Number of Cycles on Modern Washing Machines

[Chetlaham]

Why do modern washing machines have so many cycles if supposedly people only use a handful of cycles? I've had people tell me that they just wash everything on normal or some similar cycle, maybe bulk for the sheets. Why is actually driving the sale behind multi dozen cycle washers? Don't get me wrong but I'm just wondering if people in general or as a whole use various cycles based on load type of just stuff and wash on normal. I'm curious.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

Well, at least one thing for sure I know that I am

Going to use some cycles on my mum‘s washer, just to see what they do, and I am probably gonna have to use my mum’s large machine as a spin dryer, as I don’t have a spin dryer large enough to wash a single duvet, with one of my machines, it will wash a duvet, but I don’t have anything big enough to dry it

 

[ryner1988]

I actually use the heavy duty cycle for most things, because normal on my machine gives a lower water level than what I need and also it has dumbed down water temps. The heavy duty cycle's auto sense function is a lot more accurate in my opinion, and I use that unless I'm doing a particularly large load of towels or similar heavy load and I switch to deep wash for that. For single large items like bedspreads or blankets I do use the bulky cycle. I've used the quick wash cycle once, but found it didn't spin long enough at the end of the cycle so haven't used it since. So no, I don't really use very many settings on my machine and I doubt many people do. Even careful sorters, in my experience, tend to stick with one or two cycles.

 

[Chetlaham]

I find myself doing much the same, Heavy on the regular cycle for most things- probably using it more than I should. I honestly like with longer wash times, the Tide pods work better. The rest of the loads go on delicate. Some PP for bed sheets- though I don't think the slow first spin makes no difference.  

 

My washer has 4 cycles:

 

Regular; Permanent Press, Handwash/Delicate and Soak. Those are the only cycles I've ever needed. Only thing I wish was different is that the Permanent Press cycle was a casual cycle with slow wash fast spin for casual items.  

 

[mark_wpduet]

No clue honestly...

I'm thinking about all the cycles on my duet...Sanitary... Heavy Duty... whitest whites...Normal...delicate...soak...rinse/spin...

I've used every single one of them but 99.9% of the time I use Heavy duty and whitest whites only.... rarely using the others.

Soak has come in really handy a few times... Also rinse/spin...once in a while I'll use normal when I have something that isn't too dirty but just needs washed...

Sanitary is LONG.. for obvious reasons.. I'm thinkin 2.5 hours and when it's running the washer feels dishwasher hot. I seriously think I've used it maybe a total of 10 times in almost 19 years.. but it works fantastically...Nice to have if you need it.

but the new washers have even more cycles...so I don't know..I think it's partly just marketing?

 

[qsd-dan]

On front loaders, all of the gazillion cycles provide a combination of different water levels, washing times, and wash temps, sometimes a combination of extra rinses and temps as well. It's annoying and confusing until you can the hang of it.

I also believe the cycle names are designed with water and electricity usage, tricking the user into using less water and cooler temps. Don't use the "Normal" cycle if you actually want your clothes and internal washer parts to remain clean.

 

[DADoES]

 
Frontloader cycles also vary in tumble speed and lift-drop pattern.

 

[me]

My current machine is 14 years old so I guess not particularly modern, but it has about 20 programmes and 4 modifier buttons for spin speed, prewash/intensive etc. About half of the programmes cycles correspond to the UK garment care labels, plus a couple of energy saving eco cotton washes, then there's spin, rinses etc, plus perhaps half a dozen niche ones, like sport, cold and mini wash, that I've never used, and a sport shoes one that I've used exactly once.

I mostly use the 40°C synthetic/mixed fabric wash, occasionally the cotton 40°C or 60°C depending on stains and rarely these days because of electric prices, the 90°C cotton, and rarely anything else, save perhaps an extra spin.

The machine we had throughout the 1980's and into the 90's programme options weren't that much different to be honest, it had 13 programmes, and 7 cycle modifier buttons. The first 7 programme numbers corresponded to the garment care label numbers used at the time, plus it had wool and silk of course, and also rinses, spin etc. It just didn't have the niche washes, apart from a "special whites 95°C" one if I recall correctly, and they probably hadn't even thought of having eco cotton washes. Frankly I doubt the 4-bit microprocessor could cope with many more options, I think the revised board gained a couple of rinses and long and short spin programmes, making 15 in all.

In those days I mainly used programme no. 4, the 50°C synthetic wash, and used no. 1 cotton 95°C quite often and sometimes no. 6 acrylics.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Well here are the ones on my Maytag’s timer dial, while I can still get an actual dial! (Took lots, really)

Disappointed though that there is no time indicator nor even an end of cycle signal…

Bought for the pet hair control though don’t really have any problem with and the center cap in its agitator doesn’t collect lint or reminds me why I actually like the lint filtered for me…

The gray it’s in is nice too…

— Dave

 

[Chetlaham]

@dave, is the matching dryer still EM?

 

[mrlaundry1011]

I think the machines with the most cycles I have are my Hotpoint (made by whirlpool) and my Fisher and Paykel AI.

