What's Really Happening Inside Your Washer and Dryer?

Washer Settings to Try

Snap out of your “normal” routine and give one of these options a spin.

Quick Wash
A speedy cycle for a few lightly soiled items, like the blouse and pants you want to wear to dinner tonight. A faster spin means clothes will dry quicker, too.

Pre-Wash
Stained or extra-dirty garments? Use this to add a soak to the beginning of a cycle. Divide detergent among the pre-wash and detergent dispensers.

Permanent Press
Choose this to minimize wrinkling in dress shirts and pants, and preserve the finish on wrinkle-free items. Warm or hot wash water relaxes creases and a slow spin helps prevent new ones from forming.

Heavy Duty
Muddy play clothes and other sturdy, heavily soiled items do well in this cycle, which features a long, warm or hot wash and high-speed tumbling to scrub out filth.

Delicates
A short, cold wash with slow tumbling and spinning. Use it for sweaters, lingerie, and other items that require a light touch.

Hand Wash
Designed to mimic the way clothes are washed in the sink, with periods of gentle tumbling and soaking in cold water, this is for garments labeled “hand-wash.”

Extra Rinse
Tacks an additional rinse onto the end of a cycle to ensure dirt, dust and detergent are thoroughly flushed out. A good option if a family member has allergies or sensitive skin.

Rinse and Spin
Quickly rinses and removes moisture from things like bathing suits and beach towels with no detergent.

Delay Start
Sets the machine to turn on at a later time so wet clothes don’t sit around when you’re not home to transfer them to the dryer.