What exactly does the Knits setting do?

[rosss]

I couldn't find the answer despite The 382, 412, 512 being over 20 years old!

I really just wanted a description of how the knits setting works compared to regular fabrics.

Is it just the same but more gentle? And are the numbers also how long the spin cycle will be?

 

[re563]

Knits Setting

This is a single speed Maytag. The Knits setting gave 4 mins. of wash action followed by the rest of the Permanent Press cycle of cool down, deep rinse and final spin of 3 mins.

 

[DADoES]

 
Yup ... Knits is nothing than more than a "user convenience" designation for 4 mins of wash time followed by whatever all the Perm Press cycle does (at any other wash-time starting point).

Being that this is a 1-speed machine (and not FabricMatic with intermittent agitation on a separate Delicate cycle) ... 4 mins on the Regular Fabrics cycle is the same wash-time treatment as the Knits designation but without the cool down and with a longer final spin.

Here's a spec-sheet BajaEspuma posted way back in 2006.

 

[toploadloyalist]

Whirlpool and Kenmore Knit settings

I know you have a Maytag, but I'd like to add about the cases with Whirlpool and Kenmore's Knit cycle settings.

Whirlpool from 1973-78 had a separate KNIT cycle from GENTLE, which provided a single cool-down, as opposed to double cool-down in PERMANENT PRESS or lack thereof in GENTLE.

As with Kenmore, that cycle name first appeared on them in 1971. On the TOL 3-speed Lady Kenmore push-button settings, the labeling of KNITTED FABRICS (w slow agitation and soak) replaced DELICATE FABRICS-LINGERIE, and DELICATES-WASHABLE WOOLENS (EXTRA slow agitation and soak) replaced WASHABLE WOOLENS-FRAGILES. Other than that, there wasn't much difference (if any) in both of those phases, even more so for 2-speed push-buttons. Also, for rotary timer washers from 1971-76, the cycle was named KNIT OR DELICATE, and when they started with the black-panel consoles from 1976, they were labeled as KNIT for 8 minutes, and DELICATE for 6 minutes or less.

 

[frigilux]

Since we're exploring Knits cycles on other machines, I recall a couple of brands whose Knits cycle featured slow agitation and a fast spin. WCI brands, perhaps? Others as well, perhaps.

 

[appnut]

My 1978 Filter Flo had a special knits cycle.  I think it agitated for 4 minutes, paused for 2, then agitated for another 2 minutes.  The interrim spin was pretty short and so was the final spin.  

 

[maytag85]

Even though this is a thread about the knits cycle on a Maytag, here’s a film from 1958 by Whirlpool that explains the permanent press/wash n wear cycle and what it’s purpose is

 

[potatochips]

My 712 has a delicates and knits marking on the Regular Fabrics cycle. Its just to denote a shorter time for those types of fabrics.