Does anyone else hate the "normal" cycle on new washers?

[ryner1988]

Hey all,

So while doing the weekly laundry, I noticed something, and wonder if this is common or if I'm in the minority here.

Ever since I got my new WTW4815FW Whirlpool washer, I tend to avoid the "normal" cycle. I don't like it much. I hate the spray rinse, rather than the deep rinse, and the temperatures are really dumbed down on that cycle. Must be the new energy standards or whatever, but all the same, that cycle stinks in my opinion. I find that "heavy duty" does pretty much the same thing and much more satisfactorily IMO.

For example, this week I did 5 loads of laundry. Towels, on "heavy duty." Socks, underwear, and t-shirts/pajamas on "heavy duty." Nicer pants, my wife's tops, my polos, etc on "casual." A small load of my wife's skirts and a couple sweaters on "delicate." And, finally, blue jeans and a couple pairs of sweats on "heavy duty." All the "heavy duty" cycles would have been my "normal" loads on an older style washer, but I just don't find it does the job anymore, especially on the rinse cycle.

Anyone else have this experience with modern washers? All in all, I really like my washer, once I found out that I should just stay away from that setting generally.

Ryne

 

[duke]

Sorry, We all have to give up some cleanliness for climate change.Learn to swallow your government changes to industry. Funky run times,dishwashers that run 4 hours,and 19 short cycles and dirtier clothes.Sure do hate you can't pay for what you want though.Perhaps buy a reconditioned older unit.

 

[ea56]

Ryne your washer is essentially the same as the Maytag MVWC415EW that I recently purchased. From what I can gleen from reading the FAQ on Maytag's site the Powerwash (the equivalent of Heavy Duty on yours) and Deep Water Wash on my washer use a little more water, don't use a spray rinse and the warm and hot water settings actually provide just that, real warm and hot water, not cold and warm instead. Consequently, I also use these two cycles primarlily, unless I'm washing a large item like a bedspread, then I use Bulky. I have only used Normal for washing a small, slightly soiled load, and it did just fine for this purpose.

Take a look at Whirlpool's website and you will find out a lot about your washer. For instance, I learned that running the Clean washer cycle monthly not only cleans theh washer, it also resets the calibration so the Auto Sense feature works properly and fill to proper and adequete levels, who knew?

I too really like my washer too.
Eddie

 

[duke]

mvwc415ew -- check it--- reviewed.com

 

[ryner1988]

I did not know that about the "afresh" setting redoing the calibration. Where did you find that? Never seen that anywhere.

 

[ea56]

This is where I found the info about the Affresh Clean cycle. Select not filling as symptom, then Casual, Heavy Duty, Deep Water as the cycle being used. I would imagine that Whirlpool also has a similar website as they make Maytag. Hope this helps.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 12/30/2016-01:59]

http://producthelp.maytag.com/Troubleshooting?startid=2625

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Using a Speed Queen FL here:

I never use the Normal/Eco cycle.  The Heavy Duty does basically the same thing without dumbed down water temps.  I use this with hot water and second rinse for daily loads.  My clothes have never been this clean.  For dirtier loads I use the Whites cycle and add extra rinses.  Your mileage may vary as I  am working with what is basically a commercial washer dressed up for home use.

WK78

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I had a GE TL with a plate in the bottom and 2 cups of water per load so I understand your pain. If the tips above don't work out, you could just do what I did before discovering aw.org:

Wash everything twice; I used vinegar as the 'detergent' in the second wash

Jim

 

[johnb300m]

No. My Normal cycle in my front loader works fine.
My water bills are lower. My detergents/softeners last longer, and my clothes are cleaner and less beaten up.
I'm happy with my "government issue" HE washer.

If I need anything really autoclave washed, I have a 140deg SaniWash cycle.
Normal doesn't need to be boiling hot.

 

[washdaddy]

Sadly, most of today's new washer's NORMAL cycle are most likely "eco-friendly"...a.k.a. less water use, dumbed down water temps., and clothes not being cleaned the way that we would like. This is all due to our wonderful government and it's regulations that they implemented.

Now for the most part we have to resort to "deep water" cycles or "heavy duty" to hopefully get more water into the machine and maybe even a truer water temperature.

I regrettably have to deal with what comes with the apartment that I live in and deal with that. (dumbed down temps- I just leave the machine on "HOT" which if I'm lucky is tepid at most) If I ever move into another place where I have a choice of machine I will definitely be looking for a good used machine that's in decent shape from the past.

