How a washing machine works: step-by-step
Once you choose a normal, delicate or heavy duty cycle, your washing machine provides the desired wash action, water temperature and amount of water needed to care for your laundry. Read on below to learn how a washer works step-by-step.
Step 1. Wash cycle begins
Once you load your laundry inside the washer drum, close the washer door or lid and select a cycle and water temperature to begin the wash cycle.
Step 2. Load sensing
The washer senses the size of the load to calculate the optimal water levels and water temperature. For load sensing models with detergent dispensers, the washer also calculates the right detergent dose for your load size.
Step 3. Washer spins and agitates laundry
Different washers use varying methods to loosen soils from your laundry. Top load washers use agitators or impellers, while front load options use a tumbling action. Both machine styles move the laundry back and forth to loosen soils. The spinning or agitating action combined with the cleaning power of your detergent helps remove soils and odors from your laundry.
Step 4. Drain and rinse cycle
After agitation, the washing machine drains the tub of the soiled water and spins the tub to remove any excess moisture. Then, the tub refills with fresh water for the rinse cycle.
Some washers offer additional rinse cycle options and even a setting for adding and rinsing away fabric softener.
Step 5. Drain and spin cycle
Following the rinse cycle, the washer tub is drained before a spin cycle removes most of the remaining water from your laundry.