# Please explain how to operate my German clothes washing machine. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 19, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021 "2009-01-19T19:11:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/1 "2009-01-19T19:11:11Z")
My new clothes washer does not come with any English instructions. Could someone please explain to me how to operate this thing? Just for normal everyday use, what do I turn the dial to and what buttons do I press. I can’t figure this thing out!! Thanks! Here are some pictures of the buttons and dial. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. > **[ImageShack - Best place for all of your image hosting and image sharing needs](https://imageshack.com/)** > > Unlimited space to host images, easy to use image uploader, albums, photo hosting, sharing, dynamic image resizing on web and mobile. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/2 "2009-01-19T19:40:48Z")
Set it to 40° and hit the go button. Unless your clothing requires a lower temperature! ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/3 "2009-01-19T19:44:26Z")
Stand to attention, click your heels, salute and say “Ve haf vays of making you verk” That should do it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/4 "2009-01-19T19:58:29Z")
Similar machines are [here](http://www.zanussi.co.uk/node63.aspx?categoryid=58). They probably have very similar instructions to yours. ---
**Author:** ![Future\_Londonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Londonite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Londonite)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/5 "2009-01-19T19:59:47Z")
Ok here we go…the dial on the left always gets turned clockwise. The first four dots/settings are for sturdy wash (koch/Bunte means whites/darks), the next four for ‘normal’ (pflegeleicht=easy care), the next two are for yourt delicates (feinwaesche), the next two are for Wool, the next three are for handwash-only items. The settings after that are the final steps and normally you don’t need to set them as the wash cycles through them to your right you get the following (from left to right) schleudern - pressing this button sets your spinspeed Optionen - pre-wash, eco, short cycle (from top to bottom) Extra spuelen - press if you want to rinse twice the top right button determines your time-delay the lights underneath that are indicators once your program starts running I used to set my spinspeed to 1200, and ‘Eco’ (saves water) and then wash my whites on Koch/Bunte Waesche 50C and my darks on Kock/Bunte waesche 40C (I guess these days you could go 40C/30C given all these newfangled detergents that was at colder tempratures) and then press Start/Pause (maybe set the timer first) Unless you have wool garments or silk garments you’ll probably never use any of the other settings Hope this helped… ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/6 "2009-01-19T20:06:25Z")
Well I’m pretty sure “Start/Pause” means “Start/Pause”. There, that should be enough to get you started 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/7 "2009-01-19T20:23:13Z")
Which knob dispenses the doppelbock? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/8 "2009-01-20T06:28:57Z")
Thanks, everyone! Why does a washer need a time delay? Is that a feature you use often? ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/9 "2009-01-20T07:11:07Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Why does a washer need a time delay? If you live in an area where electricity is cheaper at certain times of day/night, you might want to fill and set the washer when it’s convenient for you, but have it run later when the power is cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![NBYodo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9a28c/32.png) [@NBYodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NBYodo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/10 "2009-01-20T09:01:43Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > If you live in an area where electricity is cheaper at certain times of day/night, you might want to fill and set the washer when it’s convenient for you, but have it run later when the power is cheaper. Or if you want to set the wash to run during the day when you leave in the morning, but live in an apartment and don’t want to disturb your neighbours by having it run so early in the morning… ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/11 "2009-01-20T09:04:47Z")
So, you buy German appliances? How many does your oven seat? ---
**Author:** ![terrymiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@terrymiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terrymiff)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/12 "2009-01-20T09:23:37Z")
You have your location as Germany. You bought a German washing machine. Why are you asking the internet for instructions? 😕 Aren’t there any people in your circle that speak German and English, or are you an internet hermit residing in Germany? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/13 "2009-01-20T11:27:40Z")
> [@Future\_Londonite](#): > > Ok here we go…the dial on the left always gets turned clockwise. The first four dots/settings are for sturdy wash (koch/Bunte means whites/darks), the next four for ‘normal’ (pflegeleicht=easy care), the next two are for yourt delicates (feinwaesche), the next two are for Wool, the next three are for handwash-only items. Why would a washing machine have settings for handwash-only items? ---
**Author:** ![Future\_Londonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Londonite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Londonite)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/14 "2009-01-20T11:49:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Why would a washing machine have settings for handwash-only items? To save you the trouble of handwashing them…it’s basically a setting where the drum just gently sloshes back and forth thus imitating the movement ‘handwashing’ an item. Why do it yourself if you can time your washer to do it for you? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/15 "2009-01-20T12:48:20Z")
> [@terrymiff](#): > > Aren’t there any people in your circle that speak German and English, or are you an internet hermit residing in Germany? This weekend I was snowboarding in the Alps, so I couldn’t possibly be a hermit. None of my friends are German/English bilingual. So, while I _could_ track down someone to help me, the SDMB is far easier and much, much faster. This is how I get my money’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![seodoa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@seodoa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seodoa)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/16 "2009-01-20T12:55:05Z")
> [@NBYodo](#): > > Or if you want to set the wash to run during the day when you leave in the morning, but live in an apartment and don’t want to disturb your neighbours by having it run so early in the morning… I also use this feature so I can set the washer to finish washing just before I come home so, as soon as I walk in, I can hang my laundry up to dry. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/17 "2009-01-20T16:06:13Z")
> [@Future\_Londonite](#): > > To save you the trouble of handwashing them…it’s basically a setting where the drum just gently sloshes back and forth thus imitating the movement ‘handwashing’ an item. Why do it yourself if you can time your washer to do it for you? So “handwash only” doesn’t mean you can only wash it by hand? Interesting. Kinda like restaurants that offer homemade pie. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2009, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/18 "2009-01-20T16:23:18Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > So, you buy German appliances? How many does your oven seat? Whoa! You needed to go there? Really? **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/19 "2009-02-26T16:17:53Z")
Now the dryer will not work. It does one revolution and then stops and just beeps! From what little I’ve been able to find online, it seems maybe the “Control Lock” has been engaged. Anyone familiar with control locks on dryers? On some model, the solution given online was to simply hold the option and select button simultaneously for like 5 seconds or something. I’m hoping there is an easy solution like that. But I can’t find it online. Any dryer experts out there? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021/20 "2009-02-26T16:20:43Z")
> [@Gfactor](#): > > Whoa! You needed to go there? Really? > > **Gfactor** > General Questions Moderator I’m glad I resisted the crack about what kind of soap to use… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-how-to-operate-my-german-clothes-washing-machine/482021.md?page=2)