Rinsing
That a certain rinse sequence is the best is just plain wrong. Lots of factors play into different rinse considerations.
First and formost, while it seams illogical, water isn't the main ingredient in rinsing, extractions is.
Sure you can rinse well with dozens of gallons of water, but most modern washers can rinse remarkably well with verry little water.
The trick can be mathematicly explained:
Each rinse is a dilution phase. Lets say, at the end of a wash portion a fictional load of laundry contrains the amount 1 of water which has a detergent concentration of 1. So our overall amout of detergent in the laundry is 1 (concentration times amount).
Let's say the washer adds twice the amount of water the laundry holds. That would mean our 1 detergent is now diluted in 3 parts of water. Thus, the concentration drops to 1/3.
After the drain, our laundry still holds 1 water, with 1/3 detergent concentration, so 1/3 detergent total.
For the next repeat of that, that would be 1/9, then 1/27, then 1/81, then 1/243.
After an average final spin, let's say, about 1/4th of water remains in the load.
So after that spin, about 1/1000th of detergent stays in the load
So after 5 rinses, we have 1/243 of detergent left in the load of laundry.
Starting with the same 1 detergent concentration and 1 water after the wash, we now place an average spin before the first rinse.
Let's say out cotton load retains about athird of the water after an average spin.
So now, the amount of water in the load is 1/3 and the amount of detergent is 1/3 as well.
To resaturate the load, we need 2/3 of water and this time, the washer only adds 1 water for the rinse.
So a the end of the first rinse, we have 1/3 of detergent dissolved in 2 water, so a concentration of 1/6 and after the drain 1 water and 1/6 detergent in the load.
After the second interim spin, we have 1/3rd of 1/6, so 1/18 of detergent in the load.
After the next rinse, there is only 1/36 in the load, and after the spin, only 1/108.
Repeat the rinse, we are at 1/216.
With an equal final spin, at the end, there is 1/880 of detergent left in the load.
So I sacrifice 12% rinse performance, but I only use about half the water. Adding another rinse makes my rinse results far surperior while still using less water.
(These numbers are just wild guesses and are ment to drive a point home).
Thus a good rinsing sequence starts with proper extraction.
However, especially after hot washes or with certain clothing, too intense extraction can cause wrinkels or push dirt back into fibres.
It's impirtant as well that as little foam as possible is produced during extraction. Thus properly stepped spinning is verry important.
Actually, most Miele machines since the 70s or 80s already use a compromize: Their motor technology dosen't allow for propper stepped spinning. Thus, to keep suds production during the first interim spin down, they use 2 rinses before they spin for the first time. Then they follow that up with 2 more rinses and interim spins.
Spray rinses work best with thin, flat fibres. Thick, bushy fibres absorb a lot of water in the fibres themselfes and not between them.
Spray rinses can be imagined in the was that the spray away what is stuck between the fibres, but not what is stuck within them.
Fibres which keep a lot of water inside them need agitated rinses to work the detergent out of the fibres.
The amount of water needed also greatly varies.
Bigger water quantities do give better dilution and allow for quicker rinses as water can be worked through the laundry much faster.
As some fibres need lots of water working to release the detergent, some fibres need more water for proper rinsing by nature.
Some bulky items just need big quantities of water to allow for proper dilution action due to their size.
But many everyday fibres need verry little water to saturate them and to work them through properly.
So, for example, typical cotton flat weaved iteams like most underwear, most types of shirts, most socks can be pretty well rinsed with verry little water verry quickly and efficently.
More absorbent cotton like sweatwear, towels and more rugged items like jeans need proper extraction and a little more water with longer rinses.
Thin, flat synthetic items will rinse perfectly in verry little water with verry short rinsing times as plastic can't really absorb water.
Microfibre items however store huge amounts of water and release it only when pushed to do. So those need lots of water often with verry particular extraction.
