Steam option on new washers

[easy]

I bought a new LG 3500 last year after much research and shopping around. I always thought the steam option was just a gimmick. I think the detergent, wash water temperature and wash action factor in more on the washing ability than spraying some steam on the wet laundry.

I just received the June issue of CR. In it, they ask if "washers with a steam setting are better at cleaning"? They tested loads with and without steam in seven machines. They conclude "the steam didn't improve stain removal in our cleaning tests". More interesting, the steam option increases water consumption by up to 18 gallons in one machine. In addition, energy consumption increased by up to 600 percent.

In addition, the LG 3500 got their highest rating in May. Our friend Lorainfurniture was quite impressed with it in his Youtube video.

I now think energy ratings on new washers are practically irrelevant since they are based only on the "normal" cycle.

 

[maytagneptune]

Steam is useful. It kills the COVID and other germs

I run the sanitary cycle on my WM2277HW for whites and things with a atleast 70% chance of having COVID-19 Heats the water to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. STEAM on the WM3700HW and WM2487HWM Heat the water to boil and live steam is injected into the drum from above.

 

[maytagneptune]

Here is how it works.

 

[easy]

Covid-19

Is steam really necessary to kill covid-19? Everyday we are told to merely wash our hands with regular soap for 20 seconds to kill the virus.

Maybe if you are a health care worker literally covered with the virus at the end of the day, the steam option might make you feel safer.

 

[agiflow3]

I used the steam function on my machine several times and honestly I didn't see an appreciable difference in cleanliness.

In fact I had to pretreat a stain the steam cycle didn't take out.

 

[vacerator]

Correct,

steam cycle described in my user guide says it gently removes stains. The hottest temp. setting is actually much hotter.

 

[DADoES]

 
Steam or high-heat is not necessary to kill the virus.  Soap (or detergent) effectively destroys the exterior lipid (fat) layer that encases it.

 

[appnut]

I have a 2011 Whirlpool Duet.  when using a Sanitize wash temp option , steam is part of the sequence as it's a more efficient way of heating the wash tub environment to higher temperatures.  It heats the wash water fairly high.  Then goes through a 20 minute steam sequence to further raise temperature in the drum and shoot steam into the drum.  Also, on my machine, if I select a hot wash and select steam for stains, the machine fills with warm and then turns on the heater and gradually heats the wash water to a higher temperature that is similar to a profile wash allowing the various temperatures the heating process progresses through to deal with various types of stains.  Rarely do I select steam option when doing a load that is just warm water.  but last week I did having to deal with a significant blood stain on white sweats that had sat for over a week.  the sequence is to fill with tepid water temp, gradually heat the water to warm.  then the steam sequence occurs after the wash phase and heats the environment ever warmer temperature.  After steaming, the load did go through a cooldown process.  

 

I live in an all-electric house and don't keep my water heater higher than 130 degrees.  so I thoroughly love having a heater in my washer to maintain and raise water temperatures as it's more cost effective.  I don't need chlorine bleach.  My clothes have started lasting even longer since I quit using bleach and just using higher water temperatures.

 

Oh, and the load of white sweats last week, all stains totally gone.  I haven't treated a stain since I got this washer.  It handles them all.   About a year ago, I started using liquids.  I've tried Persil + Stain Fighter and it makes too much foam on higher wash temps as well as heavy towels.  I've also used Tide 10X Heavy Duty.  Per Frigilux' suggestion, I will be using Tide Intense Stain Release.  Prior to the liquids, was using powders--Cheer and Biz and Tide with Bleach Alternative.  

 

I am very European in my approach doing laundry and appreciate and see significant difference with having an onboard heater and its variety of temperatures therein to deal with laundry.

 

And before the Duet, I had a Frigidaire Gallery with no heater.  Laundry was no better than with my former Lady Kenmore direct drive washer--with the exception my fabrics weren't beat up with an agitator any longer.  

 

[tomdawg]

Steam

I have never use steam for stains. I’ve always used it for deodorizing clothes/towels or getting rid of sweat. My whirlpool duet I had at the other house, I could use warm water and steam- this is something I don’t like about LG. It uses Hot water then steam.

