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Written by: Anil K. Singh

Washing Machine Features: Explained

Understanding washing machine features is one of the most sought-after activities, especially with beginners who are unfamiliar with washing machine functions and related terminologies. These …

Understanding washing machine features is one of the most sought-after activities, especially with beginners who are unfamiliar with washing machine functions and related terminologies. These terminologies tell about washing machine features and find their root in the innovations that washing machine brands do to sophisticate the laundry washing process and deliver best washing machines to their consumers.  

washing machine features

While sometimes these terms directly indicate their corresponding meanings, understanding them becomes cumbersome when they are related to some technological advancement concept.

For instance, “Rinse Cycle”  is a self-explanatory term that indicates a wash cycle involving the rinsing of clothes. In contrast, the term “Fuzzy Logic” by name doesn’t signify the related functionality. It is a term derived from a technological concept that empowers washers and dryers to make smart decisions by self-analysing the load and other input conditions.

In this report, we will talk elaborately on the various terminologies that either explain washing machine features or a related crucial aspect, making you a pro with washing machines by the end of this article.

What’s on then, Let’s move 🙂

What is Eco Wash in Whirlpool washing machines?

The Eco wash cycle in whirlpool washing machines is a setting designed to utilise minimum water and energy to give optimum wash results. This can be the most energy-efficient cycle among all as it utilises minimum water temperature, around 30 degrees centigrade, to loosen the specks of dirt. Also, this wash cycle can be helpful with users in areas with water availability issues. 

However, the user needs to be wise when using the Eco wash cycle. It is meant specifically for less dirty clothes or daily wear with light wash needs.

Samsung Ecobubble featured washing machine

What is Soak in washing machines?

Soak is the period for which your laundry remains immersed in a detergent solution to loosen dirt. This is similar to immersing clothes in detergent solutions that we usually see in manual washing of clothes.

The various wash cycles include soak time for which the machine motor remains still and steady between the rinsing frequencies. The washing machine comes with provisions to increase the soak time to deal effectively with stubborn dirt specks on the laundry. A user can use the “delay end” feature to increase the soaking period with machines where soak time cannot be increased.

Soak in washing machine

What is tub dry in washing machines?

The Tub Dry feature helps keep washing machines free from moulds and mildew. It incorporates rotating the tub at high speed to dry the areas surrounding the tub. These actions dry up the space where moistures accumulate, arresting the growth of moulds and mildew.

Please note to use this feature without any cloth in the tub, and use it once a month, though some agencies recommend using this feature after every wash, to ensure the various washing machine parts, including the sensors, remain functional in the long run. 

What is air turbo in washing machines?

Air Turbo is a drying system in some models of Samsung washing machines. It helps in the fast drying of clothes by speeding up the drying process by up to 40%. The process involves using external air, through specially designed vents in Samsung washing machines, to create a whirlwind to speed up the drying process without impacting the fabrics of the clothes. This implies that even delicate clothes can be dried with the Air Turbo feature in Samsung washing machines.

What is Cradle wash in the IFB washing machines?

The cradle wash system is a patented innovation by the IFB. It ensures that the fabrics of your clothes do not get damaged by the harsh movements of the washing machine drum. When you choose this option, the entire settings for various activities inside the wash process get soft and subtle. The washing machine senses the load and inflows enough water to ensure total submersion of the clothes to help the clothes glide and float free during the rinsing process. 

The drum sways the clothes gently as we sway a baby in our arms, protecting the fabric from wear and tear due to friction with the drum’s surface. The spin speed also reduces to merely 400 RPM to ensure your clothes do not get tangled, stretched or wrinkled. 

cradle wash feature

Though we can use the cradle wash features for washing all our clothes, the wise move would be to use this feature to wash the delicate clothes that we do not rely on the washing machine for, and wash by hand usually. It is suggested to use fewer clothes when using the cradle wash feature to ensure the effectiveness of the process, and the fabric quality of your delicate clothes.

What is Fuzzy function in washing machines?

Fuzzy function is something that makes washing machines smart. It induces the washing machine with the capability to make self-decisions based on variable input conditions. The input conditions here are what you give to the washing machine. 

You load some clothes and your washing machine self-detects the load, the assigned wash and assigns time and detergent requirements to wash the clothes. In crisp, it is the logic on which washing machines perform the automatic wash cycles.  

