I do a prewash, then a long cotton wash (usually 40 degrees), then an extra rinse! Front loaders are UBER-efficient with water, and I noticed the difference when living with mum for 2 months and using her top-loader. Our water bill is usually 57kL usage - but at mums (and it wasnt even a whole quarter that we were there for) the water usage was 150+kL!!!!! (can't remember exactly). So all that washing I do with nappies etc in a front loader is nothing. heheh.

I usually try to put the wash on at night so it's finished and ready to hang out in the morning. That way I don't notice the rediculously long cycle LOL.