The Hotpoint has the usual cycles around the dial but the “more cycles” option includes:
- rinse
- multi colour
- bed & bath
- duvet
- silk & curtains
- Baby
- cuddly toys
- pet stuff
- jeans
- shirts.

The F&P on the other hand has multiple cycles per selection of the dial:
- eco 40-60
- mixed: mixed or heavy
- cotton: Cotton or towels
- delicate: delicate or hand wash
- sportswear: activewear or sport
- quick: quick 15 or quick 30
- bedding: sheets or bulky
- utility: rinse or spin or drum clean
- 20c cycle
- hygiene: sanitise or allergy
- wool
- silk
- extra care: synthetics or shoes or denim or soft toys
- steam refresh

26 in total for the F&P and 24 in the Hotpoint

 

[mrlaundry1011]

They also both have lots of options to modify all programmes (some more than others)

The F&P has:
- start delay up to 24hr
- autodose
- cold, 30c, 40c, 60c, 75c, 90c
- normal, eco, speed or quiet optimisation
- AI on or off
- soil level (adjusts wash time)
- wrinkle free (tumbling after prog complete for 12hr)
- soak
- extra rinse
- pre wash
- favourite (save your preferred settings to all progs, e.g towels at 90 and mixed with speed)

The Hotpoint has:
- autodose
- steam hygiene
- gentle power (activates jet system)
- cold, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90c
- time delay up to 24hr
- rapid option
- easy iron
- pre wash
- cold wash
- Multi rinse (1-3 extra rinses)
- steam finish

For those using degrees F: cold/60f, 20c/68f, 30c/86f, 40c/104f, 50c/122f, 60c/140f, 70c/158f, 80c/176f, 90c/194f

 

[iiijohnnymaciii]

I Despise Cycles

All we need is wash time, water temperature, load size, spin speed, wash intensity, and a couple options: prewash, soak, extra rinses.

Give me 5 knobs and a few buttons.

To me, that’s the perfect washer. If people can’t figure that out, maybe they should pay someone to wash their clothes for them.

If this comes off snooty, I apologize. Was a long day at work with my coworkers.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

my prediction

I predict they're there assuming that customers will use all of the cycles available. I mainly use normal or heavy duty, and very rarely to never use speed cycle.

 

[DADoES]

 
AquaSmart LCD model has 33 selectable cycles.

Basic Cycles*
  Regular
  Sheets
  Whites
  Colors
  Heavy
  Delicate
  Easy Iron
  Bulky**
  Rinse/Spin
  Spin Only

*Options, some choices are restricted on some cycles:
   HE or Conventional (separate button)
   Six water temps (Tap Cold, Cold+, Warm-, Warm, Warm+, Hot)
   Softener Yes/No
   Chlorine Bleach Yes/No***
   Three spin speeds (Slow/300, Medium/670, Fast/1,010)
   Soak Yes/No
   Drip Dry Yes/No (pauses/beeps before the final spin, continues on Start)
   Delay Start (15, 30 mins; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18 hours)

**Bulky has subchoices of Feather Comforter, Synthetic Comforter, Blanket, Throw, Jacket, Sleeping Bag, all with no adjustment of any options.  The two comforter choices are repeated under Lifestyle/Family (but each counted once for the 33 cycles).

***If the model doesn't have a bleach dispenser, then the option has the machine pause 9 minutes into the wash period and beep for the user to add diluted bleach through the detergent dispenser and press Start.

Lifestyle programmed cycles (no adjustment of anything)
  Special:  Handwash, Wool, Jeans
  Stains:  Chocolate, Tomato, Blood, Grass, Fruit, Wine
  Family:  Comforter (Feather or Synthetic), Allergy, Hygiene, Diaper Rinse, Soft Toys
  Sports:  Sweaty, Muddy, Shoes, Beach Gear
  Tub Clean

 

[combo52]

Number of different different cycles on washing machines

For the most part, it doesn’t cost even a penny more to put a lot of cycles on a washing machine, so why not include all kinds of cycles that people may or may not use it does not add to the complexity or breakdown rate to put 26 cycles on or two cycles.

The only bad thing about so many choices as people have a hard time making up their mind, lol

John

 

[mrboilwash]

I think I read about a survey on how many washer cycles people actually use on a regular basis. Don`t remember where but might have been our consumer magazine.
IIRC on average it`s only 3 cycles but each consumer, homemaker or whatever has their own choices and preferences of what is considered necessary.

 

[donprohel]

Reply #12 - Give me 5 knobs and a few buttons

I agree with you, IIIJohnnyMacIII / John, but such a washing machine would never sell: the average user would not be able to correctly set those 5 knobs and a few buttons, and the machine would be considered "too difficult to use".

People do not want buttons because they are unable (and unwilling) to learn which to push, and that's why appliances have less and less buttons, which entails that setting the appliance is more and more complex, but the average user does not notice because they just push one button and don't even know what the other buttons are for.

My dishwasher has eight touch buttons, but the start it I have to push seventeen times (navigate the menu, select the option, set it, return...) while the average user just presses "Start" and then complains that the result is not satisfactory

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to donprohel

Then the average person will sue the corporation all because they don't read their manuals.