How the machine washes? What is a washing program in general and a special program in particular?? What is the real difference between the cotton washing program and the wool washing program? And why more and more often there are programs for washing sports clothes, jeans, children’s clothes – is it an additional feature or just a marketing ploy?
The components of the washing
The washing machine offers ready algorithms for taking care of our things – programs. These algorithms are calculated by the companies’ engineers to achieve the highest quality of washing. The simplest one involves a number of steps.
Weighs in or out?
Gradual wetting of the laundry with water, so that the amount of free, not absorbed by the fabrics corresponds to the rate of the selected program.
This stage is one of the defining ones in saving: the more flexible the internal settings are, the lower the water consumption and the user’s costs. In fact, this is how the machine determines the actual load of laundry in a given cycle, and although there is no question of a measure of weight, this is the stage that has come to be simplistically called auto-weighing. Another feature of the stage is the delivery of detergent powder, gels are usually poured directly into the drum which is rinsed with a stream of water from a special compartment of the cuvette.
It’s hot?
Washing. Most often the longest stage, during which the drum is rotated so that the items experience the mechanical action that enhances the effect of the powder. Washing begins with water heating: in the vast majority of programs, water is heated only at the beginning we will tell about the exceptions below , that is, maintaining the temperature at a certain level is not in use. That is why the tanks, capable of reducing the rate of water cooling and these are polymer tanks , come in handy. With the stain remover, or biophase function, the water is first heated to 40°C to allow the powder enzymes to actively work on the stains.
Scrubs?
The impact on the fabric is made by a certain mechanics of the drum rotation: the direction clockwise or counter-clockwise , duration, speed, direction transitions, pauses, that is a series of certain actions. The strength of the mechanical action depends on the selected program, and the user is not able to change this parameter. Some constructive solutions help to increase the intensity of washing: inclination of the drum, certain shape of the grippers, geometry of its back wall and hatch.
Different methods of soap solution feeding help to intensify the effect of the powder.
The duration of the washing stage is determined automatically, but can be slightly reduced by the user if the machine has a program shortening function, or increased when selecting Eco mode.
Foam control system can make changes in the course of washing: if the amount of soap exceeds a certain value, some of the soap solution is drained and a new portion of water is taken for its replacement.
Where the water goes
Rinse. The purpose of this stage is to remove as much soapy liquor as possible from your clothes. The rinse begins with a short spin phase, which simply removes the liquid. Then the water intake takes place. The number of rinse cycles depends on how the process is organized and in normal programs Cotton use no more than three. The cycle includes the rinse itself the laundry is “tumbled” in a certain amount of water , the drain and a short spin.
The wool wash program has one or two rinses the wool is quicker to shed the remaining detergent . But in a number of programs excluding specialized and fast , the user can add another rinse cycle this is a mandatory feature of all modern machines , for example, in regions where the water is very soft and the family has a tiny child or someone with sensitive skin. During the last rinse, the machine directs a batch of water into the cuvette to pick up the rinse aid – conditioner or starching agent.
Some appliances allow you to add more cycles, for example, Swedish Asko machines are equipped with a super rinse function – this is up to seven additional rinse steps. The foam level control system can also automatically add a rinse cycle.
Press as hard as you can
Pressing. the upper limit of the drum spin speed is governed by the type of programme, the maximum is only used in programmes for cotton. At the beginning of the spin cycle, the drum rotates slowly to distribute the items as evenly as possible. Then we make attempts to gain more speed, its value is determined automatically, based on how the clothes lie. The further speed will depend on how evenly the laundry lies. Drum operation is regulated by the imbalance control system.
When the Easy Iron option is enabled, the drum will occasionally rotate after spinning, if the laundry is not removed from the machine, to shake it up so that it does not become lumpy.
It can be like this
If necessary, if the items have a lot of stale stains, another short step is added to the program – this is the soak cycle. There is a special compartment in the cuvette for extra powder. Cycle duration can be selected from the pre-set settings. Water is slightly heated up to 40 ° C , things are lying still. Dirty soapy water is drained and the spin is started when the soak is complete. When things have a lot of dirt on them, especially earth, sand, a prewash cycle is more appropriate. This is a miniature counterpart of the normal program, which also ends with a drain and a spin. The machine automatically proceeds to the main wash.
What is your speciality??
The washing programs are always specialized, i.e. designed for certain types of fabrics and items. The requirements of these products become the starting factor in the development of algorithms, these algorithms take into account the allowable degree of mechanical action for a reliable wash, the water temperature and the spin speed. The goal is not only to wash, but also to keep the shape and color of things.
Some of the programs are quite specialized, e.g. wool wash. Now the interest in highly specialized cycles is quite high: on the one hand, it is fueled by the marketing efforts of brand services of manufacturers, on the other – our daily needs. Some of these programs therefore quickly become favourites and are used quite frequently.
White collars
For example, the shirt wash program has become just a sign of good taste for many. After all, in most families, shirts, blouses made of cotton and blended fabrics are worn daily. The program takes into account that the laundry is not heavily soiled shirts are often worn only once . These items are suggested to be washed one week at a time.
The high water level is used. Things are best dried on hangers after washing.
For the most important people
The cycle of caring for your baby’s clothes is no less common. It is also suitable for washing the clothes of the elderly, and here’s why. Things get a lot of fairly heavy soiling. For them, a very intensive drum mechanics is relevant, which along with the powder will cope with the problems. At the preliminary stage there may be a bio phase to remove stains washing at 40 ° C – to remove stains with powder enzymes .
