TBB – European machines (I’m not sure that there are any particularly made in England) have to heat the water, whereas America machines get their hot water from straight the water heater in the house (2 tubes to connect to the machine). That’s what takes the extra time for the most part. There are now machines as large as 8 kilos (17.6) pounds made in Europe. I don’t find that the clothes get much cleaner but laundry definitely takes more time to get it done.
SayIDidit – I think you’re going crazy from the laundry because you’re a man and you need a wife to do them for you. Have a stock of shirts, send them to the cleaners to get clean and work on your shidduchim list so that you won’t have to be busy with these jobs for much longer. Save these tips to use when your wife-to-be has a baby and can’t do it herself.