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

[henene4]

Normal cycle in Europe

Before the new energy label, the normal cycle (usually called Cottons or Boil-/Coloredwash, roughly translated) at 60C/140F was the normal labeled cycle, and some other cycles thrown in I think.

After the new label came along, manufacturers needed ways to improve efficency. Thus, they reduced temperatures on the label cycles, therefor added soak periods and extended the cycle times.
BUT they did not make that verry clear. Mieles 60C cycle for example just suddenly took an hour longer.
Some already implemented seperate cycles trimed for efficency, but didn't make it clear that the label would only apply to those cycles. Whirlpools Super Eco cycle is one of the early examples.

Then, some consumer report type magaziines acrosd Europe became aware of that fact and as a result, the EU regulations were changed.
Now, at least on laundry appliances, the cycle the energy ratings are based on are labeled with a small tag simbol.
Thus, you always know if you get the efficency trimmed or the normal cycle version.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Appliance manufacturers have a sort of wink, wink, nudge, nudge deal with the bean counters at the Department of Energy that there will be a cycle labeled Normal on washers and dishwashers that will be the default setting for users and testers. It is the cycle that most washer users, ignorant of how to do the job properly, will used when they dump in white and colors and it is the cycle that will be used to get the energy rating for the appliance.

 

For dishwashers, it might not be as bad. I have watched people load their dishwashers after meals and they not only rinse every last bit of food off the dishes, they do it with hot water. It's like in the early 50s when family friends were using the early Apex, Youngstown, GE and KitchenAid machines.

 

[washman]

Proof positive

that the government does not know what is best.

 

[wishwash]

My take on the normal cycle.

I'm using an early model kenmore vmw. If I have a small load of cottons to wash then the normal cycle works just fine. I don't like to run a long wash time on small loads to avoid wearing them out so fast. They get plenty of rollover in the short wash time (I think 8 or 12 minutes). I also find no difference between a spray rinse and deep rinse on these smaller loads pending the load is made up of cottons that are easily soaked without agitation. I've even tried bypassing the lid lock and physically moving the clothes around while the water sprays down on them. The difference is negligible. Why waste the extra 10 gallons when they come out just fine? I wouldn't run the normal cycle on a larger load of heavy cottons or with sheets, towels etc, the rinse doesn't cut it. I find that it works fine for a small or medium load of T-shirts, socks and such.

For the heavier loads I like to use the casual cycle, again because I don't like super long wash times. My clothes aren't normally super dirty. This does stick me with a slow speed spin but I'm fine with that. I always use the heavy duty cycle for towels or work clothes for the long wash times and high speed spin. In these cases the deep agitated rinse is necessary.

I don't see the need to complain about the new generation of appliances when they are giving you more flexibility. Most of them on the market right now give you the option for the deep rinse. Those who don't like them have plenty of used or reconditioned machines to choose from.

 

[toploader55]

Normal Cycle

I used it twice on my 5 year old Miele 4842.

After programming it for WaterPlus, I use the Extra White, Custom (Make your own program), Handwash, and Express.

I also never ever use the maximum extraction speed. I think High (1,000) is plenty. Maximum Speed (1,200) just wrinkled items too much. And only load the cylinder 3/4 full. I get very nice results plus good rinsing.

 

[washerdude]

My thoughts

We still use "Normal" on our front loader about 80-90%. Normal for front loaders IMO is still fine. The spray rinse on HE top loaders is what really hindered my decision to avoid buying another top load.

A "Normal" cycle on my duet takes around 36-45 minutes (timed) which includes a proper softener rinse, one that actually adds drama as many have said. Something that really bugs me is that on HE top loaders a typical cycle can be 36 minutes WITHOUT a proper rinse, but upon selecting a deep rinse or fabric softener option, the cycle times budge well over into an hour. An hour per load? I think that crosses the line even for me. An hour long cycle is what I expect for a large load in a heavy duty cycle not your typical everyday load.

