Why you should never use the quick wash cycle. Remember once and for all

Why you should never use the quick wash cycle. Remember once and for all

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🧼 1. Quick Wash Doesn’t Actually Clean Your Clothes

Quick wash cycles are designed for lightly soiled garments — think clothes you wore for an hour or items that aren’t dirty but need freshening up.

But here’s what most people use it for:

  • Gym clothes
  • Underwear
  • Towels
  • Heavily worn daily outfits

The problem?
➡️ The short cycle time + lower water temperature doesn’t fully remove sweat, oils, bacteria, or odors. You end up wearing “clean” clothes that are, in reality, just dampened and perfumed.

❌ Quick wash = surface rinse, not deep clean.

🦠 2. It Leaves Behind Germs and Bacteria

Because quick washes often use cool or lukewarm water, they don’t reach the temperatures needed to kill bacteria — especially on:

  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Baby clothes
  • Dishcloths or kitchen towels

A study from the University of Arizona found bacteria like E. coli surviving on clothes washed at low temps.

So if you’re washing items that need proper sanitization?
➡️ Skip the quick wash. It’s not doing the job.

🧺 3. Detergent Doesn’t Have Enough Time to Work

Laundry detergent needs time to break down:

  • Body oils
  • Dirt
  • Grime
  • Sweat
  • Makeup stains

Quick cycles don’t give it that time — meaning:

  • Clothes don’t get fully clean
  • Detergent residue may be left behind
  • You may have to re-wash, wasting even more time and water

⏳ Think of detergent like soap on your hands — you wouldn’t scrub for just 3 seconds and expect full cleanliness.

💧 4. You’re Not Saving as Much Energy or Water as You Think

Many assume that quick wash = eco-friendly. But here’s the catch:

  • To compensate for shorter time, some quick cycles use more water or spin at higher speeds
  • You may end up doing multiple loads because things aren’t truly clean

Over time, this wastes more water, electricity, and time than simply running a proper full cycle.

👕 5. It Wears Out Your Clothes Faster

Quick cycles often rely on aggressive spinning to get things clean faster. That fast motion can:

  • Stretch fabrics
  • Weaken seams
  • Fade colors
  • Cause pilling or distortion

Your clothes might come out faster — but they’ll wear out sooner.

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