Since the advent of the first washing machine, these useful pieces of equipment have come a long way. Today, the washers available in a self-service laundromat make laundering easy. The features of a washing machine have greatly improved, so it is better to be familiar with their functions, as your choices can impact your clothes’ lifespan and cleanliness.
Load Size and Water Level
One technique of knowing the load size is by weight in terms of the capacity of the washer. The basic rules regarding the right setting to use according to the drum load include:
- About one-quarter full for small load
- About one-half full for medium load
- More than one-half full for large load
- Full capacity for super large load
Water Temperature
Using the appropriate water temperature for your clothes can help prevent shrinking, stretching, or fading. Loading similar garments together and sorting them are effective ways to do your laundry successfully.
- Warm water is ideal for synthetic materials and wrinkle-resistant fabrics. Also, use warm water for those coloured items soiled with stains or oils heavily.
- Use coldwater for your delicate and dark-coloured clothes. Cold water is safe to use on washable fabrics, making it a great choice for office wear or lightly-soiled garments.
- For those light-coloured cotton pieces you wear close to your body, such as socks, undergarments, or bedsheets, use hot water to wash them. You may also use hot water to get rid of stains from dirty play clothes or heavily-soiled overalls and jeans.
When it comes to rinsing, use cold water because the warm temperature is unnecessary here. It will also help reduce utility costs.
Cycle Selection
The correct selection for wash and spin cycle can keep clothing to look their best.
- Normal cycle. It is ideal for blended or cotton fabrics with an average level of dirt and stain. This cycle uses high-speed wash and spin actions.
- Delicate. This cycle is used for fragile garments, such as silk, lace, and lingerie. It features a shorter wash and lower speed cycle, preventing ripping and stretching.
- Rapid wash. This one comes with a high-speed spin and a shortened wash cycle to reduce drying times. It is suitable for delicate, heavily soiled fabrics or last-minute washing.
- Permanent press. Use this setting for your wrinkle-resistant clothes, blended fabrics, synthetic fabrics, and dark coloured garments. You can use a low-speed spin, medium-speed wash, and a cool-down period to prevent wrinkling.
- Spin speed. If you can change the final spin settings, choose a lower spin speed for your delicate clothes to minimise damage, tangling, or wrinkling. On the other hand, higher speed for final spin means a faster dryer cycle as it extracts more water.
- Bulky. This cycle starts with a soak period to allow detergent and water to penetrate the clothes completely. It is used for pillows, rugs, comforters, blankets, and other bulky items. Use medium wash spin to help balance the machine.
- Heavy duty. This setting is ideal for jeans, towels, and other sturdy fabrics. You can also use this for heavily soiled garments. The high-speed spin, high-speed agitation, and longer wash action help remove moisture as much as possible.
Laundering is part of our daily lives, and going to a self-service laundromat can help you do the task with less effort. Remember these tips on how to use a washer to obtain the best possible results.
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