Washing Machines

Washing machines wash dirty laundry through mechanical energy (supplied by the motion of the washer), thermal energy (supplied by water temperature), and chemical action (supplied by soaps and detergents). Washers typically have a capacity of 1.7–3.1 cubic feet or more and are 24–33" wide. They work by either agitating or tumbling laundry.

Agitating: This is the process of spinning laundry around a central, vertical post, creating a centrifugal force that presses out stains, suds, and water. Agitating results in laundry that’s damp-dried, meaning that it’s already wrung out and doesn’t drip.
Tumbling: This is the process of tossing laundry around an empty drum (the barrel-like chamber inside the washer), sloshing and spraying sudsy water throughout the items. Tumbling is a more gentle method of washing than agitating is. Like agitators, tumblers also move laundry at a speed that presses out water, leaving laundry damp-dried.

Types of Washing Machines

Washers fall into different categories based on the location of their door and whether they agitate or tumble laundry.

Top-loading: The most common type of washer in the United States, a top-loading machine has a top-mounted door through which to load laundry. It uses a central, vertical post and centrifugal force to agitate laundry. Its top-loading design makes laundry easy to access.
Front-loading: Front- loading washers, already popular throughout Europe and on the rise in the United States, have a door in front through which laundry is loaded. This type of washer, often referred to as a high-efficiency (HE) washer, tumbles laundry in its drum, using less energy and water, requiring less detergent, and drying laundry more quickly than top-loaders. But front-loading machines tend to have longer wash cycles than top-loading machines, and their front-loading design forces you to bend down to reach your laundry.

Look for the ENERGY STAR Label

In 1992, the U.S. government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started the ENERGY STAR program to promote energy savings in consumer appliances and electronics. When shopping for washers and dryers, look for models that bear the ENERGY STAR logo—it means that they meet the EPA’s strict energy-efficiency guidelines. An ENERGY STAR washing machine uses 40% less energy and water than standard models.

Steam and Silver as Laundry Agents

In recent years, some manufacturers have introduced hybrid washing machines that use new technologies, such as steam or silver, not only to clean but also to purify dirty laundry.

Steam: Some washers come with a steam setting that releases steam and humidity into the washer’s chamber, cleaning lightly soiled laundry while conserving energy and water. The most notable example of a steam washer is LG’s TROMM SteamWasher™. Washing machines that use steam are more expensive than traditional models.
Silver: Silver has odor-, stain-, and bacteria-fighting properties that make it a powerful purifying agent. Up-and-coming washing machines deposit silver ions into the load during the wash cycle. The most popular model, Samsung’s SilverCare™, claims to kill 99.99% of bacteria and odors in laundry. Because this technology is new, the SilverCare washer is more expensive than traditional washers.

Washing Machine Water Temperatures

Different types of fabrics require different water temperatures, so you’ll need to set your washing machine accordingly. Washers can be set to the following water temperatures:

Hot: A hot-water wash has a temperature of 112°F or above. Hot water is very effective at removing stains, odors, and germs, and detergents tend to dissolve best at high temperatures. But hot water can also damage certain articles of laundry over time. Whites and colorfast items, for instance, are sturdy enough to benefit from hot-water washing, whereas brightly colored fabric can fade, and delicate fabric (such as wool and silk) can shrink or warp in hot water. Another major downside of hot-water washing is that it uses up a lot of energy, so it’s best to reserve this setting only for heavily soiled items.
Warm: A warm-water wash has a temperature of about 105°F. Blends, synthetics, and light- to medium-colored items (particularly noncolorfast fabrics) benefit most from this type of wash. But warm water isn’t as effective as hot water at removing stains, so it’s best to pretreat stains before tossing articles into a warm-water wash.
Cold: A cold-water wash has a temperature of 86°F or below. Brightly colored, noncolorfast, and delicate fabrics are best suited to cold-water washing, as lower temperatures are gentler on laundry than higher ones are. But cold water is also least effective at removing stains, so it’s necessary to pretreat stains before tossing items into a cold-water wash. Cold-water washing is also kind to the environment, as it uses relatively little energy. For this reason, companies now manufacture detergents designed specifically to dissolve in cold water.

Washing Machine Cycles

A cycle is a washing machine setting that determines wash time, spin or tumble speed, and water temperature. Virtually all washing machines have three standard cycles:

Regular: Also called normal, this cycle uses hot or warm water to wash sturdy fabrics, such as cotton, vigorously.
Permanent press: Also called the wrinkle-free or easy-care cycle, this type of wash is meant for wrinkle-treated fabrics, synthetics, and manmade fibers. It uses a cold-water rinse (most synthetics can’t tolerate heat) and a slower spin cycle.
Delicate: Also called gentle, this setting is meant for delicate fabrics, such as acrylic, silk, wool, acetate, and any articles composed of a delicate weave, which may tear, stretch, or pull in a more aggressive wash cycle. The delicate cycle uses cool to warm water and a slow washing action.

More advanced washing machines may have extra cycles, including:

Cotton, silk, or wool: These cycles are suited specifically to these fabrics.
Extra long: This lengthy wash is useful for heavily soiled items.
Extra rinse: The extra rinse in this cycle helps remove any leftover stains or detergent.
Extra spin: The extra spin time in this cycle helps press more water out of absorbent articles, such as towels and blankets.
Hand wash: This setting mimics the delicate action of actual handwashing.
Quick: This short cycle washes lightly soiled items in less time, using less water and energy than longer cycles.
Sanitize: This cycle releases a dose of extra-hot water into the wash mid-cycle to kill germs and bacteria.
Soak: Also called prewash, this quick cycle soaks items for a few minutes before the main cycle, helping to remove stains.

Washing Machine Maintenance

Washing machines and their various parts need regular maintenance and cleaning to stay in good working order. Consult the user manual that came with your machine, and also follow these guidelines:

Washer Part	Problem	Solution	Frequency
Main tub or drum	Repeated washings leave behind dirt, detergent residue, and limescale deposits, especially if you have hard water, which is high in minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. (If your laundry tends to be dull, dingy, and stiff after you wash it, you probably have hard water.)	To sanitize the machine, fill it with hot water (no laundry or detergent), add 1 quart chlorine bleach directly into the tub (not the bleach dispenser), and run a hot-water wash on the longest cycle. To remove mineral deposits, follow this cycle immediately by adding 1 quart white vinegar to the machine and running it again on the same long, hot- water cycle.	Every 3 months if you have very hard water; every 6 months if you have moderately hard water; once a year if you have soft water
Lint trap	When too much lint clogs the lint trap, it can interfere with the machine’s performance.	Consult the user manual to locate your washer’s lint trap (it’s usually near the top), then remove built-up lint.	Once a month
Fabric softener dispenser	Residue from liquid fabric softener can leave bluish stains on laundry.	Warm a cup of white vinegar in the microwave or on the stove, pour it into the dispenser, and run the empty machine through a short, hot-water cycle. If the dispenser is removable, soak it in a hot-water-and-vinegar solution.	Once a month or bimonthly
Bleach dispenser	Residue from bleach can leave faded spots on laundry.	If the dispenser is removable, rinse it in the sink with dishwashing detergent. If it’s stationary, use a pipe cleaner or rag to clean off residue.	Once a month or bimonthly