I’m now using a Neptune with no heater... john’s (combo52) speed queen claims seem more viable. My Neptune uses plenty of water and gets our sweaty stuff no problem, unlike the duet, I had to use steam to get rid of the sweaty stuff. Maybe more water and good old fashioned mechanical action is enough.

On CR
Maybe that why clothes seem so clean or have the allergy certification? flushing a lot of water should result in cleaner clothes. much like the speed queen and Neptune’s normally use.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

my mom's lg

My mom's lg has a steam option. I've used it a few times on whites and they turned out great.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

mom's lg part 2

Hers is a wm2480hrma with the matching dle7177rm. I always use bleach with whites. I always use cotton/normal on this load. Everything else, I just change the wash temperature with the same cotton/normal cycle. If I have a big load, I use water plus. I love the forced water recirculation and roller jets. I like how the circulation pumps water over the clothes. The paddles seem to scoop water over the clothes as they tumble. That's what I like about the cotton/normal cycle on the lg machines. Steam can be added to this cycle as I stated before.

 

[trappn]

easy.......

I would trust Lorain, over CR.

If memory serves, Lorain was going to test the new Electrolux line. Electrolux seems to be getting the best reviews for stain removal. Their marketing implies that the steam makes the difference, when it comes to stain removal.

Would like to know what Lorain thinks about this. When CR mentions things like 18 extra gallons, and 600%, my mind clicks off.

 

[mattl]

I guess I beg to differ.  I don't use steam all the time but it does good things when needed.   I've gotten stains out of tablecloths that had been there for years.   Freshens stuff up too as previously mentioned.

 

I would never buy a machine without it.  I long ago wrote off CR as a highly unreliable source.

 

[vacerator]

most even low end

front loaders have a steam cycle now.

 

[vacerator]

If I select

say heavy duty cycle, then modify with steam button, the temp lowers by one level. same with normal.

 

[henene4]

18gal and 600%

Dunno which machines they tested, but some Whirlpool TLs have or had a "Steam for stains" option and a heater and from the videos I have seen that heavily raises water levels, adds soak times with the heater engaged and fills with mostly hot water while raising the water temperature slowly.

Not really steaming but steaping the load basicly.

Also keep in mind that 600% might not be ridicolous depending on what they compare that too.
And come on, you all shout the machines use to little water and heat. There you have it.
(And you use 6kWh to dry a load of towels, so going from 0.2kWh to 1.2kWh shouldn't bother you at all...)

On my Miele it used steam like US FLs appear to do nowadays on the Allergy option.
Would add not even a gallon of water and maybe 0.2kWh top for a 20min steam phase.

Also have to keep in mind that there is a huge discrepancy between machines that used a seperate Steam generator (older style Whirlpool, older style LG or TrueSteam as it is called by them) and those who just use the tub heater (most of todays offerings and LGs Steam branding).

The idea for Steam today seems to be to boost laundry temps without more hot water.
Steam is a verry effective way of heat transfer though.

LGs implementation of steam always seemed kinda pointless to me.
Over here TrueSteam machines AFAIK only used Steam during the colder parts of the mainwash.
The newer ones with just Steam run the steam phase on basicly dry laundry.
But maybe that effectivly preheats drum and tub to keep water hotter on hot fill machines?

Whirlpools Steam implementation seems to make some more sense for the US market.
Having a warm wash with Steam afterwards may boost bleaching of Oxy additives or just plain chlorine bleach.

Steam for post-spin treating though is actually verry nice.
Stopped ironing my work shirts basicly entirely every since I used the Miele Steam Smoothing.

 

[iheartmaytag]

My Maytag 5000 Series W/Steam

Has done a stellular job when I have used the option. I had a comforter that had yellow stains on the end where I evidently tuck it under my chin at night. (no not fake tan, more body oils that accumulated over the years.) This stain remained no matter how many times It was washed in a commercial washer. One wash in the Maytag on steam cycle, and it was gone.

As for water usage, it does not indicate that there is a significant extra amount used, but it does increase the cycle time by 20 minutes

The CU report that I read when I purchased the machine in 2009 said they did see a difference in cleaning on a steam cycle, but were not convinced that it was more due to the longer wash time than the actual introduction of steam.

One thing that is useful with the Steam function, that is helpful, is that it allows a step wash. This allows products like oxy-clean to work more effectively.