# Do you ever use the "special" cycles on your washer? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222 "2020-12-04T19:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/1 "2020-12-04T19:02:50Z")
When I was a kid helping my mom with laundry, our washing machine had three or maybe four settings: normal, delicate, permanent press, and maybe heavy soil. And even then I had no idea what the permanent press cycle was supposed to be for. The washer I have now has twelve, yes _twelve_ “programs”. And it’s by no means a high-end machine; it was super cheap Black Friday deal from 2008. They are: Drain/spin, rinse/spin, soak, wool, sport, heavy, normal, permanent press, quick, delicate, hand wash, and touch up. It’s like appliance makers are in an arms race to have more features than the competition. Does anyone really need all these? I mean, is the delicate cycle really appreciably different from the hand wash cycle? Or a special “sport” cycle? Is that all that different from the heavy soil cycle? With all these cycles at my disposal, I have rarely used any cycle other than “normal”. I’ve used the heavy soil cycle a handful of times if I had something that was seriously stained, and I think my sister used the delicate cycle once when she was visiting. But 99.99% of the loads I’ve washed have been on the normal cycle. I’ve certainly never had any reason to use “sport” or “wool” or “hand wash”. So I got to wondering, does anyone actually use these cycles on a regular basis? I thought about making a poll, but different models probably have different settings I don’t know if it’s possible to come up with a standard list of cycles common to all washers. Back in my day we were happy to have just four cycles on our washers. Now get off my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/2 "2020-12-04T19:15:55Z")
Every single load I’ve ever done has been on “normal.” ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/3 "2020-12-04T20:03:04Z")
Same here. I just use “normal” for everything. The only exception is using the drain/spin cycle. I’ve used it a few times to centrifuge water out of cellphones after they end up in the lake. ---
**Author:** ![CardboardBoxx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardboardboxx/32/7079_2.png) [@CardboardBoxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CardboardBoxx)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/4 "2020-12-04T20:14:28Z")
I use a launderette, so I use “heavy soil” every time. I figure it may make my clothes a little less durable but they’ll get the cleanest possible and it’s not costing me any extra. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/5 "2020-12-04T20:46:38Z")
My (HE) washer has cycles for “heavy duty” (which I use for household linens and extra soiled sturdy items), “colors/regular” (which I use for most ordinary clothing washes) and “casuals/pulsed” (I really have no effing idea what this means but I treat it as more or less a “delicate” cycle for less sturdy items, does that seem valid?). The most important thing I do for textile longevity is not putting them in the dryer, except for the large household linens. Hang drying is gentler and better for fabrics (and saves electricity too). ---
**Author:** ![Beesnest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@Beesnest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beesnest)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/6 "2020-12-04T20:54:01Z")
Since the letters are grey on a grey background I seldom change the setting. And then I forget to change it back from a heavy load to normal. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/7 "2020-12-04T21:35:29Z")
Yeah, ours has all sorts of cycles and bells and whistles. It even has some sort of blue-tooth download something something function. I basically use “normal”, and “heavy” once in a while for blankets or rugs or such. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/8 "2020-12-04T21:38:25Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > When I was a kid helping my mom with laundry, our washing machine had three or maybe four settings: normal, delicate, permanent press, and maybe heavy soil. And even then I had no idea what the permanent press cycle was supposed to be for. > > The washer I have now has twelve, yes _twelve_ “programs”. And it’s by no means a high-end machine; it was super cheap Black Friday deal from 2008. They are: Drain/spin, rinse/spin, soak, wool, sport, heavy, normal, permanent press, quick, delicate, hand wash, and touch up. It’s like appliance makers are in an arms race to have more features than the competition. Does anyone really need all these? I mean, is the delicate cycle really appreciably different from the hand wash cycle? Or a special “sport” cycle? Is that all that different from the heavy soil cycle? > > With all these cycles at my disposal, I have rarely used