I got my first upright washer and dryer about a year ago, and like anything I newly acquire, I experimented the shit out of it. Here's some of my findings that some may be interested in
1) I thought there was something wrong with the washer, as it didn't seem to be using nearly as much water as my upright. Yet, the clothes came out clean.
2) I changed from the normal 1 hour wash to the quick 15 minute wash and the clothes were still clean.
3) I changed from a warm to cold on all cycles, and the clothes were clean.
4) I reduced the recommended suggested amount of detergent by 50%, and the clothes were clean. Now that's a common marketing tactic like shampoo's, "Rinse and repeat".
Some of this may not apply to your particular venue, but overall, it's worth having a few seconds of, "Hmm".
I know these are laconic observations, but I prefer to the point conversations.