I’m a laundry expert – there’s a good reason why the last minute of the wash cycle always takes longer than the machine says
It’s one of the biggest frustrations when you’re in the middle of a busy round of chores – your washing machine tells you there’s only a minute left on the cycle, but happily continues to spin long after the promised time has passed.
An author, known as That Ginger Fellafrom London, recently took to TikTok to hilariously highlight the phenomenon in a clip that garnered 2.2 million views.
He joked that when his machine has a minute left, he has time to go for a walk, a pint, dinner and another pint before he gets home, just in time to complete the machine’s one-minute cycle.
And many rushed to the comments to reveal that they also felt like the last minute is an eternity.
Fortunately, Vivien Fodor, laundry category manager at Hotpoint UK, has revealed the reason behind the frustrating delay, saying it’s all about adjusting the machine’s times to run more efficiently.
People are finally discovering why their washing cycle continues even when the display on the machine shows that there is only a minute or two left (stock image)
In response to That Ginger Fella’s video, someone 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 been standing there waiting and it took another 5 minutes!! I was so angry.’
A fourth wrote: “I nicknamed my washing machine Gaslighter.”
Vivien Fodor, explaining the phenomenon, said: ‘Most people rely on their washer and dryer timers to schedule chores around their day – and rightly so! This is why most modern devices have displays that tell you how long your cycle is left.
‘However, as the wash progresses, the timer does not always match the total time set at the start and may eventually differ by a few minutes.
Although the difference is usually not great, it can be frustrating. But there is a very good explanation for this – and it actually helps you to save energy and money.’
An author known as That Ginger Fella, from London, used his TikTok to hilariously highlight the phenomenon
She continued: “Washing machines are designed to conserve resources wherever possible, be it water, energy or detergent.
‘So there are a number of checks that a washing machine performs 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 adjusts the end time at certain points in the cycle, sometimes earlier, sometimes later.
“The only difference is that people don’t notice until it’s the last!” As the parameters differ and some loads are heavier than others, such as bed linen and towels, this automated function ensures that your laundry is washed well and economically every time, regardless of the type of load.’
Many rushed to the comments to reveal that they also felt like the last minute is an eternity
She also revealed that dryers are very similar to washing machines, as the “estimated time will be adjusted depending on how well the clothes were spun before being dried.”
She said: ‘Like washing machines, some tumble dryers have an automatic function to stop the cycle when the load is dry. The size of the load and the materials.
“Denim, for example, is denser, so it takes longer to dry, while synthetics are the fastest. The sensors in the dryer measure water molecules to measure how much drying time is needed to remove the remaining moisture from the load.’