 

[brucelucenta]

Eco friendly is good, but only to a certain point. I think in the case of HE top load washers it is WAY WAY overdone. When a washer on the normal cycle will not even clean or rinse your clothing, that is taking it way too far! I think it is ridiculous to sacrifice having perfectly clean clothes free of soap residue for the sake of having eco friendly machines. I have to admit that even my front load HE machine will really skimp on washing and rinsing on the regular or normal cycle. I too use the heavy duty cycle and add extra rinses. It does wash with a greatly reduced level of water, but seems to get everything clean and rinsed well on that cycle. But then a front load washer is designed to use much less water anyway.

 

[henene4]

Dishwashers that run 4 hours

I don't see why that bothers people.

Those dishwashers that actually run 3-4h on their rated cycles are usually so quiet that noise shouldn't be a complained.
Usually, there are at least 3-4h between meals, so not having dishes shouldn't be a problem.
If someone has to do several loads a day on a frequent basis, a normal household DW isn't ment to keep up with that workload anyways.

The only thing might be not being abled to load dirty dishes and thus not getting them off the counter.

 

[mrb627]

Normal Cycle on Elux617

I have been using the Normal cycle on my Electrolux 617 Washer and I'm still trying to figure it out. Altering the soil level seems to change more factors than simply wash time. For example, the HOT wash on a Normal soil level produces the little eco-leaf. The temperature of the glass to your hand is warm, like just above room temperature. However, bumping the soil level up to HEAVY or MAX and the glass is HOT to the touch and the Eco-Leaf is off.

Malcolm

 

[yogitunes]

each machine is going to be a little finicky in its operations, and how much you can alter it.....

first of all, before even talking about a machine, and hot water, what exactly is your heater set at?....I get real hot and warm washes because mine is set at 160....and because were in the winter season, cold water temps for many areas is going to cool that temp down fast...

I have an older Cabrio, direct drive.....you couldn't trick it by taking out the temperature sensor...but you could remove the restrictor on the hot side to allow more of that temp....faster fill times as well....

I have had both, direct drive, and belt drive of these machines, the direct drive gives better washing results....

'normal' cycles are the most eco friendly....as its what most people select without thinking......frankly, I would stay away from that one...

'colors/towels' works best for everyday loads

'sheets' adds a LOT more water....but not a full tub

not sure of all machines, but on this one, selecting 'fabric softener' allows for a filled deep rinse, not a spin spray....

but, you can allow the default spin spray, and add softener to the dispenser, it will dispense, and waterfall spray the load, then spin out....

 

[pierreandreply4]

my mom and i have a ge profile dishwasher

my mom and i have a ge profile dishwasher if you take the normal cycle with sani rinse on heat dry it takes 2 hours 19 minute to run the cycle add the bottle jet option raise the cycle to 2 hours 42 minutes and if you need the steam prewash the cycle lengh is 2 hours 69 minutes all of this is related to the energy star qualification.

 

[iheartmaytag]

I use the Normal cycle quite a bit

It is my default cycle when the machine is powered up.  It is also my cycle of choice for my permanent press clothes, and T-shirts and under clothes.   Heavy cycle for bath and kitchen towels, as well as sheets and bedding. 

 

Rarely do I use the Whitest/White cycle, as I can modify the other cycles with extra rinse, steam, or extended spin.  Though I do have a sanitize option with the three main cycles, I have only used it twice.  Whitest/Whites with sanitize option is the longest cycle at about 3:30, I just don't see the benefit I will just wash the effected articles in hot wash with LCB and call it done.

 

 

 

[ryner1988]

Fabric softener seleciton

I often forget about the fabric softener selector, and that it fills the tub on what would otherwise be a spray rinse cycle. That's the main problem I have with the normal cycle, as I normally wash clothes in cold/cool water anyway, really only use hot for really soiled clothes or towels and bedding. However, my wife itches a lot so I need deep rinses in order to ensure all the laundry detergent is rinsed away.

What's frustrating is when I'll have the settings the way I like them, soil level, fabric softener selector on, etc, and someone else will use the washer and not tel me they switched the options. Ugh, I'm blind, that would be nice to know. That's why I tend to use cycles where it uses a deep rinse, no matter what.

I may give normal a try though with fabric softener selected, if it gives a deep rinse that would be the best for my everyday loads.

 

[mayken4now]

Ryne, back to your original Question.  NO, you are not a minority.

 

IMHO Erase NORMAL off of every appliance.  No such thing.  define Normal??????????????????

 

[pierreandreply4]

to have a true normal cycle

to have a true normal cycle and true wash rinse water tempatures you would have to go with a vintage washer before 2009 and now like 1969 to 1999 and credit to members who pictures i am using as exemple i also posted exemple pictures