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Laundry Timer
Tap the cycle, set the time your machine’s display shows, and press Start as you press the machine’s button.
50 minutes
Spacestart / pauseRresetFfull screen+ −add or remove a minute0–9type a time
Typical quick cycles run 15–40 minutes. Set it to what your machine’s display says.
Typical normal cycles run 45–60 minutes or more; front-loaders are at the long end.
Typical heavy-duty cycles run 60–120 minutes. Eco programs can take 2–3 hours.
A typical dryer load takes 30–60 minutes. Heat-pump dryers take longer.
Thirty minutes suits most stains. Follow the stain remover’s label for delicate fabrics.
How long does a wash cycle take, and the dryer
| Cycle | Typical range | Timer set to |
|---|---|---|
| Quick wash | 15–40 min | 30 min |
| Normal wash | 45–60 min or more | 50 min |
| Heavy duty | 60–120 min | 75 min |
| Eco program | 2–3 hours | Use the steppers |
| Dryer | 30–60 min | 45 min |
| Pre-soak | 30 min | 30 min |
Machines vary widely with model, load size, spin speed and water temperature, so these are starting points. The number on your machine’s display or in its manual is the one to use.
How to use it
- Load the machine and choose its program. Read the time on the machine’s display, or look up the cycle length in the manual.
- Tap the matching chip here and correct the time with the steppers so it equals the machine’s figure.
- Press Start as you start the machine. Turn on Notify me to get a notification on your computer while you work in another window.
- When the alarm sounds, move the load to the dryer or the line straight away, then tap Dryer and start again for the next stage.
The cycle is not the hard part
The machine knows when it has finished. You, two rooms away, do not. Wet laundry left in a closed drum starts to smell musty, and common appliance-maker advice is that after roughly 8 to 12 hours it usually needs washing again. The timer exists for the hand-over: washer to dryer, dryer to basket.
In a shared laundry room or a laundromat the hand-over matters to other people too. Set the timer a couple of minutes short of the cycle so you are back before the machine stops. To track a washer and a dryer together, open this page in two tabs, or use the kitchen timer page, which runs several named timers side by side.
Why cycle times vary so much
A quick wash can be over in 15 minutes and a heavy-duty cycle can run two hours. Front-loaders generally take longer than top-loaders because they tumble clothes through a small amount of water. Eco programs take longest of all, often 2 to 3 hours: they wash at a lower temperature and make up for it with time.
How long a dryer takes depends on the spin that came before it. A faster final spin leaves less water to remove. Vented and condenser dryers usually finish a load in 30 to 60 minutes; heat-pump dryers run cooler and take longer. Remove clothes promptly when the drum stops so creases do not set, and clean the lint filter after every load. A clogged filter slows drying and is a fire risk.
Common mistakes
- Trusting the chip instead of the machine. Fifty minutes is typical for a normal wash, and yours may say 38 or 95.
- Starting a wash before leaving the house or going to bed with no plan to move it. If you cannot be back in time, use the machine’s delay-start so it finishes when you are home.
- Forgetting laundry in the washer overnight and drying it anyway. If it smells musty, rewash it; the dryer bakes the smell in.
- Leaving a finished dryer load in the drum. Clothes that cool in a heap need ironing.
- Skipping the lint filter because the last load was small. Clean it every time.
Questions people ask
How long does a wash cycle take?
A normal cycle typically takes 45 to 60 minutes, a quick wash 15 to 40, and a heavy-duty cycle 60 to 120. Front-loaders and eco programs run longer, and eco cycles can take 2 to 3 hours.
How long does a dryer take?
About 30 to 60 minutes for a normal load in a vented or condenser dryer, and longer in a heat-pump dryer. Towels and jeans take the most time; a faster spin in the washer shortens it.
I forgot laundry in the washer. Do I need to rewash it?
Smell it. A few hours is normally fine. After roughly 8 to 12 hours in a closed drum it often smells musty, and then a rewash is the fix. This is approximate and happens faster in a warm room.
Can I time the washer and dryer at once?
Open this laundry timer in two browser tabs, one per machine, or use the kitchen timer page, which runs several named timers on one screen.
Why is the eco cycle so long?
Eco programs save energy by heating the water less, and they compensate with a longer wash. Two to three hours is common. Set the steppers to the time on your display.
Will the laundry reminder reach me in another window?
Yes, if you turn on Notify me and allow notifications. The alarm also sounds as long as this tab stays open, even when it is in the background.