Washers: Cycles and Features

If you look at washers today, you'll find many different cycles and options to wash your clothes. So why do we need so many cycles? Because today there are many fabric types, and by washing them in the correct cycle, your clothes will look newer longer. Washer cycles today take all the guesswork out of doing laundry. In the past, you'd need
to select the size of the load being washed and, depending on the type of fabric, you would choose the agitation speed and final spin speed. You'd also need to select the wash and rinse temperature. Today's machines are smarter. You select the type of fabrics being washed, and your washer makes all the proper adjustments. Of course, you can always customize these settings if you wish.

A "Normal" cycle is typically used for items like jeans, towels, and bedding items. The "Permanent Press" cycle prevents wrinkling and pulling, and is great for synthetic fabrics. The "Delicate" cycle is great for garments with embellishments, as well as lingerie, loosely-woven items, and sheer items like stockings. A "Delicate" cycle is designed to be less abrasive, using less agitation to decrease level of wear and tear on clothes, but also may decrease the cleaning power in some instances.

Washing machines today offer a large selection of specialty cycles, including "Whitest Whites," "Steam Clean," and "Sanitary" cycles. The differences between these cycles include features like pre-soak, longer agitation, and predetermined releases of laundry boosters like bleach. A "Steam Clean" cycle uses steam to combat stains. The heat of the steam causes clothing fibers to relax and absorb more water, releasing deep-down dirt and stains. Detergent dissolves more quickly in higher temperatures, and the heat also destroys bacteria. The "Sanitary" cycle uses the washers internal heater to boost the water temperature up to 150øF. The steam and the higher water temperature are typically used to sanitize clothes. This combination is helpful in getting rid of built-up grime and is ideal for jobs like cloth diapers or heavily-soiled work clothes.

When shopping for a washer, look for the cycles that best fit your lifestyle!