I’m a laundry expert – there’s a good reason why the final minute of the washing cycle always lasts longer than what it says on the machine
- That Ginger Fella from London took to TikTok to highlight the phenomenon
- Read More: Mum shares chemical-free cleaning hack for washing machine
It’s one of the great frustration when you’re in the midst of a busy round of chores – your washing machine tells you that there’s only a minute left on the cycle but keeps merrily spinning away long after the promised time has elapsed.
An author, known as That Ginger Fella, from London, recently took to TikTok to hilariously highlight the phenomenon in a clip which racked up 2.2million views.
He joked that when his machine has one minute remaining he has time to go for a walk, a pint, dinner and more pint before arriving home just in time for the machine one minute cycle to finish.
And many rushed to the comments to reveal they have also felt that the final one minute takes forever.
Luckily, Vivien Fodor, laundry category manager for Hotpoint UK, has revealed the reason behind the frustrating delay, saying it’s all down to the machine adjusting times to run more efficiently.
People are finally discovering why their wash cycle keeps going even when the display on the machine says there’s just a minute or two left (stock image)
#washingmachine
In reaction to the video by That Ginger Fella, one person wrote: ‘Glad to know this is international.’
Another said: ‘There should be a Netflix Special: Why do Washing Machine Clocks Lie, the Untold Story.’
Someone else said: ‘Yes! I’ve stood there waiting and it took another 5 minutes!! I was so mad.’
A fourth wrote: ‘I nicknamed my washing machine Gaslighter.’
Explaining the phenomenon, Vivien Fodor, said: ‘Most people rely on their washing machine and dryer timers to plan chores around their day – and rightly so! This is why most modern-day appliances have displays to tell you how long is left of your cycle.
‘However, as the washing continues, the timer doesn’t always reflect the total time set at the start and, in the end, can differ by a few minutes.
‘Whilst the difference is not usually big, this can be frustrating. However, there is a perfectly good explanation for this – and it is actually helping you to save energy and money.’
An author, known as That Ginger Fella, from London, took to his TikTok to hilariously highlight the phenomenon
She continued: ‘Washing machines are designed to save resources wherever possible, be it water, energy, or laundry detergent.
‘So, there are a number of checks that a washing machine will do during its cycle. These are usually automated and are there to tell the machine if it is taking more or less time than expected to fill, wash or spin.
‘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! As the parameters differ with some loads being heavier than others, such as bedding and towels, this automated function ensures your laundry is washed properly yet economically every time, regardless of the load type.’
Many rushed to the comments to reveal they have also felt that the final one minute takes forever
She also revealed that dryers are very similar to washing machines as the ‘estimated time will be adjusted depending on how well spun the clothes were before drying.’
She said: ‘Similar to washing machines, some tumble dryers have an automatic feature to stop the cycle when the load is dry. The size of the load and the materials.
‘For example, denim is denser, so takes longer to dry, whilst synthetics will be the quickest. The sensors in the dryer measure water molecules to gauge how much more drying time is needed to remove the remaining moisture in the load.’
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