Soak Cycles

[daveamkrayoguy]

I remember how my mom's almond Maytag had one that automatically advanced into the wash cycle (although you want to move the timer dial manually to a shorter portion of the dial for a shorter wash, if need) and you could control how long your laundry could soak for, too...

My Kenmore as well as most other machines I've seen has a cycle which just agitates the clothes & leaves the owner to advance it into a wash (or a Pre-Wash that I have between the Soak & Reg. Fabrics wash, which just agitates & spins w/o a rinse)...

Who else wants to share their knowledge on Soaking & what their machines w/ this feature that they have seen or owned do?

-- Dave

 

[alr2903]

Biz detergent in the 1970's was one of the "enzyme presoak" powders.  Much of most peoples wardrobes were high in polyester at the time. alr

 

[bajaespuma]

An oxymoron if there ever was one

The V-12's were one of the first Top-Loaders to offer what GE called an "Activated Soak". It was snake oil, because, all it was was the final rinse portion of the main wash cycle that was tagged "Soak". For a couple of days, in the late Sixties when the enzyme pre-soak powders were all the rage, I drove myself nuts trying to figure out what magic would make the dial stop and allow the laundry to lay still for an unidentified period of time in the tub before the final spin. I kept thinking that you had to set the dial on that exact point of the "soak" triangle to get it to work properly.

 

Finally, I had to come to the conclusion that GE had bamboozled us and of course, I was the only person in the household who even noticed the soak portion on the dial. It was explained in the long missing instruction booklet that the user could pull the timer knob out and allow the laundry to soak for any period of time desired. This was also the moment that I found out that the drain hose on our V-12 hadn't been sufficiently elevated; when I did this, the tub neutral-drained.

 

[bajaespuma]

In the next model year, in 1963, they made the soak portion of the dial even fancy-schmancier:

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Kenmores and soaks

Dave -

I am guessing your Kenmore is a mid-1990s model or newer? This soak was different than previously offered by Kenmore, and was included in the significantly re-designed cycles and sequences of the 1992 Kenmore DD line. This line got the newly separated Heavy Duty and Normal cycles with different agitation speeds for each but both with fast spin. The Soak was just as you said...it filled, agitated briefly, and just stopped. User drained the machine etc in a different cycle.

The previous Enzyme Soak and Pre-Soak cycles as they were called were more functional. Cycle filled with water (in most models it was rinse temps only to prevent hot water from being used which can set some stains), agitated for several minutes, most models agitated in slow speed, then stopped. After several more minutes, the machine would agitate briefly again, to stir the pot so to speak, then stop again. The number of stops and starts seems to have varied, as I remember more of them in our 1974 Kenmore than in the 80s belt-drives, but these cycles then finished with a four minute agitation, which could also be used as a Pre-wash, which was marked as such. This was followed by a drain period and spin.

Many Kenmores were equipped with an auto-advance option which could be turned on or off which would advance the machine directly into the normal cycle. Thus these soaks always preceded the Normal cycle on the dial. These models usually always had some form of a detergent dispenser to hold detergent for the normal wash so the user didn't have to return to the machine. This was either the water flushed dispenser, or the trap-door mechanical powder dispenser.

Oddly, the Enzyme soak, which appeared in the late 60s, started out at 30 minutes full duration, but was not long later clipped to 22 minutes. I always figured the 8 minutes didn't matter and that the engineers wanted the 8 minutes in the otherwise cluttered timers for something else (such as extended drain times in large capacity machines) but I've since heard that it was found that enzyme detergents once activated were only effective for 20-some minutes, thus the 20-some minute new soak.

Gordon

 

[oldskool]

Variations of Soak Cycles

Have found that several options based on need is the solution for my home.

We have a FF GE of the later vintage (type with a non-removable lint filter) that has a Soak Cycle of up to 30 minutes that progresses into the longer/heavy duty extended wash cycle. The FF does not drain prior to the wash cycle. IMHO it is a powerful cleaning option. Heavily soiled or common stained items always come clean with the vigorous action of the FF, accompanied with the preceeding extended soak cycle that has intermittent agitation during the soak. A great machine!

Also have the Kenmore variety of soak, intermittent agitation, pre-wash, drain, spin then automatically advances to the wash cycle - which also is quite effective, although results in higher water/detergent consumption due to filling the machine twice during the soak/wash process, followed by the standard spray rinse, deep rinse, and in most instances, we used the 2nd deep rinse. However, when we cared for an individual that had incontinence issues, this was the best option due to multiple changes of wash/rinse water. Multiple water changes doubled the water usage which seemed a bit wasteful unless the items being laundered were truly filthy, in which case it was great.

