[elygre]

So, maybe. And also maybe not.

https://www.forskning.no/forbruk-ntnu-partner/er-vaskemaskin... (in Norwegian) quotes research from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

The article says that a washing machine used to last 20 years, and now only lasts 10 years. However, it also says that machine usage has doubled, from four to eight times a week. So, the new machine lasts the same number of cycles, but the number of cycles is reached much faster.

[MisterTea]

An article from 2025 is pulling data from a 2003 study that compares usage from the 1960's to what I assume is 2003, right when He and CPU controls were starting to become popular.

My 1990's Whirlpool lasted for 25 years before a barrel support rusted out. It had a mechanical timer and did a good job cleaning my clothes. Now I have this awful HE LG thing that I ALWAYS use the bedding mode otherwise it just mashes the shit out of everything destroying my clothes. HE feels like a conspiracy by big clothing to sell you more clothes, destroying the environment while fooling you into thinking you're saving it by conserving water.

[hvb2]

There's an easy fix for that, put your clothes in these 'washing bags' that was always good to prevent wear but sounds like that might be what you need

[gotoeleven]

I solve this problem by only wearing burlap sacks.

[dzhiurgis]

Mashing the shit out of it is what actually washes your clothing without high temperature and minimal amount of detergent. I can't stand top loader washers that are ubiquitous here in NZ - they are so useless.