Back to the spray rinse however, I can't see how in any way this is okay for people with sensitive skin. It's almost funny to see how the rinses went from full tub, to 1/4 tub and now to a spray rinse over the years. One thing I would try though if I was one of the manufacturers would be to make a disguised normal cycle and label colors or something of that nature. That cycle could use more water and help to cut down times at the same time, maybe even incorporate a spray rinse after the final rinse.

Correct me if I'm wrong though, but doesn't the model WTW4815 give a proper rinse as opposed to a spray rinse? I noticed your model has the fabric softener cup in the agitator but no option for "fabric softener."

 

[ea56]

Yes the WTW4815 and the MVWC415 both have deep rinses. I have never used the 2nd rinse option on my MVWC415 and the clothes are always well rinsed. BTW the longest time I have clocked for a load was 60 mins using the Powerwash cycle, heavy soil level, hot water and presoak option. Most loads take 45 to 50 mins, which in my opinion is acceptable. My LG FL used to take a min. of 80 mins and most loads took at least 90 to 120 mins., too long in my opinion.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 1/1/2017-17:45]

 

[mark_wpduet]

I RARELY use normal in

my duet unless it's something really not that dirty. It is only 40 minutes long by default with 2 rinses. It's not that horrible of a cycle and uses just as much water if not more than the other cycles.

I usually use heavy duty and more soil and extra rinse - or whitest whites with more soil. Once in a while sanitary.

but looking at some of these wash times of the more modern FL washers I have to wonder why the wash times on my Duet aren't nearly as long.

For example. The longest possible time for heavy duty is 1:10. It defaults to 50 min, but by the time I chose extra rinse and more soil, it's at 1:10 - Same with whitest whites. Sanitary's max length with more soil and extra rinse is 2:30

 

[joeypete]

I've used "Normal" a few time on my new Maytag and the load came out fine. On my washer you can select any water temp you want on that cycle but you can only use higher spin speeds. I'm not sure how it regulates the temp.... But honestly this machine has so many specialized cycles, the Normal cycle is bound to not get used, unless by a novice haha.

 

[wishwash]

I have noticed that the normal cycle on my VMW dumbs down the hot setting, where heavy duty uses constant hot water. I'm fine with that - the only time I need the super hot water is on towels or whites when I also want the deep rinse. There's no need to shrink my colors.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

late to the party

But the normal cycle does just fine as long as I use heavy soil. At my parents' houses, this is the cycle I use for everyday loads of various soil levels.

 

[wayupnorth]

These new machines are way too complicated. I will keep the simplicity of my 40 year old Maytags. Regular, Delicate and P Press. I select the load level and temp. I do not want a machine deciding what it thinks is best for me.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

simple

I agree. Simple is better. I am so sick and tired of these touch screens.

 

[anthony]

no auto here

i use a twin tub or a wringer washer .i decide how much water it uses and how hot it is .I control everything not some jumped up government

 

[tolivac]

YES!!!!!

 

[pinkpower4]

Normal is useful on MTmvwp575gw and especially SQ TC5...

On the Maytag mvwp575gw that has been installed per instructions, the 7-minute normal cycle is good for smaller loads of quick washes and lightly soiled everyday wear. Lots of good agitation moves the clothes down and through the water effectively. The "hot" setting for normal eco ONLY is luke warm. The deep water cycles all have tap hot. Surprisingly the spray rinse works well. You can literally wash and dry a load in about an hour especially if you use a Ninja or Panda spinner. If you want a full tub rinse, just run the normal eco again. The wash action is too rough for delicates, not long enough for or hot enough for whites (when installed per instructions). Note: I have my MT575 hooked up with a Y-hose running to cold only and control the temp through the faucets, so I have tap hot for that cycle too. It means I have to remember to set it back to cold once the wash cycle fill is complete. I can do a manual presoak by pausing the cycle, which can reduce the actual wash cycle time needed for some loads I do. I would definitely opt for the newer model with more water level control over the older model I have. I've owned this for almost six years now and have been very happy with it.