Water prices in KC are outrageous - resulting in more use of the Neptune FL, (doing 25+ loads weekly) unless something is truly filthy requiring more water. Maybe I'm alone on this, but the FL water reduction thing doesn't work for me psychologically if any items were soiled with body waste or are otherwise really filthy. For such items, only TL with multiple water changes really gets the job done. Don't think I'm alone on this, but IMHO, laundry is not clean by appearance only, but must pass the smell test. To that end, when necessary, I don't mind paying the water bill.

 

[pierreandreply4]

on inglis whirlpool washers the soak cycle was located at the super cycle setting on basic models or it was located at the gentle cycle rinse portion where the ico is like a dimond or rectangle credit to washoholic for the picture that i am using

 

[mixfinder]

Soak Cycle

My Maytag has a six minute Prewash that begins with fill and agitation and then spins, going directly into the Soak ccyle with fresh water. It rests for about 5 minutes in Soak and then proceeds to a 10 minute wash on the normal cycle. With lots of kids clothes diapers as well as linens and uniforms to wash, I used a cold water Prewash with bleach and then followed with a hot wash. The caveat is standing by or remembering to return to add soap for the Soak and Wash cycle. The directions for the machine suggest loading the fabric dispenser with liquid soap and it will dispense during the prewash spin. In my experience the Soak portion has little impact. If I plan to soak I use the Prewash cycle with warm water and stop the machine. Mostly, I soak over night and most always spin off the soaking water and add fresh for the wash.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Kenmore Soak Selector

Hence, the selector switch options read SOAK & WASH or SOAK ONLY. Not all Kenmores with pre-soak had this swtich. I believe it was c.1974 when the Pre-Soak cycle was cropped from 30 to 22 minutes. Originally, the agitation speed was low, and spin speed was high. Those with only Pre-Wash had high agitation. Did models from the late 70's and early 80's use high agitation for Pre-Soak?

 

[philr]

Many Frigidaire washers from the 1958 and on have a soak cycle. The lesser models don't advance automatically to the wash cycle but some of the nicer models can, if you choose it... 

 

My 1-18 offers either an automatic soak cycle (with the timer set on "Regular) or an extended soak cycle in which the timer stops after about a minute of agitation and resumes when you manually select one of the other options. 

 

 

 

[launderess]

Pre-Soaking

Is really only necessary when using very aggressive wash methods (such as many top loading washers with central beaters), or perhaps when one is trying to deal with certain stains again without subjecting textiles to prolonged mechanical action.

Commercial laundries once they aquired mechanical washing machines and later domestic users as well discovered that the "Five Basics" of laundry practice could and did subsitute for pre-soaking. That is water (amount), time, mechanical action, temperature (of water), and chemicals.

Tests and studies determined that a short pre-wash in cool to tepid or even warm water gave the same if not better results than long periods of soaking. The mechanical action of a washing machine along with the other parameters did the work in minutes what once took overnight. Why? Again because the five basics tell us when you increase one the other factors can decrease and vice-versa. So by adding mechanical action soils and muck were removed faster than if left stationary in a tub.

Pre-soaking laundry is a holdover from when laundry was done by hand and allowed for an easier method of removing much of the soil before the main event (with all the rubbing, boiling, and other hard work) that was to come later. Even later when early washing machines came along for domestic use because many were designed to re-use wash water, one wanted to have as much muck removed as possible before going to the wash. This saved not only soap but hot water as well.

Of course much of this soaking was used when laundry was to be done in hot or boiling water. Sending laundry straight into wash water of those temps can and would set stains and soils, so again without the advent of modern washing machines it was eaiser to soak items in cold water first.

Commercial laundries even with manual controls (user operated fill, drain, etc) would simply pre-wash a load in cold or tepid water for a period of time, drain it off, then begin the main wash with hot or cold water and open the steam to raise the temp to hot or boiling. Another method still used today would be to "flush" the laundry first for several minutes using cool water. This could be done manually be opening the drain valves while at the same time allowing the machine to tumble and take in water.

While soaking can work wonders it must be done property to get the benefits.

Water temp should be warm to cool as starting with hot water will not only set stains but force open textile fibers only to have them shut as the water cools, that traps in the very soils one is trying to remove.

Soaking also shouldn't go on too long. If long periods are required and the wash is very soiled the water should be swapped out. Otherwise the dirt will resettle back onto the wash defeating the entire purpose.

 

[mickeyd]

Soakingggggguuuuueeee

There is a machine, the Hotpoint Lady Executive, in the POD rotations that let's you select the number of hours or all night soaking, and then spins out the soak, re-soaping and refilling automatically for the wash. Have fantasized about waking up to the sound of these phantasmagoric machinations,

In another vein, there is a secret to keeping whites sparkling without Clorox or heating. That would be the long soak in Tide with Bleach. For this method, I fill the 62 Lady K to whatever level I want, select the blank spot on the dial. That yields a two to four minute wash followed by an indefinite soak cycle. These items are not soiled and no second fill is required, simply an extended soak in hot water. Preserved whites will dazzle till rag time. The Norge and Kenmore conventionals allow the same freedom with even longer pre-wash periods; in fact the Norge actually has a Pre-Soak cycle marked on the dial.

