Are washing machines using enough water now?

You’ve summed up a very real issue. In my experience, many modern washing machines do use so little water that rinsing can suffer, especially for people with sensitive skin, babies’ clothes, or where too much detergent is being used. It isn’t always a fault, but it can certainly be a design compromise.

A few practical points to help members judge whether their machine is under-rinsing or whether something else is contributing:

1. Use much less detergent Modern detergents are very concentrated and most people overdose. Even a perfectly working machine will struggle to rinse if too much is used. Try halving the dose, especially with soft water or lightly soiled loads.

2. Avoid overloading If the drum is too full, clothes can’t move properly and rinsing suffers. A packed drum often leaves detergent residues behind.

3. Try an extra rinse option If your machine has one, this is often the simplest workaround. Some brands also rinse better on cotton programmes than on short eco cycles.

4. Be wary of eco programmes Eco washes often use less water and take longer, but that does not always mean better rinsing. Testing a standard cotton cycle can be useful for comparison.

5. Check for genuine faults If rinsing has recently become worse, look for restricted water fill, partially blocked inlet filters, weak water pressure, drainage issues, or a pressure system fault causing low water levels.

6. Consider detergent type Some people find non-bio powder rinses differently from liquids, and fabric conditioner can also leave residues.

If anyone is inspecting filters, hoses, valves or internal parts, isolate the appliance from the mains first. For internal electrical checks, mains-related faults, or anything beyond basic user checks, use a qualified appliance engineer.

A worthwhile discussion, because for some households this is inconvenience, but for others it is a genuine health and comfort issue.

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