any cycle other than “normal”. I’ve used the heavy soil cycle a handful of times if I had something that was seriously stained, and I think my sister used the delicate cycle once when she was visiting. But 99.99% of the loads I’ve washed have been on the normal cycle. I’ve certainly never had any reason to use “sport” or “wool” or “hand wash”. > > So I got to wondering, does anyone actually use these cycles on a regular basis? I thought about making a poll, but different models probably have different settings I don’t know if it’s possible to come up with a standard list of cycles common to all washers. > > Back in my day we were happy to have just four cycles on our washers. Now get off my lawn. We use “bulky items” for king sized sheets. Admittedly, however, “normal” is the most common. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/9 "2020-12-04T21:40:01Z")
My washer has all those settings but also a separate “soil” setting. I don’t know what’s the difference between the normal cycle with a heavy soil setting and the heavy cycle with the normal soil setting. They both take the same amount of time. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/10 "2020-12-04T21:56:34Z")
I can adjust temperature, spin speed, “soil level” (I’m assuming this is effectively a time setting). The “special” cycles are just presets of the above. Most every week I use: Cotton/Normal Bright Whites Delicates Towels I don’t think I’ve used: Bulky/Large Heavy Duty Sanitary Allergies Perm. Press Speed Wash Downloaded And I’ve used “Tub Clean”, but on an empty machine. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/11 "2020-12-04T22:30:27Z")
I shift temperature and load size frequently. Yesterday I had a very soggy blanket that kept unbalancing the washer but using the special “spin only” cycle took care of it. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/12 "2020-12-04T23:24:01Z")
Yes, I use about 6 of them. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/13 "2020-12-04T23:27:32Z")
I honestly don’t even know how to turn the thing on. My wife does all the laundry chores - her choice, not mine. It’s one of those weird things that she likes to do and I’m pretty much banned from even entering the space. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/14 "2020-12-05T07:53:08Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > The only exception is using the drain/spin cycle. I’ve used it a few times to centrifuge water out of cellphones after they end up in the lake. I’m going to remember this one. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/15 "2020-12-05T08:38:12Z")
Eco wash, 15 min shorter than a regular cycle here. Our clothes don’t get dirty, they’re just worn. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/16 "2020-12-05T12:33:31Z")
I’ve got a big front loader and will use Bulky/Bedding from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/17 "2020-12-05T13:35:17Z")
We have a frontload washer, and it has a delicate cycle which doesn’t spin as fast. Probably use it ⅓ to ¼ of the time. Otherwise I use the short version of the normal cycle most of the time. If I have something really soiled, or a huge load, I’ll use the non-shortened version of the normal cycle. As this takes close to 2 hours, I don’t use it often. Our clothes are not that dirty. ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/18 "2020-12-05T14:37:14Z")
I too rarely use anything other than “normal”. There is definitely a kind of arms race among manufacturers to add on bullshit cycles to make it sound like their machines are doing more better. I’d add to this the other appliance that seems to have the same issue: _dishwashers_. Ours has 8 cycles but aside from the odd time we use “pot and pans”, 99% of our use is “regular” cycle. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/19 "2020-12-05T15:10:12Z")
My LG front loader has 11 presets, 12 if you count “download” which I know nothing about. It also has a Steam setting available during some of the cycles. I guess I need to look that up too. I can also set a time delay for the start of the cycle. Good if you want to load it up and have it start after you finish your shower. Using the touch pad I can modify any of the presets. I use Normal, Permanent Press, and Towels. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222/20 "2020-12-05T17:33:41Z")
My front load washer has six steam cycles - Normal is one of these. Then there’s six non-steam cycles, one of which is Quick Wash. Normal takes an hour and I’ll use it for sheets and towels. Quick Wash takes 30 minutes, and I’ll use that set to Cold for my clothes. I may have used the steam Sanitize setting once when something really need to feel the full force of the washer. I think I’ve used Delicate once maybe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-use-the-special-cycles-on-your-washer/927222.md?page=2)