My new Whirlpool's Mystery Cycle...

[pulsator]

Well, I thought it odd that Whirlpool should include 4 blank slots on the cycle selector knob of this machine but thought that it just must be cheaper than trying to actually blank them out. Odd though that they include one of them in the "Normal Cycles" area. I thought I'd see what happens if I tried to select that blank slot as a cycle and low and behold, it's started right up as if I had just started a regular cycle. I then decided to throw a blanket in and see what it did!

My first thought is that this is some sort of Super Wash cycle like the higher end HE model has. (I believe there is a Kenmore agitator version of this machine which has more cycles as well.) The wash lasted for a full 20 minutes! Poor blanket, it was dirty but, not quite THAT dirty! It's currently rinsing the blanket... We'll see if it does anything differently. I'm curious to try the other 3 blank slots now!

The manual does not mention these slots anywhere as though they don't exist and wouldn't do anything. Nice to know that I apparently got even more features than I payed for.

 

[szymonrules]

Cool!!! Uploasd more pics of this washer please!

 

[nmassman44]

That has to be the unmarked SuperWash setting. I am also wondering what the 3 grey spots are for at the bottom of the dial. Do they do anything? Nice washer I must say.

 

[jetcone]

Forbidden Cycles

Very TABU! DO NOT USE!

 

[iheartmaytag]

The three on the bottom I am assuming,
1-Soak
2-Gentle
3-Self-Destruct using thermo-nuclear-weapons.
Ok well maybe it's a bulky setting.

 

[tolivac]

try it and see what it does?

 

[frigilux]

Harley wins!!

 

[dogboy44]

It's not labeled

Because if you clothes are that dirty, you want to be discreet about it.

 

[rp2813]

I think Whirlpool is testing your level of intuition.

Blank = Blank-et cycle.

 

[dj-gabriele]

Hahah, that's a funny thing to have! And the hidden cycles might come useful, did you try searching for a manual regarding the full featured model? The cycles should be indicated there! Anyway, here happened something similar with Indesit dishwashers: the models with only 4 or 5 programmes in reality had the same board of the one with 7 cycles but an indentation on the inside of the knob prevented turning it further and of course there wasn't mention on them on the machine body or manual but once you took off the offensive add-on plastic on the inside of the knob, you had a top of the line machine with all the other programmes.
I don't know if it's still the same or they changed something in this year series!

 

[ronhic]

In many ways it makes sense...

....to just leave them off the timer/programmer...

It makes LESS sense to have specific control boards for different models. I wouldn't mind betting that all the cycles are available....

 

[spinmon]

and...

If 'Superwash' was marked as an actual part of an available cycle,it would OFFICALLY make the machine RUN longer,using more ENERGY,possibly hurting it's rating. As is ,it CAN be made to run that extended time if the CONSUMER does it on their own............I like that this Whirlpool is allowed to fill to a proper water level,looks good,sounds interesting,seems effective and is inexpensive. Compelling challenger to the reining(IMO) Speed Queen!

 

[mtn1584]

Kenmore model uses those blanks

I was in Sears tonight, and checked out the Kenmore version of this machine and there were way more cycles, and a triple action agitator. Check it out, all the blanks on the WP were used as cycles on the Kenmore version, and don't even go there, Speed Queen blows away WP with build quality. Apples and oranges!
Mike

 

[spinmon]

$$$$

If one only has $400 for a washer,they could be pretty happy with this Whirlpool/Kenmore. Granted,the SQ is BUILT compared to this. But,apparently,the 'world washer' this Whirlmore is based on has a decent track record,even though there's not much to it. I like the near woo-woo sounds of the SQ myself & beleive it represents the greater value.

 

[mtn1584]

I do agree with you , if one only has $400, and a limited budget, then this is a great value. I am also very happy to see that WP is continuing to manufacture top-load agitator washers. Happy New Year!
Mike

 

[spinmon]

concurance

I'm also glad to see decent agitator machines continue.(so far)

 

[gelaundry4ever]

super cycle

Maybe the empty slots are the continuation spots for the super cycle which is part of the main normal cycle.

 

[DADoES]

 
The rotary selector on the machine control board has detents at the unlabeled positions but the board isn't programmed to do anything on them.  That's part of the software programming difference from one board to another, although they may all use the same mechanical selector switch component.

 

[cuffs054]

My MT has the same unlabeled cycles. One washed for almost 40 minutes, did one rinse and then stopped. Both fills were cold.