The ins and outs of washing machine cycles
When it comes to getting your clothes clean, there’s a lot to consider: The detergent, the temperature, how to sort and dry themproperly, and, of course, which washing machine cycle to choose.
This last one is important because it determines how rigorously and for how long your clothes will be agitated in the washing machine, and how much water and energy is used in the process. But as anyone who’s had a look at a few washing machines will know, there are plenty of settings to choose from, and each machine seems to have its own set. Knowing which cycle to choose can therefore be tricky. There are, however, a few washing machine cycles that are common across most washers: normal, heavy duty, bedding/bulky items, permanent press, and delicate, not to mention the additional rinsing and spinning options. We’ll explain these below so you can get the most out of your washing machine and keep your clothes looking their best.
First steps
Before you select the correct washing machine program, make sure you’ve sorted your laundrycorrectly and have selected the appropriate temperature.
Generally, cold wash cycles are fine for all clothes including delicates and colored clothing. Warm water should be used for clothes that are more soiled and for whites, and hot water for very soiled clothing or items that need to be kept clean, like underwear and towels. Most washing machines will still be able to get clothes clean with cold water, however. Also, keep in mind that using warm or hot water will end up setting stains, so make sure to pre-treat the stains properly before you wash them in warm water. When in doubt, check the care label and follow the laundry symbols.
Washing Machine Cycles, Explained: How to Choose the Correct Wash Cycle for Your Clothes
Washing machine cycles are pre-set with wash, rinse, and spin cycles of different speeds, temperatures, and durations. Here are some of the most common ones:
Normal
The normal or regular cycle usually combines a high-speed wash with a high-speed spin, meaning it’s harsher on your clothes. That’s why it should only be used on sturdier materials like cotton t-shirts and pants.
Heavy duty
For work clothes that end up heavily soiled, the heavy duty cycle is the way to go. Like the normal cycle, it uses a high-speed wash and spin, but lasts longer and uses more water, making it easier to remove stains.
Bedding/bulky items
Like the name suggests, the cycle for bedding or bulky items should be used for larger items like sheets, rugs, and blankets. This usually begins with a soaking period and follows with a medium-speed wash and spin cycle.
Permanent press/casual
For synthetic fabrics and colored clothes, opt for the permanent press cycle, which uses a medium-speed wash cycle, a low-speed spin cycle, a cold rinse, and a resting period to reduce wrinkling.
Delicate
Washing delicates requires a cycle that uses low-speed wash and spin cycles, as agitation and tumbling can end up ruining the materials. The delicates wash cycle also tends to be shorter.
Washing Machine Cycle Basics
For washing machines that let you adjust the spin cycle, there are a few things to keep in mind. Spinning is used to remove water from your clothes after they’ve been washed and rinsed. This is to make drying them easier. However, high spin cycles end up creasing your clothing and may stretch them as well, and therefore shouldn’t be used on more delicate fabrics.
Extra-rinse and prewash cycle options
For heavily soiled clothes, most washing machines will offer extra-rinse and prewash cycle options.
Extra-rinse will add another rinse cycle to the end of your washing machine cycle to ensure that as much dirt and detergent is rinsed out as possible. A prewash, on the other hand, is used to soak the clothing before the wash cycle starts, helping to loosen up stains. When you choose a prewash cycle, add detergent to both the prewash and detergent compartments of the dispenser.
If you’re still unsure whether you’re selecting the most appropriate washing machine cycle, consult your washing machine manual, often also available online, for instructions tailored to your machine.
FAQs
Generally, cold wash cycles are fine for all clothes including delicates and colored clothing. Warm water should be used for clothes that are more soiled and for whites, and hot water for very soiled clothing or items that need to be kept clean, like underwear and towels.
How do I choose the right wash cycle? ›
The best wash cycle depends on what you're washing. For everyday laundry like t-shirts and socks, the Normal cycle is ideal. For delicate items, use the Delicate cycle. If you're in a hurry, the Quick Wash cycle is best for lightly soiled clothes.
Is a 45 minute wash cycle enough? ›
The short wash time won't be enough to clean heavily soiled fabrics like underwear, bedding, and towels. Increase the dose of your detergent to quick wash for garments with tougher stains.
