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Millions of households could be getting their laundry routine wrong by relying on the washing machine's 'quick wash' setting.

Scientists say the popular shortcut, used by time-pressed families to save energy and money, may actually leave clothes less clean, less fresh and still harbouring odours.

Quick cycles - typically lasting between 15 and 40 minutes - have surged in popularity on the basis it is better for the environment and energy bills. But experts warn they simply don't give detergent and water enough time to do the job properly.

Fabric care specialist Mary Gagliardi, also known as "Dr Laundry", said: "Short cycles don't have enough time to penetrate the fibres, remove sweat, detergent residue, or accumulated dirt."

Over time, this can mean everyday items such as T-shirts, towels and bedsheets retain lingering smells or feel stiff and less soft, even after repeated washing.

Modern washing machines are designed to cut energy and water use - but this comes at a cost.

Short cycles reduce:

• Agitation (movement of clothes)
• Rinse time
• Contact time with detergent

The result is that while clothes may look clean at first glance, deeper grime and bacteria can remain embedded in the fabric.

Experts say this is why many people notice their laundry never quite smells fully fresh, despite frequent washing.

Instead, scientists say most households should switch back to the standard or 'normal' wash cycle.

This typically lasts 50 to 60 minutes - long enough for:

• Detergent to break down dirt properly
• Water to fully penetrate fabrics
• Odours and bacteria to be removed

Kimberly Romine, a fabric care scientist at Procter & Gamble, said: "The normal cycle is designed for everyday clothes and should be the default setting for most consumers."

For heavily soiled items - such as sportswear or work clothes - longer or intensive cycles are even more effective.

The experts insist that cycles should be abandoned entirely. Rather they are best reserved for:

• Lightly worn clothes
• Small loads
• Items that just need freshening up
• Using them for heavily worn laundry, however, is where many people are going wrong.

Scientists also highlighted several common washing errors that can undermine results:

• Overloading the drum - stops clothes moving freely
• Using too much or too little detergent
• Skipping pre-treatment of visible stains

Getting these basics wrong - combined with overusing quick cycles - can leave clothes looking clean but far from hygienic.