Before the introduction of fuzzy logic washing machine features, washing machines were semi-automatic as they could respond as “Yes” or “No” for load presences. All other directives to the washing machines were manifested by the users through the regulating knobs on the washing machine. But With Fuzzy logic, users no longer need to intervene in the washing process- It’s all done automatically by the machine itself, delivering washed and dried clothes.

What is Air Dry in washing machines?

Air dry in washing machines can be a better option for removing the leftover moisture after spin and dry cycles. When you use this, all other buttons freeze and you cannot press them. Air drying can take much more time compared to other conventional ways,l but the process doesn’t incur surplus energy consumption much, as the entire process is slow and does not utilise resources like hot air using your machine.

 The cycle depends on utilising external air drawn in through vents in the lead. This process may not be effective as line drying may account for some wrinkles on your clothes, but it’s very effective when drying clothes in humid weather conditions. 

What is Inverter washing machine?

Inverter washing machines are smart washing machines that self-detect the load you put in your washing machine and assign an operating speed suitable to give optimum wash output while minimising the energy consumption by your washing machine. The Inverter washing machines come with a brushless motor or a VFD (Variable Frequency Drive) motor that self-adjusts the spinning speed for the load you put in your washing machines.

VFD or brushless motors are energy efficient and require less maintenance in the long run compared to the regular motors in conventional washing machines. The motor here is directly mounted on the drum base and doesn’t utilise belt and pulley assembly, making the washing machine quite operating. 

Inverter washing machine

What is Rinse and Spin in washing machines?

Rinse and Spin are two separate steps that form part of the wash cycle. When the user assigns a wash programme, the washing machine first rinses the clothes to loosen the dirt and wash it with fresh water. As the next step, the washing machine dewaters the laundry by spinning it at a set frequency (RPM) to remove 80 to 90 % of the water lodgings, making it ready for a quick line dry.

Washing machines also come with separate rinse and spin cycles where time is considerably reduced as the machine does not perform the soaking step. It simply rotates (rinses) the clothes with fresh water and then spins it to remove the water lodgings in your clothes.

What is Tub clean in washing machines?

The tub clean feature in washing machines is a cleaning cycle assigned with settings optimal for effective cleaning. It helps remove the residue build-ups, including mould and mildew growth, keeping the washing machine parts clean and functional in the long run.

Users can use the tub clean feature to perform regular cleaning or a specialised chemical-based cleaning using some descaling powders to remove the scale build-ups.

What is Delicate wash in washing machines?

Delicate wash is a dedicated setting to wash sensitive clothes that cannot withstand harsh water conditions. This wash program uses cold water and spins them at a lower speed to protect the fabric from getting frayed or worn out. The basic idea behind the delicate wash is to give soft and hand-like washing to delicate clothes.

What is Spin in washing machines?

Spin in washing machines is a dedicated cycle to remove the water lodgings from your clothes, removing the water content by up to 80 to 90 % and making it ready for line drying.

This is the shortest cycle of all as it usually takes 7 to 8 minutes to dewater the laundry. Many users prefer to wash some clothes manually to ensure the removal of tough dirt specks, and they spin dry the clothes after washing to remove the water content in the laundry.

Why Washing Machine Features Explanation?

We have been exclusively dealing with washing machines for quite some time. We have covered various concepts related to washing machines, including the best washing machines recommendation. During our course of interaction with our audience, and alongside the surveys we conducted to understand the pain points of washing machine users, we realised the need to explain the washing machine features such as Turbo dry, Air Dray, Fuzzy function, and a few others concepts is crucial to help our readers deal with challenges they face with their washing machines.

Understanding washing machine features can help to get an idea of the hidden concepts behind the terminologies used to describe washing machine features and functionalities. Better wash outputs, smart utilisation of washing machines as a laundry tool, and preserving both the clothes and the washing machines can be some uncovered benefits of understanding washing machines features and specifications. 

Wrapping Up:

Washing machines are perhaps an inevitable part of our lives today. They help us to devote our time to other activities that we may prioritise while taking care of our laundry jobs. As such understanding the concepts would allow a user to operate it safely, deal effectively with error codes and other maintenance issues in the long term.

We hope our washing machine features explanation report will serve the needs of our readers and this website as well. If you have more questions, please write to us through the comments section below and we will be more than happy to help you. Thank You! 🙂

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Anil K. Singh

Anil K. Singh (Aks) is a highly accomplished content writer and technical graduate with over 12 years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer in various industries, and more than 3 years as a Content Writer and English Teacher. Learn More about Aks here : https://about.me/kumaranil0902

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