Washing modes and programs of Gorenje washing machines

Articles written

Published: 15-5-2018

Modified: 15-5-2018

Reading time: 8 minutes

One of the most important advantages of an automatic washing machine (WMA) is an individual approach. The device is able to provide any product with an ideal laundry washing program. Having selected the optimal set of conditions, the machine will be able to wash the product thoroughly without harming its integrity and appearance. Let's figure out what washing modes there are in a washing machine, how they differ and when they need to be used.

Classification of programs

All functions with the help of which the washing process in the SMA is adjusted can be divided into three groups:

• First group: they are chosen depending on the material of the products - cotton, linen, jeans, wool and others.
• Second group: they allow you to save water, electricity, and powder. For example, quick, cold or overnight wash.
• Third group: aimed at caring for health. This includes programs for allergy sufferers, disinfection, etc.

Description of popular modes

There are 10–20 programs in SMA, many of which machine owners never use. Sometimes there is no need for this, but often users are simply too lazy to understand the modes. But in vain - by choosing the optimal programs, you save resources, wash your things carefully and accurately, and protect the health of your household. Let's take a closer look at the main modes.

Daily wash

The main difference is the half-empty drum. Everyday washing is used for items that have not become very dirty. Allows you to save time and not waste a lot of electricity. Water temperature - no more than 30 °C. Duration - up to 50 minutes. Recommended for work wear. You can load products of any color - the water is barely warm, so there will be no shedding.

Intensive

Choose for things that are so dirty that they cannot be washed using regular programs. Water temperature is 90–95 °C. Suitable for cotton or linen. The intensive mode is not suitable for delicate fabrics (organza, lycra, cashmere, etc.).

Preliminary

The pre-wash mode is selected for heavily soiled items. The function is similar to soaking. The water is slightly warmed up. The drum rotates at low speeds. The main difference is that the powder is poured into two compartments. One is used in the first cycle, the second - after draining the water, in the second cycle.

Manual

Hand wash is used for particularly delicate items. If the label has an icon in the form of a hand lowered into a basin, it means that the item needs to be washed either by hand or by installing the program in question. After pressing the corresponding button, a gentle process starts - the drum rotates slowly, and the water does not heat above 40 °C. This no-spin program is suitable for the most capricious items. The delicate mode differs from the function in question only by one factor - the presence of a weak spin. For some SMAs, delicate washing can be included in separate specialized programs - for example, in Zanussi machines there is a tulle washing mode.

Night

Night mode provides quiet operation. There is no spin, since it is this that causes the greatest noise and vibration. The signal indicating the completion of the process is not turned on so as not to disturb the sleep of household members.

Soak

The task of this function is similar to the previous one - to prepare heavily soiled laundry for the main process. The water temperature is maintained at 30 °C.

Cotton and linen

It is for these tissues that SMAs were created. Linen and cotton are key programs. All others are additions. There are 4 options, differing in temperature - 30, 40, 60 and 90 or 95 °C. The choice depends on the characteristics of the product - its quality, color, contamination, and the powder used. High temperatures are good for whitening bed linen and removing grease stains. But this applies only to white linen; colored linen should not be washed in very hot water.

The process consists of washing, rinsing and spinning. The drum rotates intensively: due to its dense structure, it is not easy to wash natural fabrics. After several rinses, spin at maximum speed. Linen and cotton absorb more water than synthetics and take longer to dry, which is why the spin cycle is so harsh. These fabrics are durable and are not afraid of high turnover. SMAs, which have a Fuzzi Logic control system, independently determine the optimal number of rinses and the dose of detergent. Rinse clothes in cold water, including to save electrical energy.

It is not recommended to heat water above 40 °C for colored, bright and dark products - to avoid color change. If things are not very dirty, there is no need to waste time and electricity at high temperatures. Remember that hot water accelerates the wear of fabrics. You should not set high degrees for things that are prone to shrinkage. Sheets and pillowcases are one thing, trousers or skirts made of linen are another; if they shrink, you are unlikely to wear things that have decreased in size.

Improved drum

Bosch WVG30463OE washer-dryer with “Wash&Dry 60'” program. Photo: Bosch

Let's start the review, perhaps, with the main structural components of modern machines - the tank and the drum. For almost 50 years, their design remained unchanged - a uniformly rotating drum had a smooth inner surface. The situation changed in 2001, when Miele released a washing machine with a drum that had a honeycomb-shaped inner surface. Since then, many manufacturers have begun to develop more efficient designs in which additional mechanical stress is exerted on the items being washed. These could be, for example, blades that pick up laundry. The drum now not only rotates at a certain speed - it can sway, sharply change the direction of rotation, make half-turns, thanks to which the laundry is better repelled, moistened with water and in contact with detergents. For the first time, such technology “6 care movements” (six different drum movement algorithms) appeared in 2010 from LG.

