent but time.
- Stains aren't pre-treated. A short cycle rarely deals with set-in stains.
A practical rule
Only use a quick wash for lightly soiled items. If a garment smells of sweat, food, grease or damp, choose a longer programme. If you want to save energy, it's better to wash at a lower temperature on a sufficiently long cycle rather than trying to fit everything into a 15-minute programme.
More on saving energy and temperature: Washing at Low Temperatures.
Related Ecozyme guides
- Liquid Detergent for Everyday Washing
- Washing Powder vs Liquid Detergent
- Washing at Low Temperatures
- How to Dose Laundry Detergent Correctly
A quick wash only works when you've chosen the right cycle, load size and laundry detergent.
