New LG front load washer: just one rinse?

[johnmk]

The other day I had some time to spare, so decided I'd run a Cotton/Normal 100% default cycle on my LG WM3470 washer/dryer. Somehow, I can't remember how exactly, I had the impression that it would do two rinses. Let me define rinse, as far as I've intuitively defined it all my life: drain dirty/soapy wash water, spin, fill, slosh around, drain, spin. That's one rinse cycle. And that's what my LG WM3470 does in its default Cotton/Normal cycle. Lots of research led me to believe that all modern front loading clothes washers do two rinses default, so I just took it for granted that mine did too. Do I have a misunderstanding of what constitutes a rinse, or does my LG WM3470 really only do one rinse in the default cycle? Does that manner of rinse carry over into all other cycles, too?

Aside from the experimental sacrifice above, I've almost always selected Extra Rinse. Almost as a needless luxury, but it's something I want anyway. It just seems bizarre that Extra Rinse is what's needed to get me up to Two rinses. All along I just assumed it was buying me a total of Three rinses.

The only other thing I can imagine is that somehow the Cottons/Normal default cycle, which includes the activation of TurboWash, does away with one rinse? I have no evidence for that, just putting it out there as one variable that I might test for in the future. Both Cotton/Normal itself as one variable vs. other cycles, and the TurboWash option. Several permutations to go through here, perhaps I should set up a video camera and record what the clothes washer is up to so I can fast-forward through the boring parts, instead of sitting down there with a book and glancing up to observe every minute or two.

I find it disappointing that the curious-minded, slightly obsessive folk like me must resort to these types of investigations to find out what our modern clothes washers are up to, when instead LG and other manufacturers could just put the raw data out there so we can spend our time on real hobbies.

Maybe this is covered in the service manual? Any idea where I can get that for the LG WM3470?

 

[golittlesport]

Very strange indeed

I've never heard of a front load washer that only does one deep rinse...either modern or vintage. That does not seem to be sufficient rinsing.

My Frigidaire front loader has a minimum of two rinses in every cycle. Quick Wash and Touch Up has two rinses, Normal has three, Heavy soil/whites has four. The instructions recommend a very light dose of detergent in the two-rinse cycles.

 

[pierreandreply4]

there is nothing wrong with one rinse i would say that its normal to have 1 rinse if no other options are selected unless its a generation 1 lg washer

 

[fido]

It seems odd to me. Machines I've observed on test usually do 3 rinses but I have known some that did 4.

 

[dj-gabriele]

1-rinse is GROSS

All the modern machines I've known do 2 rinses when the load is less then full and/or choosing a normal wash cycle, they do 3 rinses when detecting a full load or using an intensive/no spin-delicate cycle.

The only instance of machines doing only one rinse was in those gross 14-16 minutes refresh cycle that are recommended to be run with 1/5-1/3 at best of detergent and they use a DEEP water level! But anything less of 60 minutes in a modern front loader is just yucky as they aren't designed to clean in that little time!

 

[chris74]

As we own a Euro toploader...

...I cannot actually tell you what a front loader normally does but back in time, I would say 3 to 5 rinses could be objected as regular. Maybe your washer is very HE and one doesn't know with these modern energy saving machines...

 

[mrb627]

Shocker

It would not surprise me one bit if another manufacturer is using the "NORMAL" cycle to gain the "ECO" advantage on the energy star list. Perhaps it is the only cycle that skimps on the rinsing ability.

Malcolm

 

[tomturbomatic]

Pierre, we are discussing a front loader, not a top loader. One deep rinse on a front loader has not been seen since the first Bendix and Westinghouse washers and they quickly changed that. I think both used a spray, deep, spray sequence. Malcolm is probably right, it is the cycle used to brown nose the Department of Energy folks, who don't give a fried damn about results, just how little water is used. They would probably top rate a washer with no fill valves at all because it would have the lowest water consumption.

 

[logixx]

From my understanding, TurboWash will rinse the clothes during a low-speed spin using the rinse jet. A 'deep' rinse only takes place for the softening rinse:

 

[gansky1]

I was just reading the LG website the other day about the Turbo Wash jet system models. It was my understanding that in order to save time, the jet spray system was used for washing and rinsing. I would like to know if they do omit the "deep" tumble rinse if used without fabric softener. From the videos on their site, it looks like there is a recirculated spray in the wash and a fresh water spray in the rinse. Substituting a fill & tumble rinse for a shower-spray rinse wouldn't probably cut it for me either if only done once.

Whirlpool topload HE washers use a shower spray while revolving the basket at low speeds but this is done in several sequences with higher speed spins between each shower segment.

Samsung also has this jet-spray system in a few of their models as well, not sure of their cycle sequencing though.

Are there cycles on your washer that default to the Turbo Wash system automatically or is it always an option that must be selected? I think it would be rather reassuring to see the water squirting on the load, at least the visual presence of water at work in the machine is a good thing.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Greg, as opposed to the virtual presence of water in the machine when it's not seen?

 

[gansky1]

Exactly, Tom! Seeing water would at least give a better impression and likely save many calls to service centers by non-readers asking "where's the water?"

 

[johnmk]

I specifically looked for the use of the high-powered rinse jet, and didn't see it kick into action. I stand by my observation that there appeared to me to be only one rinse. Nothing that even remotely approaches the definition of "rinse" occurred more than once.

I washed some dress slacks today using Permanent Press cycle and used Extra Rinse, and noticed lots of studs in the wash water -- it looks like my mother's front loader also doesn't appear to rinse well, since the last time I washed those slacks was in her 8-year-old Kenmore FL machine. She probably used the Speed Wash, though, as she always does. It wouldn't surprise me if that only does one rinse.

 

[logixx]

Does the jet come on for other cycles? Is there water going in between the post-wash spin and the final rinse - for a potential spray rinse?

 

[johnmk]

I haven't yet had the time to test all possible combination of settings; when I have acquired a critical mass of information, I'll certainly share it. My plan is to borrow a friend's digital video camera and start recording the activities of each cycle, with and without various options, but only as the necessity for laundering permits.

Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.

 

[johnmk]

Is anyone aware of an affordable water-use meter that I could use to see how much water is used? Either 3/4" garden hose thread or 1/2" NPT preferably.

 

[pierreandreply4]

maybe you should check to see if your cycle is not set on a normal quick wash cycle as this cycle is short in term of wash time?

 

[johnmk]

I've uploaded a video to youtube of the default Cotton/N

I've uploaded a video of the default Cotton/Normal cycle, and I'm saddened to report that it looks like one rinse indeed. More experiments/videos will follow as time/inclination permits.

 

[nmassman44]

Well I watched the video and I counted a spray rinse for the first spin then a deep rinse with a good amount of water...more than what was used during the wash cycle. Then two spray rinses in the final spin and that was during high speed spin. To me if it sprays with a rather high spin occurring then it will drive the water thru the load rather well. I can see the concern if one uses too much detergent then I would use the extra rinse or a softener rinse. Interesting machine to watch.