The SQ TC5's "normal" can be a super cycle! Just select normal and heavy. The water temp with heavy is whatever you set it at including tap hot. It's extra long because it includes a presoak. I use Persil stain fighter, oxi-clean, and a bit of Dawn. Whites come out clean and bright. With whites, I will run another normal cycle and add Lysol sanitizer. I really like the normal super cycle and that I can do smaller loads with less water. The suspension is better than the MT. It really does everything quite well from handwash to heavy.

My clothes seem to be lasting longer using Persil stain fighter, oxi-clean, and a bit of Dawn instead of bleach. Bleach seems to weaken the fabric. I still use it for some things though. Not only does the spin dryer get out excess residue left behind, but it allows me to dry at a lower temperature for a shorter period of time. Elastics last longer.

With that said, I would much rather have my old Whirlpool set that I owned in the 90s with the mechanical controls. It had a dual-action agitator, filled with water, and had tap hot. I could select the right amount of water for any load needed. I end up wasting water with the eco models.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

no deep rinse

I hate it! No deep rinse, no go!

 

[DADoES]

 
Jerome, a deep rinse on a Normal cycle that normally runs a shower rinse can usually/possibly be had by selecting the Softener option or perhaps Extra Rinse if either or both options are offered.  AquaSmart does that, and also changes to a conventional wash (although at reduced temperature) if the Bleach option is selected.

 

[Chetlaham]

Tim, I agree. I've only ever needed 4 cycles doing laundry: Normal, Casual, Handwash, and on occasion Prewash/soak. I select the temps and water level.

 

 

Permanent press (fast/slow) doesn't count as casual (slow/fast) for me, my machine doesn't have a casual cycle, so I have to improvise but other than that I can't think of why I would need more cycles or having the machine dictate fill, temps, time, cycle, ect. AWN542 could make a casual cycle with the user offered speed combo switch however after reading about timer problems (start winding not engaging) in the AWN542s I decided to get a less featured model with fewer timer increments that didn't have the same issue. Minus the lack of a slow/fast cycle in place of permanent press (which could be easily accomplished in the timer),  I have not looked back nor have I ever needed any more options, features, or cycles.

 

[ryner1988]

It's funny that this thread came back up.

The washer I was talking about in the original post, a basic Whirlpool top loader WTW4816FW, died in 2022 due to what I now believe was a failed mode shifter as it was stuck between drain and spin. I have since learned that issue could have been fixed relatively cheaply, but the appliance tech over the phone told me it was the gearcase and not worth repairing. Lesson learned: Always have the appliance techs come to your house to diagnose and if they won't, find another repair tech that will.

After two used washers that didn't quite work out due to various issues, I now have the new version of the original machine in this post, which is the updated WTW4816FW3. I still don't use the normal cycle much, but I now understand better what it's mostly for, which is smaller loads of everyday clothes. It doesn't work very well for anything above a half load or so because the updated version of this washer seems to use a lower water level on normal than in any other cycle. I feel like full loads get bunched up in the bottom part of the tub and get thrashed by the lower agitator fins -- not much actual movement going on that I can perceive, just a lot of thrashing back and forth. So for full loads, which is what I normally do, I tend to use the heavy duty cycle on auto sense which seems to provide enough water for the clothes to move around effectively without resorting to the deep fill option. I do occasionally use the deep fill for really big loads of towels though. Also, a really big load in this machine isn't quite what, say, an old direct drive Whirlpool or Kenmore can handle. I can fill loosely to the top row of holes but one really shouldn't overload these machines at all because I don't think the gearbox can handle the strain.

Overall though I'm pleased with my washer. It does everything I need with little attitude, which I appreciate, and the controls are simple knobs, great for this blind guy not wanting to over-think about workarounds for touch screen controls. I still feel the normal cycle doesn't work well except in some cases, but it really is a great basic washer. I thought about getting the new Maytag commercial PinkPower mentioned above, but it was a bit out of my price range and the machine I have now performs quite similarly to it, although admittedly without the heavy-duty components in the Maytag.

Ryne