A complete guide to washing machine modes and cycles

A lot goes into choosing the right washing machine for yourself. For one, machines today have moved beyond semi and fully automatic technologies. Today, you have brands like Samsung, Whirlpool and Bosch, among others, offering standout features that are incorporated to combat various types of fabric and their conditions.

However, most modern machines, be it front-load or top load, have a fairly large (read: confusing) selection of wash cycles to choose from. While every washing machine has a standard wash and rinse cycle, there are plenty of other modes that we don’t use or, at the least, have little idea about. If you’re not sure how to navigate through them, we have it covered for you.

What are washing machine modes and what do they do?

It may seem tempting to dump your laundry into the washing machine as soon as you’re home, but understanding the right cycle is always for the best. Wash cycles and modes are designed and customised for different fabric types.

Apart from that, they also cater to the amount of soil levels and vary in speed to ensure the longevity of your clothes. Whether you use a front load or top load, these cycles, more or less, remain the same across appliances.

However, keep in mind that the nomenclature and the terms might differ based on the brand of your washing machine.

How to choose the right wash cycle for your clothes

Before you dive into deciphering the symbols on your washing machine, make sure you take a look at the care tag on your garment. More often than not, you will get all the required information about the fabric type just by studying the tag.

Wash cycles generally differ based on the fabric you intend to wash. They could include cotton, colours, delicates or synthetics. Choosing the wrong cycle could end up damaging your clothes, or, in some instances, not cleaning them well enough. 

Types of washing machine wash cycles

Once you’ve identified the nature and requirements of your fabric, you can go ahead and select the right washing machine cycle. A lot of machines will have a functional knob with symbols or typography for better understanding. Check out some well-known wash modes you can find:

1. Normal cycle

A normal wash cycle is the default setting on any washing machine. It generally uses lukewarm or cold water and functions on high spin speed for moderately soiled cotton clothes. However, apart from this, you can also toss your linens or mixed fabric without worrying about the result.

2. Permanent press cycle

This setting is usually a shorter cycle, with faster agitation, and is ideal for clothes that wrinkle easily. You can choose to use it for polyester and non-cotton items, but also on fabrics like denim.

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It consists of four interchangeable cycles, along with a cool-down or rest period to reduce wrinkles on clothes. While this works best for the abovementioned fabrics, make sure you never use it on delicate clothes as it could end up damaging them.

3. Quick Wash

Quick wash is ideal for a smaller laundry load and is a preferred mode for those who want to cut down on the wash time. It uses accelerated spin cycles and is best for a maximum of three to four pieces of clothing. However, keep in mind that Quick Wash will also speed up your drying process.

4. Rinse and Spin

The Rinse and Spin cycle will only rinse through your clothes using high-speed spin and cold water. It typically only uses water to wash and spins it towards the end to wring out excess water from your clothes. This mode is ideal for a detergent-free wash and is better suited for garments such as swimwear.

5. Heavy wash

Is it a deep clean day? If you’re planning on tossing bulky bedsheets or curtains into the wash, Heavy Wash mode ensures they are looked after well. It uses a slow cycle speed and warm water to get rid of pesky stains or grime. However, this mode also uses a lot more water as compared to others, so ensure you only use it if you reside in an area that doesn’t suffer from water shortage.

6. Delicate wash

Delicate wash is ideal for garments like lingerie, or fabric which consists of wool or lace. The cycle has a lower agitation speed, which means a slower spin cycle. This, in return, ensures your delicate clothes are not wrinkled, stretched out or damaged in the process.

Other things to keep in mind while selecting the right wash cycle

Apart from the wash cycle, several washing machines also allow you to choose between the water temperature settings for your clothes. This could ensure additional care for your garments; for instance, cold, tap water could prevent coloured clothes from bleeding and warm water could rinse off large amounts of soil off the fabric.

Are there any dryer settings to look out for?

Like your washing machine, your washer dryer may also have a bunch of settings to select, based on your clothes. Some of these include:

No heat or fluff: This setting is best for air-drying items with rubber elements. These could include rubber back mats or rugs.

Timed dry: If you’re short on time, like Quick Wash, Timed dry allows you to set a timer for your drying cycle. This is especially helpful for athletic wear or light fabrics.

Steam dry: Steam dry could prevent wrinkles from setting in on your clothes and brands like Whirlpool even ensure your clothes remain wrinkle-free for at least 150 minutes after the process ends.

Choosing the right cycle for washing or drying is extremely important for your clothes to last you long. A good way to practise this is by sorting your clothes better. Lastly, pay close attention to your clothes after washing to rule out subtle damage caused by using the wrong setting or water temperature.