Cycle and Fabric Naming Conventions

[Chetlaham]

Does anyone have a list of the various cycle names used or that have been used on automatic washers?

 

For example, here are some off the top of my head:

 

 

Whitest Whites, Whites, Heavy Duty, Normal, Regular, Permanent Press, Permanent Press Whites, Permanents Press Colors, Sheets, Knits, Poly Knits, Delicate, Extra Delicate, Handwash, Handwash Casual, Handwash Plus Fine Delicates, Hang Dry, Woolens

 

 

 

Colorfast, Non Colorfast, Cottons Sturdy, Cottons Whites, Cottons Colors, Colors, Bright Colors, Dark Colors, Casuals, Easy Care, Wash-n-Wear, Gentle, Towels, Bulky

 

 

 

Can anyone add or critique this list?

 

 

 

[pierreandreply4]

If i base myself on this kenmore direct drive there ultraclean 1 ultra clean 2 depending on models permpress 1 permpress2 with wash spin speed selector dial

 

[Chetlaham]

I have to say those Kenmores are my favorite cycle convention, options and motor speed combinations. About the only thing I would add is a hot/warm temperature option, and an extra slow / extra slow speed combination, other than that I think its perfect. 

 

That Kenmore 90 series washers are truly a machine that should still be in production today. I can't think of any other washer ever made that offers a real heavy duty cycle, a real normal cycle, and a real fine handwash cycle except maybe a select few Kitchen-Aids. 

 

[gelaundry4ever]

normal cycle

I remember normal, cotton/sturdy, cotton/regular, and cotton/normal. I also remember colors/normal.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

chetlaham

What did your GE have?

 

[Chetlaham]

My Model T had Cottons Regular on the left side of the dial labelled Heavy, Medium and Light Soil, and rinse was labelled soak. To the right was permanent press labelled permanent press, knits, delicate.  

 

[agiflow]

My LA7680XP Whirlpool Supreme does have a Hot/Warm option but unfortunately no Warm/Warm. The next model up,the Imperial had the Warm/Warm. Of course wash/spin speeds are dictated by the timer.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I had one of those full-featured Kenmore 90-series…

Labeled mine into a Letters-Machine…

— Dave

 

[wayupnorth]

I like my Maytags cycles, Normal, Delicate, Permanent press and thats it. None of that foolish labeling of sturdy, etc.

 

[foraloysius]

I think Handwash Casual doesn’t make any sense. Casuals don’t need hand washing.

 

[appnut]

Our 1963/1964 Norge15 cycle chart.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

chetlaham

My GE model t's largest section was the cottons cycle which went from 30 minute soak to spin only.

 

[Chetlaham]

Jerome, you were lucky in that regard. I like long auto soak cycles that progress automatically into the main wash. I never liked how few washers had this feature. 

 

 

I would like a cycle sequence such as:

 

 

Fill 6 minutes

 

Agitate 4 minutes

 

Soak 8 minutes

 

Agitate 2 minutes

 

Soak 8 minutes

 

Agitate 2 minutes

 

Soak 8 minutes

 

Agitate 2 minutes

 

Soak 8 minutes

 

Agitate 14 minutes

 

Pause 1 minute

 

Spin 3 minutes

 

Spray 1 minute

 

Spin 3 minutes

 

Spray 1 minute

 

Spin 6 minutes

 

Lead out 1 minute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chetlaham]

Pat- I remember that. Not sure why they did not include a warm/warm setting. Personally I think all normal loads should be washed on warm/warm. Warm water relaxes the fabric and extracts more detergent IMO. Only time cold rinse should be used are permanent press extra delicate fabrics.

 

Dave- I remember your pics! Home made programmed cycle washer. I like the concept of programmed cycle washers.

 

Tim- definitely simpler that way. Though I like to have a casual / mid grade cycle of  slow wash fast spin.

 

Louis- Handwash Casual was a way of differentiating delicate slow speed agitation from handwash plus fine delicate intermittent extra slow speed agitation.

 

 

 

Bob, that is interesting how delicates don't have a cold wash fill, and how soak is cold instead of warm. Also lots more use of hot and warm washes in that washer. Its a shame how many cycle over the years defaulted to cool and cold washing and cold rinsing. Sad, sad, sad. 

 

[DADoES]

 
I have a machine with a Soak option that adds a 2-hr soak at the end of the wash period on any cycle.  Five agitation strokes every 1 min throughout the soak.

Three others that insert the Soak period into the Wash, with half the wash agitation before the Soak and half after, also with five agitation strokes every 1 min throughout the soak.  They also have a few specialty stain cycles that insert a 30-min soak.

 

[pierreandreply4]

if you look closely at canadien inglis whirlpool model

if you look closely at canadien whirlpool inglis washer dryer you will notice wash rinse temp are color code Red hot water yellow for wash and rinse warm water (* for model with warm rinse option) blue for cold

 

[Chetlaham]

DaDoEs, do you have a pic of the machine? That sounds neat. I really like auto soak functions. 

 

 

 

Pierre, do you know what that is? Is it for language reasons? 

 

 

 

 

[gelaundry4ever]

chetlaham

My dad would either use 30 minute soak or 15 minute extra heavy cycle due to smelly laundry particularly on the normal/fast speed setting. We did use it on all 3 temperatures depending on color of the load.

 

[pierreandreply4]

chetlam the reason in Canada they color coded wash rinse temp was because of the Quebec French language if you look at the controls google pic of the washer i had 1993 to 2004, at the dial and control panel you will notice its written in French and English bilingual.