Washing machine timers often seem inaccurate, but experts have explained the real reason behind the frustrating countdown changes during cycles.
Waiting for the washing machine to finish can be one of life’s frustrating laundry experiences – the cycle often seems endless. In principle, the process should be simple. Upon starting a load, most washing machines display a countdown timer, indicating precisely when clothes will be ready to either air dry or transfer to the tumble dryer.
Yet countless people experience the irritation of watching a timer that seems to stretch indefinitely, with most agreeing that washing machine countdowns are fundamentally unreliable. When the display indicates one minute remaining, that rarely translates to an actual 60 seconds.
One TikTok user previously posted a humorous sketch about this universal frustration – jokingly demonstrating that when the timer shows one minute left, there’s sufficient time to go for a stroll, enjoy a pint at the pub, and have a full meal before returning home just as the cycle concludes.
The issue resonated widely, with one viewer remarking: “Yes! I’ve stood there waiting, and it took another five minutes! I was so mad.”
Another person concurred, stating: “Waiting for the click is like an eternity, it’s like, just tell me if you need extra time.” A third person noted: “The biggest lie ever told.”
Nevertheless, there appears to be a legitimate explanation for why washing machine cycles take longer than anticipated, according to Vivien Fodor, laundry category manager for Hotpoint UK. She revealed that the reason for the time alterations is that the machine is optimising its performance to be more efficient, which consequently helps you save money.
Vivien noted: “Many individuals depend on the timers of their washing machines and dryers to organise their daily tasks – and they are correct in doing so!”
“This is the reason why most contemporary appliances come equipped with displays that indicate how much time remains in 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.”
She went on: “Washing machines are designed to save resources wherever possible, be it water, energy, or laundry detergent.
“So, there are several 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.”
