Increasingly Long Wash Cycle Times & Fabric Wear

[foraloysius]

AEG's energy saver cycle has indeed evolved into something quite different. I guess Launderess' model is an in between one being that the temperature is 60 degrees Celcius. The energy saver cycle originates from the 'e' button that most European washing machines got after an energy crisis in the seventies. Candy had one already in the 60's but that was a button for small loads. Here's an early AEG with an 'e-knop' as an e-button is called in Dutch. It promises 30% less electricity costs, 50% less chemical wear, 23% less greying and 7% less wash time at 60 degrees in comparison to a boil wash.

 

[henene4]

The economy wash was indeed quite a good model.

At around 70C you get most of the benefits of a boil wash with less usage.

On the first models without a temperature selector it was quite handy since you couldn't do much.

On the later models with a separate temperature selector it could be used as an intensive option of sorts, though you still had the E position on the temp dial.

On the first electronic ones pre jet-system it became it's own cycle but still being a 67C cycle with a 20min extension to the main wash.

Then energy labels became more interesting and they changed it to what equates to the now Eco Label cycles.

Interesting fact: Miele just ditched 50C settings on cotton's cycles and made the 60C a longer 50C cycle getting the same efficiency improvements as AEG.

AEG left a true 60C cycle and changed the Economy cycle from an economy boilwash to an economy 60C.

Miele's reasoning must have been that they didn't want people to think they would have to change to a specific cycle to be efficient.

AEG had the "inferior" (airquotes, the differences were marginal) washing system at that time and wanted people to have a quicker 60C version handy.

Next step was adding Economy options or cycles for more Cottons and Easy Cares.

And then the new energy label came around and created the Eco cycles that take 4h and basically have nothing to do with a Cotton's 60.

Last state of the ELux Eco cycle was:
A) An option selectable to any Cotton's cycle 30C and up with a time saver option available.
B) A cycle at 40 or 60 with same design and same shortening option.

The economy cycle with time saver selected is actually a really nice every day cycle.

It's just short of 2h on either temp.
Add extra rinses and you are just over that.

Main wash gets close enough to temperature, doesn't maintain it though.
Main wash is about 45min total.
2 rinses with high-ish water level and long interim spins.
Long final spin.

With extra rinse you get just a drain after wash, rinse, and then 3 rinses with spins.
Adds about 15 min.

Now we're getting the new Eco 40-60 cycle.

Which in many machines incorporates 3 cycles.

The 40-60 Mix cycle which runs at about 40C actually, with higher water usage due to the new rinsing requirements and "reasonable" wash times from 2:30 to 3:30 depending on load.
(At least that is what most usage data in the manuals suggests, since they have to list a couple of cycles with more data now.)

And the 40 and 60 Eco cycles of yesteryear.

Not sure if that is gonna change after march when the machines no longer have to comply to 2 standards basically.

But yeah, economy options had many forms ever since the late 70s early 80s.

 

[launderess]

For those who understand German, this breaks things down IMHO.

https://www.waschmaschinen-test.eu/wie-kann-man-beim-waschen-energie-sparen

Otherwise AEG washers seem all over the place with "energy savings" programs. Much one suspects has to do with various regulations that have come down.

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/472802/Aeg-L-75478-Fl.html?page=12#manual

Here for Lavamat "Bella" 3450 you can see "Energy Savings" option indicated on dial as Louis and others have mentioned. It is a spot between Cottons 95C and 60C

Setting The Washing Program - AEG LAVAMAT BELLA 3450 User Information [Page 20]

AEG LAVAMAT BELLA 3450 Manual Online: Setting The Washing Program. For the suitable program, the correct temperature and possible addi- 3 tional programs for the particular washing type, refer to the ''Program tables''. 0 1. Set the program selector to the required washing program with...

www.manualslib.com

 

[foraloysius]

Henrik was also referring to a position on the temperature dial like the Lavamat 6450 had. Here's a picture. It could be used in combination with the 'intensief' (Dutch) button, that extended the main wash.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

We have Maytag on the dorms

at SFA and I don't recall having clothes shredded or fabric wear happening.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

It also depends

on how you load the machine and what cycles you use.

 

[yogitunes]

for one thing with FLers, there is minimal, if any, wear on clothing from washing versus a TL agitator machine....your not exactly comparing Apples for Apples here

a simple 15 minute wash of tumbling or vigorous agitation, obviously one is going to cause more wear and tear on fabric...