Which washing machine mode is best? ›
Warm water is perfect for everyday laundry and normally soiled clothing, as it cleans well without as much fading, wrinkling and shrinking as hot water. And cold water is ideal for delicate, brightly coloured and lightly soiled clothes.
Is a 30 minute wash enough for clothes? ›
Most quick washes equate to a 30 minute cycle, so this is the fastest way to do laundry. A quick wash cycle cleans clothes effectively, but we only recommend it for lightly soiled clothes, and laundry that is not heavily stained or odorous.
What setting is best to wash all clothes? ›
The normal or regular wash setting is the most frequently used cycle, ideal for most fabrics, including natural and synthetic fibers, clothing, linens, and items with normal soiling. This standard cycle is ideal for mixed loads that combine different types of fabrics and items.
What setting should a normal wash be on? ›
Normal – Used for cottons and coloured, mixed fabrics. This cycle uses warm water (30 or 40oC) to wash the clothes, followed by a cold-water rinse, with moderate agitation (machine spin) speeds.
Is a 2 hour wash too long? ›
A Heavy Duty wash cycle, which helps handle heavily soiled items, can take anywhere from 1 to just over 2 hours to wash heavily soiled items.
Does a quick wash get clothes clean? ›
The biggest advantages to using the quick-wash feature are that it saves time, energy, and money. However, it's important to remember that this cycle was designed only to be effective when washing lightly soiled, small amounts of clothing – not a load that's accumulated over the past week.
What is the normal wash cycle? ›
The normal cycle is a vigorous wash cycle due to its high agitation and lengthy cycle. This cycle uses warm water with a high spin speed for moderately soiled clothing made of cotton, linen, and other mixed fabrics. Depending on your machine, a normal cycle can run up to an hour.
Generally, warm or hot water is recommended for washing towels. Use a cycle specifically for towels or a normal/regular cycle. A sanitizing cycle can also be used, but may not be recommended for every wash, depending on the towel fabric.
What is the most efficient washing machine mode? ›
Choosing the most efficient wash program
We always recommend you wash full loads, which usually means you need to use the cottons program. But if you have just a few kilos of clothes that aren't really that dirty, it's likely more efficient to use a different program, such as daily wash, mixed fabrics or easy care.
What is the most efficient washing machine setting? ›
Wash at 30°.
Give preference to longer but more economical eco programmes (30 to 45% energy saving). If your laundry is not really dirty and your machine allows it, you can also use the 'fast', 'express' or '15 minutes' programme. The shorter duration of this programme offsets the electricity consumption.
What is the best wash cycle? ›
Generally speaking, cold wash cycles are best for delicates, colored, and normally soiled clothing; warm water is best for more soiled clothing and whites; and hot water is best for very soiled clothing or for loads, like underwear and towels, where you want to remove germs and allergens.
What setting to wash bed sheets? ›
Bed sheets should be washed in the warmest water appropriate for the fabric, using a sheets cycle or the cycle recommended in your washer's use and care guide. If there isn't a cycle specified, a normal or regular cycle will usually suffice for cotton, polyester or linen sheets.
Is 30 minutes enough time to wash clothes? ›
When is the ideal time to use a short cycle on the washing machine? When you have lightly soiled laundry items that simply need a quick freshening up to make them wearable again, a quick wash cycle that lasts 30 minutes or less should be fine.
What cycle should I wash my clothes everyday? ›
The Regular or Normal Cycle is the backbone of most washing machines. It is designed for everyday laundry items and is one of the most commonly used washing cycles...
What wash cycle do you use? ›
Generally, cold wash cycles are fine for all clothes including delicates and colored clothing. Warm water should be used for clothes that are more soiled and for whites, and hot water for very soiled clothing or items that need to be kept clean, like underwear and towels.
Can I use delicate cycle for everything? ›
But that's not a reason to default from normal to the delicate setting for everything just to play it safe, says Campbell. “Although gentle cycles are necessary for fragile fabrics and items with delicate decorations, they won't do a good job cleaning heavily soiled clothing and bedding,” she explains.
