As technology evolves, so does your washing machine. Do you remember the first washing machine you used? It probably didn’t have as many settings or extra cycles as the latest models. In fact, if your washing machine is less than a few years old, it likely has cycles you’ve never used before, or don’t know how to use.
These add-on cycles replicate the customized treatments of
residential laundry services, which are run by experienced launderers who can tame the stains out of all fabrics, including
bedspreads and comforters, with professional tools. This might make your washing machine’s extra cycles sound much more enticing, but what exactly do they do and are they worth it?
Delicates
Worth it? Sometimes, but use sparingly.
Some whites and colors can’t handle the high agitation of the regular cycle. They require the delicates cycle, which has a slow washing cycle and slow spin cycle, increasing the amount of water used by your machine. It’s not environmentally friendly because the extra water strips away microfibers that end up polluting the ocean.
The delicates cycle is offered with most modern washers, but you can work around its environmental harm by putting your small load delicates in a mesh bag and using a regular cycle with cold water. The bag will act as a buffer from the high agitation and fast spin cycle. This workaround isn’t best for highly delicate laundry, such as clothes with sequins or other attachments. These are best for the delicates cycle or traditional hand washing.
Handwash
Worth it? No.
Though this cycle mimics the gentle agitation of handwashing, it can’t replace true handwashing. Similar to the delicates cycle, this uses a lot of water, so unless you have a large load of handwash-only laundry, you’ll be wasting a lot of water and electricity on a few garments at a time.
Whites
Worth it? If you have a large load of soiled whites.
This cycle uses high temperature to burn away bacteria and stains on white clothing, and typically has high agitation. This cycle can be helpful if your whites are heavily soiled, but otherwise, it can be substituted with a regular cycle. Like the delicates and handwash cycles, this cycle isn’t environmentally friendly, but for another reason: hot water requires more energy than cooler water.
Pre-Wash
Worth it? If your clothes are heavily soiled.
An extra soak before the main wash can loosen dirt and other impurities for a deeper clean. It can also make
stains easier to eliminate or fade. The pre-wash cycle will soak your laundry, agitate, then rinse, before beginning the main wash. This cycle is most efficient when used with a pre-wash detergent, or a detergent formulated to attack specific stains. It’s rare for clothes to be so soiled they require a pre-wash, but if you’re a parent doing laundry for an extremely active kid who plays in mud and loves to explore the outdoors, you might use the pre-wash more often than other people.
Rinse & Spin
Worth it? Can be useful for swim season.
When you’re in between swim days, it’s useful to toss your swimsuit in the wash for a quick rinse and spin. This cycle doesn’t use detergent, but it washes out chlorine and salt so your swimsuit doesn’t smell bad between uses.
Use extra cycles when needed
There are
many other extra cycles, including extra rinse, bulky, and sanitize. A helpful way to view them is as add-ons for particular washes. Most washes will be fine using the regular cycle on its own.