Particular attention is paid to rinsing: it must absolutely reliably remove all detergent residues.
Everyone wears jeans
For products made of thick cotton with twill weave fabric, there is a program Jeans. Its task is not only to wash away dirt and at the seams they are quite resistant , but also to preserve color and avoid fraying of fabric.
The water temperature can be heated up to 60 ° C. Mechanical action is quite intense, but not as much as in the basic white cotton program, slightly increased water level, which reduces the friction of the fibers. The spin is optimized so that not a lot of “hard” creases are formed.
Soft and warm
Quilts, blankets, pillows, down jackets deserve special attention. Programs for these things are divided into two groups: normal and hygienic.
Normal – increased water level, so that the down and filler do not pile up, and do not suffer from friction cover or fabric.
Many users throw a couple or three tennis balls in the machine with their down jackets. It has been noticed that in this case, the down stays fluffy: the down does not pile up.
At hygienic programs one of the tasks – removal of dust mites, so choose a temperature of 60 ° C if allowed, then up to 95 ° C , the soft mechanics and the average water level.
To those who protect from the weather
Outerwear with Gore-Tex, Sympatex and Windstopper impregnation may also be washed in the machine if the corresponding cycle is provided or the “gentle” program is used. Do not forget to use in this case, special detergents for such clothes. They are most often sold in outerwear stores, not in the household-care departments of supermarkets.
Increased water level and very gentle mechanical action.
Against microflora and fauna
The programs can be oriented on taking care of the clothes, which would get rid of dangerous microorganisms, allergens and dust mites. Miele Hygiene program maintains the operating temperature for a long time from 60 ° C . The Whirlpool antibacterial program provides heating and maintaining a temperature of 80 ° C pasteurization effect . In hypoallergenic washing some LG machines things are treated with steam.
Washing usually takes place at a higher water level in order to intensively wash the powder out of the fabric fibers.
Especially for curtains
Previously popular program washing curtains and drapes now encountered less and less often, and the reason for this – a decent alternative to the usual programs. However, it does have special features.
The program begins with a short rinse, which should wash away the dust from items, then comes gentle washing, the amount of water somewhat above the norm, heating not more than 40 ° C.
Always in shape
Sports clothes are made of microfiber and fleece, so the programs for it must take into account the properties of their fibers.
Washing is carried out in a gentle mode, at low that is normal water level, the temperature is chosen depending on the requirements of fabrics, ie can be cold, 40 or 60 ° C.
Sports shoes can also be washed, usually stipulating that sneakers and sneakers should be cloth, not leather. For one cycle lead to the order of 1-2 pairs.
Water is heated to 40 ° C, it is taken very much to prevent any friction, the process is very gentle.
And now the impregnation
Some items require periodic impregnation with a water- and dirt-repellent compounds. These include outerwear, winter sports suits, tablecloths and furniture covers. Soaking program is used only in premium machines, such as Miele. At the end of the cycle, the treated items must be dried in the dryer in order to fix the composition in the fibers.
Tweed jacket
For home care for jackets, ladies jackets, skirts, pants, raincoats and coats, the machine can be equipped with the program Outerwear. The program is used only for those things that are allowed to wash see label . Liquid detergents are preferred, rinsers and starch removers are excluded.
The specificity of the program is the special attention to the preservation of the form of things, care of the fabric no fraying, shrinkage, shrinkage of the lining, loss of color .
Water is taken more than average to exclude friction, heating is low up to 40 degrees or without it. Spinning is gentle to avoid excessive caking of the garment. For washing, it is better to use a special bag.
Cashmere, alpaca and merino
Wool has a number of very specific “requirements” for care: it does not like water, friction, washes quickly and gives the soap solution. That’s why the wool wash programs use so little water, just to moisten the garment.
Water is heated to 30 to 40 degrees Celsius to avoid shrinkage. Load capacity is limited to one or two items. Program is short, the number of rinses reduced. Spinning at low speed.
Manufacturers apply 2 washing scenarios. The first is as follows: in the course of washing, the drum is constantly rotating, and the product, which has become heavy with moisture, is kept on the wall and is not subjected to any mechanical impact. But the water is in constant motion, obeying the law of gravity, it flows downwards, penetrating the fabric fibres. According to the second scenario, the drum is sedentary, only occasionally makes oscillating movements.
The program is mandatory. Only special detergents are taken for it – in powder or liquid, rinse aid is actively used.
The wool wash program is the only one of all excluding the basic one – Cotton that can be certified. This is a voluntary certification, which is resorted to in order to prove that the program of the machine really gently washes things. Tested in the laboratories of WOOLMARK institute, an international organization for quality certification of natural wool products.
Cobwebs of silk thread
Silk is a natural fabric that needs great care, it should not be twisted or rubbed.
The care program involves a minimum often a couple or three things load to completely eliminate friction. To avoid deformation and damage, the dynamics of the drum imitates the hand washing – the movement is not very active, with pauses. Maximum water level in the program, also during the rinse. No spin – the water is simply drained.
Chickens, bears and kittens turn black?
Washing toys for children is intended to “bring to life” both the cover and the soft stuffing. The toy should appear as good as new to its owner again, without losing its original shape. And inside it, the material should not be dislodged.
In the program, the machine uses an elevated water level, high temperature is contraindicated – so we preserve the color and take care of all the fabrics used in the product at once. The drum is gentle. To thoroughly rinse the “stuffing”, there may be more rinse modes, and it is possible that the water level will be lower.
The cycle of care for soft toys is not common, usually in machines with a fairly large set of programs.
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