Testing the 28 minute cycle function on a new Beko Washing Machine | Review & Giveaway

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You know you're getting old when the thought of a new washing machine excites you. When Beko got in touch and asked if I'd like to review one of their new washing machines with a 28-minute cycle it was as if all of my Christmases had come at once AND they are giving one away to one lucky reader too (just scroll to the bottom of the post to enter). 

You can check out the full range of new Beko Washing Machines here, I opted for model WY 124854MW. I was drawn to the fact that it can hold a 12kg load which can be washed in just 28 minutes. There are also a few features such as SteamTherapy which reduces the need for ironing (handy for me as I am not known for my love of ironing).

Delivery was arranged through KnowHow who I have to say weren't the best and there were a few issues that had I have been a paying customer I wouldn't have been happy about (eg messing up delivery dates and then having the wrong info on the delivery sheet which took around 30 minutes to sort out). We got there in the end though and now my machine is installed, I honestly could not be happier. 

Key Features of the Beko WY 124854MW Washing Machine 

My new Beko Washing Machine replaces my Whirlpool washing machine which was around 2 years old, cost around £300 new and didn't have any fancy features. It was also only 7kg in capacity which in my opinion was far too small for a busy family of 5. 

1 - 28-minute wash cycle (although it took longer for me)

I've owned washing machines with shorter wash times before but they've always been for smaller loads. The Beko WY 124854MW Washing Machine states it can wash a full 12kg load in just 28 minutes. It's worth pointing out that this wash will only be at 30 degrees and times may differ ever so slightly due to things like water pressure.

First of all, I wanted to wash my chair cushions but didn't really want to go a full day without them - the 28-minute cycle worked perfectly. There is a clock on the front of the washing machine that counts down how long is left and I trusted it. But then after I'd used the 28-minute cycle a few times, I realised that it seemed to take longer than 28 minutes so I decided to time it using my phone stopwatch too. Then I timed it again to be sure.

I discovered that a 28-minute cycle actually takes closer to one hour for me and the clock on the washing machine self-adjusts so isn't a true representation from the start. I use the 28-minute cycle with around half a load of washing (school uniforms mostly) and using a washing capsule in the drum rather than washing detergent. Beko say water pressure, temperature, the detergent used and unbalanced loads can all cause the length of this cycle to be increased which is clearly the case in our house.

Although the fact that our quick daily wash cycle takes longer than the promised 28 minutes, a one hour cycle is still shorter than my older machine and I'm happy to take it. I can now wash the kids' school uniform when they're in the bath and have it washed, dried and put away before they go to sleep which is unheard of in the past. 

There is an even quicker cycle which allows you to wash a couple of items (up to 2kg) within 14 minutes. This washes at 30 degrees and only spins at 600 rpm. In reality, it takes around 20 minutes for this cycle to complete for me which is perfect for washing 1/2 items when you're in a real hurry. I use this cycle every couple of days to wash the kids' packed lunch bags and it's perfect for this. 

2 - Easy to use

This machine is the easiest piece of tech I have used in a long time. It's pretty fool-proof. The large LCD display is easy to read and follow. To start a wash, simply add your usual detergent, touch 'on' then spin the dial to the programme you'd like to use.

There are 12 programmes to choose from including the quick daily wash, cotton, eco-cotton, night mode, synthetics, steam therapy and more. Then hit 'start' and wait for the wash to end. There is a clock on the LCD display which keeps you informed with how long is left, if the door is locked and at what stage the cycle is at. 

3 - Customised Programmes 

I like that this machine has been designed to fit into your life. A lot of the programmes can be customised to fit in with your lifestyle or needs. Some of the programmes can be reduced in time, temperature or spin speed at the touch of a button, there's a snazzy night mode which is quieter and uses less energy.You can also set a wash end time - I work from home so I probably won't use this too much but I imagine it's a fantastic function for those who work away from home and want to set a wash to finish just before they get home from work.

There's nothing worse than a load of wet washing having to stay in a machine all day before you can empty it. There's also a waterproof care programme which has been designed to keep your waterproofs in tact for longer. As a family who loves the great outdoors and owner of multiple waterproofs, I love this function and can see me using it a lot when I wash our coats.  

4 - Large Drum

Moving up from a 7kg drum to a 12kg drum has been significant for us! It's fantastic being able to get a lot more washing done in one go and I love that I can wash the kids' winter coats together and even our duvets now too. The door is nice and big too so the machine is super easy to load - no more trying to cram everything in and hope for the best. 

5 - Steam Therapy

I love, love, love this function. Steam Therapy can reduce iron time by 50%. It's designed to reduce creases and eliminate odours - basically give something a quick refresh. This function is perfect if you've realised your kids don't have a clean school shirt over breakfast or if you want to wear a dress that has been hanging in your wardrobe for a while and needs a quick refresh rather than a full wash. I am somebody who hates ironing and I know I'm going to use this programme a lot.

You put your clothes in dry and 15 minutes later (I timed it - it does actually take 15 minutes), your clothes will come out refreshed and with a lot less creases. I don't feel like this picture really does the technology the best justice but my dress went from looking like a crumpled mess and unwearable to looking like it had just been pulled out of a tumble dryer with minimal creasing. 

It's not perfect though......

For us, the cycles take longer than specified. We often select a 2 hour 20-minute cycle and in reality, it takes over 3 hours and our 28-minute cycle actually takes around an hour. I know this won't be the case for everyone as it depends on a lot of factors but it's worth pointing out that your water pressure/temperature ect.... can increase the time taken to wash. It is disappointing that our washing won't be completed in 28 minutes as described. 

The machine also uses an energy efficient motor (it's rated A+++) and claims to provide a quieter wash - I have found the spin cycle to be just as loud as my previous machine and it's definitely not what I'd call quiet. It doesn't last for too long but it's not something you'd want in the background if you're entertaining guests for example. 

But despite this, I love my new Beko Washing Machine and it's the best washing machine I've owned by far. Being able to wash a full 12 kg of washing within 1 hour saves us SO much time. I love the Steam Therapy programme and can see me using this a lot to refresh dresses that have been hanging in my wardrobe before a night out when time is of the essence and I don't have time to search for my iron and ironing board.

The Beko machine is super easy to use and uses less energy than my previous machine plus it looks a lot more stylish with it's LCD display. I'd also like to point out that although I haven't tested this in any way, shape or form, my clothes do appear to come out very clean - the whites in particular look a lot brighter. This could be my imagination of course but to me, my clothes definitely seem brighter and fresher now. Despite my niggles, I would whole-heartedly recommend this machine to families of 5 who need to keep on top of their washing and are looking for little every day short cuts. 

Make sure you join TopCashBack here before purchasing online - you could save up to 25% when shopping at Currys. 

You can find out more about the Beko WY124854MW and buy online here

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