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Washing is few people’s favourite pastime and we can often find ourselves wishing it would take a lot less time. So when the machine timer announces there is a minute to go it can encourage us to hang on to get it out.
But that minute seems to take forever at times while we hover with basket in hand to collect the wet washing ready for its next step. Now one woman has decided to set the record straight by timing her machine after it ticked over to say there was one minute remaining.
Alex posted in the Dull Men’s Club on Facebook: “So, clearly the biggest lie known to man has bothered me way more than it actually should. I decided to set a stopwatch today to see how much my machine actually lies when it ‘claims’ to have 1 minute left.
“The answer is 3 minutes 43 seconds. My work here is done.”
And followers of the group were delighted at her results. Karyn said: “I knew it.” Hope said: “Haha for real. I’m always like oh I’ll just wait for it and then it feels like ten minutes to by!!”
Angela said: “Totally agree, our machine tells the exact same lie! Why? Just say give me 5mins and the washing can be yours!!”
While Richard pointed out another annoying issue with washing machines. He said: “Don’t forget the type of machine when the cycle “ends” but the door lock stays on for a few extra minutes “just in case” even though that was the spin cycle and as such there should be no drippy water left by the end of the cycle.”
Others said they had different results. John claimed: “You were lucky, over 10 minutes for me this week.” Josema added: “My quick wash says 30’ and it takes ages.”
Asma said: “Mine said 10 mins i looked away looked again a min later and it said 3 mins and it was on spin in 10 seconds so i have no idea what happened there.”
Meanwhile Delcea had an explanation for the final minute timing saying: “Washing machines show an approximate time not an exact one. It changes depending on the load, how wet the clothes are and few other things.” But Jonathan questioned: “Then why doesn’t the machine adjust itself for that.”
Others had advice which they said solved the problem – however it might not be wise to follow it. Alex wrote: “Just hold down the stop button until it clicks and it opens. The 1 minute is just „ guidance.” And Kubo added: “Just unplug it and plug again. It works by me and it open the lock instantly.”
But what do the experts have to say on the matter? Vivien Fodor, laundry category manager at Hotpoint told Ideal Home: “Washing machines are designed to save resources wherever possible, be it water, energy, or laundry detergent.
“So, there are a number of automated checks that a washing machine will do during its cycle. These are there to tell the machine if it is taking more or less time than expected to fill, wash or spin. This automated function ensures your laundry is washed properly yet economically every time.
“As a result, the machine will adjust the time to end at certain points of the cycle – sometimes sooner, sometimes later. The only difference is that people only notice when it’s the latter!”
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