Understanding Wash Cycles

Understanding washing machine cycles, and washing machine cycle steps is an important part of taking care of your clothing and linens. The Laundress designed this guide to clearly explain washing machine cycles and help you understand which washer cycles are best for your laundry.

Not all washing machines are created equal. Each has their own efficiency, capacity, and features. Some are top-load, some are front-load, but no matter what your washing machine, we can help you get a better handle on which wash cycle is right get the best clean and keep your fabrics looking like new.

Get deeper insights into when to use the delicate wash cycle, wool cycle, permanent press, or custom wash cycles: this guide will explain the different wash cycle settings and how to choose the right intensity and temperature for your fabrics.

A delicate wash cycle is the machine equivalent to handwashing, this cycle uses warm or cold water with low or no spin. It's the shortest and most gentle cleaning cycle. If the machine defaults to warm water, we recommend you override this by selecting cold water. (That's what we do here at The Laundress headquarters with our machine.)

Select the Delicate cycle when washing “delicate” items. Err on the side of caution—for items in question, we always default to delicate treatment and then scale up if necessary.

Wash With: Delicate Wash for silk, lace, lingerie, hosiery, and delicate synthetics or Wool & Cashmere Shampoo for wool, cashmere, merino, faux fur, and knits. Insert items into a Mesh Bag Bundle prior to washing.

With high agitation and a lengthy cycle, the Normal cycle is the most intense option. Select the Normal cycle for everyday laundry items made of cotton, linen, and durable synthetics, such as sheets, towels, T-shirts, socks, and underwear. It’s the ideal casual wash cycle.

This cycle may ask you which water temperature you'd like to use. Select the temperature based on the contents of the load: for whites, select hot water; for colors, select cool or cold.

Wash With: Signature Detergent and Fabric Conditioner for everyday laundry. Add a capful of All-Purpose Bleach Alternative for an extra punch of whitening and brightening.

The Permanent Press cycle was created in the 1940s in response to the advent of synthetics, wash and wear, and wrinkle-free clothing. Shorter than the Normal cycle, this cycle uses warm water with lower spin.

At The Laundress, when it comes to synthetics wash we rarely use this cycle since we tend to wash our durable synthetics on the Normal cycle and our delicates on the Delicates cycle.

How The Laundress chooses to wash synthetic clothes in washing machines:

• A nylon track suit (wash with Sport Detergent) or polyester parka (wash with Delicate Wash) using the Normal cycle (nylon and polyester are durable synthetics).
• An acetate blouse wash on the Delicate cycle (acetate is a silk-like fabric, which is a delicate synthetic) and use Delicate Wash.
• Workout clothes: We prefer to wash these synthetics on Delicate. However, if they require heavy-duty cleaning, we select the Normal cycle and choose cool or cold water. Wash with Sport Detergent).

Some machines include additional cycle options such as “Heavy Duty” or “Whitest Whites.” Selecting one of these settings in addition to the regular washing machine setting (Normal, Delicates, Permanent Press) generally intensifies whichever cycle you're using, including a presoak and adding more water. You can opt for the “Heavy Duty” or “Whitest Whites” setting on your washing machine settings when washing heavily soiled laundry. Note that machines vary in their washing intensity. Get to know your machine.

Pretreat stains with Stain Solution (for color-rich stains) or Wash & Stain Bar (for oil-based stains). Soak in cool or warm water - depending on fabric type - for up to 30 minutes. For heavily soiled white fabrics like cotton or linen, opt for Whites Detergent and All-Purpose Bleach Alternative.

Note: It's okay to add an extra rinse cycle in your machine washing process when washing any material. However, adding additional agitation should only happen for cottons, linens, and durable synthetics. Excessive agitation, even when using cold water, can cause shrinkage.

What do the temperatures on my washing machine dial refer to?
The first temperature refers to the cleaning water. The second refers to the rinse water.

Hot-Cold = Hot clean, Cold rinse
Warm-Cold = Warm clean, Cold rinse
Cold-Cold = Cold clean, Cold rinse