Agree with John about the Keyboard Lady K: You press all the buttons to execute a true wash day miracle. And with the thin blade-like fins of the Vari-flex extended to the max, al the water changes and buzzing of the automatic soap reload, the scoot from the soak & pre-wash spin to the wash.....a breath-taking extravaganza of washing machine wizardry.

Agree with Kelly about overnight soaking for extreme stains and soil--works like a charm. Think of back in the day when we had nasty, nasty pans and no dishwasher. We'd soak them overnight and the muck would come loose with ease. Same principle involved with fabrics, a time honored, tried and true method of long soaking for release of whatever.

The little Chinese Haier soaks for 30, washes for 20, and rinses twice on the Heavy cycle~ no water throw between soak and wash.

Pierre and the dude who took it: I LOVE that close-up shot of the WP Panel--fabulous and rich!

[this post was last edited: 9/18/2012-21:41]

 

[DADoES]

 
Whirlpool's diamond marker at the Gentle rinse is equivalent to GE's rinse method noted above.  User instructions may also advise to use Rinse for a prewash function.  Super Wash runs a 2-, 4-, or 6-min prewash, 2-min soak, 1/2-drain and brief pause, then refills and continues through Normal.  Deluxe-level machine also had Super Wash on Perm Press.  Some later Whirlys, both belt-drive and direct-drive, had a designated Soak/Prewash sequence like Kenmore's Enzyme Soak.

My 1991 KitchenAid has the Super Wash sequence (called Extra Wash) on Normal.  My parents 1994 KA has both a separate Soak/Prewash (2 mins agitate, 8 mins soak, 2 mins prewash, drain/spin/off) cycle, and the Extra Wash sequence on Heavy.

My GE portable has the Rinse/Soak designation.

My F&P GWL08 and IWL12 have a Soak option that adds a 2-hr soak at end of the wash period on any cycle, with five agitation strokes every 1 minute throughout the soak.  GWL08 drains immediately after the soak and proceeds through the rest of the cycle.  IWL12 agitates for a couple mins before draining.  It also has a separate Stained selection that has several alternating periods of agitation and soak for the wash (much shorter than 2 hrs), and a Prewash option that adds a 3-min cold prewash and drain (no spin) to any cycle (the machine stops and beeps for attention for the user to add more detergent and press Start to continue).  Stained, Prewash, and Soak can be selected in any combination.  Both have a Time Saver option that cuts cycle time by half, so the soak in that case would be 1 hr.

Calypso has a Soak option that adds a 16-min soak to the beginning of any cycle (continuous recirculation at 60 RPM spin with a brief agitation at the mid-point).  There is no drain before continuing into the selected cycle.

Neptune TL has a Soak option that adds a 12-min soak (with several rollovers to keep the items saturated) at the start of any cycle.  There is no drain before proceeding into the selected cycle.

 

[tecnopolis]

GE's soak strategy hadn't evolved much on my CIRCA 1983.

 

[tecnopolis]

. On my mothers 2004 GE there is an auto soak cycle that runs up to 30 minutes with intermittent periods of agitation, rolling over into the full cottons cycle and extra rinse if so desired.

 

[tecnopolis]

.I started experimenting using the soak cycles when I switched over to a bargain detergent.

 

[stan]

Alex

what's your conclusion "bargain detergents and soak cycles"

Is still soak things now and then.

 

[mikeklondon]

Soak or PreWash UK

My Miele has the option of a soak or prewash you can set a soak time from set for 30 minutes to 6 hours. I use a 30 min soak with a very gentle action wash for shirts and bedding using a non bio detergent, with water+ and extra rinse selected. This always give a prefect wash with little wear on the fabrics

 

[vacbear58]

Soak or Prewash In The UK Again

Sadly, I cannot run to a stainless steel Miele - I have to put up with a white one

Mine offers the same two options (can only soak for up to two hours) which I also use on a regular basis as I run the machine at night and, as the soak is in cold water, it allows me to take advantage of my cheaper overnight electrical tarriff which for half the year starts at 00.30. Depending on the size and naure of load (towels for example) I use the Water Plus option too.

As I recall from my instructions, Miele propose the soak as a "greener" alternative to using a pre-wash saving electricity, water & detergent as there is only one fill. Of course if I was dealing with items like soiled nappies (diapers) I would pre-wash without question but thankfully I am not at that stage (yet!) but for lightly soiled clothes the soak seems fine to me. On the other hand I NEVER use the short or quick wash options (my Miele has both) as I dont consider that effective for proper washing no matter how lightly soiled the clothes.

AL