Guide to the Most Common Functions on a Washing Machine (How to properly use them)

For something we use on such a regular basis, the washing machine seems to hold a certain amount of mystery and misunderstanding on how to property use it. While most people simply crank the knob to “wash” and then press “on”, there are often a suite of specialty functions on modern washing machines that can certainly step-up anyone’s laundry game. In this article I will break down the most common functions and settings on washing machines and how to use them. No doubt after giving this a read your future clothes will thank you and you can rest easy knowing you’re getting the absolute most out of your washing machine.

Water/Soil Level Adjustments

For each washing machine load you will need to select the correct water/soil level to ensure your clothes are cleaned properly while using only as much water as necessary. While most washing machine drums range in size between 3-4 cubic feet, fortunately almost all top loading washing machines will go by the below guidelines for water-levels.  (Note: If you have a front loading washing machine, you can skip this section because they will typically use a lower and more efficient water level than top-loading machines.)

            Low: This should be selected when your washer drum is filled with 1/3 or                below with laundry.

            Medium: Washer drum is filled with ½ or less with laundry

            High: Washer drum is fill with ¾ or less with laundry.

The key with this equation is to balance how dirty your laundry is versus the amount of clothes you are washing. For example, if you plan on washing a load of laundry that fills only 1/3 of your washer drum and is lightly warn, then you should use a low water lever. Conversely, if you are washing a load that only fills 1/3 of your washer drum, but it is heavily soiled with dirt or grass, then you should use a higher level of water such as medium since it will take more water to effectively scrub your clothing.

Temperature Settings

Selecting the correct heat setting is essential to getting the desired cleanliness of a particular garment while doing the least harm to the fabric. The key benefit to washing your clothing at the correct temperature is the fact that your clothing will remain softer, wrinkle free, and sturdier for a longer period of time.

             Low: A good rule of thumb for choosing your heat setting is that if you                             don’t know what to do, choose low. Low is a good go-to temperature                       because it is the least harsh to the fibers in your clothing’s fabric.                           Therefore, you won’t ever run the risk of shrinking or setting in                               stains on your clothing. In general, this setting is ideal for your most                       delicate garments and fabrics that are prone to shrink. Additionally,                         this is a wise choice for bright colors because it will reduce the                               chance of fading.

             Medium: This choice of heat setting is generally good for most types of                                  clothing and fabrics. The additional amount of heat is beneficial                              to clothes because it helps penetrate the clothes fibers to clean                              off extra dirt and debris. The slight downside is that the                                            additional amount of heat increases the harshness on your                                      clothing, so there may be a risk for shrinkage on certain fabrics                              and fading on brighter colors.

             High: This heat setting is almost exclusively for bright whites, sheets, and                         other sturdy white fabrics. The high heat is helpful to these types                           of garments/fabrics because it has the highest intensity of cleaning                         for dirty clothing requiring deep cleanliness. It’s important not to                             wash delicate fabrics or colorful garments at this temperature                                 because there is a high likelihood of shrinkage and/or color fading                         that will occur.

Please note the above are quick guidelines for clothes. The absolute safest thing you can do to prevent damage to your laundry is to always check the tag on the clothing before selecting your method of washer or drying.

Soak

This may be the most underused function on your washing machine. If you regularly work outside and/or have children this function will especially benefit you.

For tough, deep-set stains such as dirt, grease, or grass, you often are left with doing double the work by first having to pre-treat the stains, and then wash the clothes. With your washing machine’s soak cycle, it does most of the work for you. Simply treat the stain with stain with stain remover, then set your washing machine to “rinse and soak”.  Turn your machine on and add water. Then add detergent to the water. Then, add your laundry. At this point, you’re done. Once your washer fills up completely, it will sit and soak for 20-30 minutes, then automatically move on to a regular washing cycle. Using this method will save you time and heighten the chance of the stain getting removed on the first go.

If you're looking for more solid tips to improve your laundry game, check out our article on the most common laundry mistakes you may be making.

And as always, check out our line of products such as anti-vibration pads and discharge hoses to help make your laundry room a better place.