Electrolux PerfectCare washing machines and dryers are equipped with the Sensi Care system, which allows you to select the effective duration of washing and drying. Photo: Electrolux

The main drum allows you to wash up to 12 kg of laundry at a time. Photo: LG

The latest design improvements include equipping washing machines with steam generators. Steam is used in a range of “refreshing” programs designed for items that do not require intensive washing. These are, for example, washing machines with the FreshCare+ system (Whirlpool), models with the True Steam function (LG), and the steam function in Electrolux 3-in-1 washer-dryers. In addition, steam eliminates creases and folds in fabrics and thus reduces the time for further manipulation of the laundry.

Dispensers for liquid detergents have come from professional equipment to the household segment. Owners of washing machines with such dispensers no longer need to measure out the required amount of laundry detergent each time. The machine will do this itself faster and more accurately than a person - exactly as much detergent will be used as needed.

FreshCare+ steam washing machine line (Whirlpool). Steaming prevents items from becoming wrinkled (c). Model FreshCare+ FWSF61052W (Whirlpool) (RUB 18,990). Photo: Whirlpool

The system for supplying powdered detergents is also being improved. For example, in the Ultra Care system (Electrolux), detergents are pre-mixed with water and supplied as a solution, which allows you to shorten the wash cycle. Other manufacturers have similar technologies, for example MIX POWER SYSTEM+ from Candy. A washing machine with Mix Power System+ technology mixes water and detergent into a homogeneous, highly concentrated solution at the beginning of the cycle, which is then injected into the laundry drum under high pressure to penetrate deep into the fabric fibres.

Among the latest original developments, we also note the line of double-load washing machines TWINWash (LG). They are equipped with two independent drums, and this allows you to load two different types of laundry into the machine at the same time - despite the fact that up to 12 (!) kg of laundry can be loaded into the main drum.

Washing two different sets of clothes at the same time is possible in the LG TWINWash dual-load washing machine. Photo: LG

Model Siemens WM14W740OE with SensoFresh technology. Photo: Siemens

Another drum improvement recently (in January 2018) appeared in the WW6850N washing machine (Samsung) - QuickDrive technology. Its essence lies in the fact that at the back of the capacious drum there is an independently rotating plate. Due to its rotation, a new vector of movement of the laundry along the axis of the drum is created. The achieved effect allows you to quickly and effectively remove dirt, maintaining a delicate attitude towards things and reducing washing time by 35% compared to other similar Samsung washing machines.

Optimal modes to save resources

Manufacturers call these modes differently. Their essence is the same - economical consumption of water and electricity. They are much shorter in time than standard modes.

• Eco - electricity savings reach 40%. The water is cool. In the SMA of different manufacturers, the designations are different.
• Saving time - found in machines from the German brand AEG. Cycle times are reduced by up to 50%.
• Express is the fastest process. Lasts about half an hour. Used for items that are lightly soiled and only need a little freshening.

Additional functions

Oko Mix washing technology

An innovative approach to washing, high quality results and no powder stains on clothes. This is exactly how we can characterize the Oko Mix technology, which was developed for people suffering from allergies, but has received a new implementation in the design of modern models of washing machines. The essence of the mode is to pre-mix detergents before adding them to the drum. The homogeneous solution is evenly distributed throughout the entire volume of water, quickly penetrates into the fibers of clothing, and most importantly, leaves no traces on it. No streaks, no residues of substances that can cause an allergic reaction.

What icons indicate modes?

The icons on your washing machine may vary. They are not standardized, so each manufacturer is looking for the optimal image that is intuitive for the user. Since we are talking about the same processes, the pictures are the same or similar in different models of SMA:

1. Wash. Most often it is indicated by the image of a basin. Depending on the specifics of the process, details are added. For example - a hand lowered into the pelvis. This is for manual mode. From the pictures it is easy to understand what exactly is proposed to be washed - jeans, sportswear or children's clothing. There are special icons for individual fabrics - wool, cotton, synthetics, etc. There is also a category of icons indicating washing under special conditions - in cold water, in economy mode, at half load, etc. If some icon is not clear, see the instructions - there is a transcript in it.
2. Rinsing. Different brands have different icons - it could be a bowl of water, a watering can with drops.
3. Spin. Most often it is indicated by a snail icon or a twisted spiral is drawn. If the picture is crossed out, this means: this program does not have a spin cycle.

Basic timing parameters

First of all, the time parameters of the washing process in Candy attract attention.

Important! They are standardized in minutes and can be set in several ways, depending on the type of material being washed and the ability to track the process.

To familiarize yourself with the temporary options of various programs in Candy, consider the following icons:

• One of the options for choosing the washing time is called “Aqua-plus”, in which the machine implements an extended rinse function for 30-40 minutes. This mode is especially in demand when processing clothes for allergy sufferers, as well as when washing children's clothes.
• Intensive wash is selected for laundry that requires special processing conditions, extended by the program to 170 minutes. It occurs at a relatively high temperature of the mixture (up to 95 degrees) and is optimally suited for thermally resistant fabrics such as linen and cotton.
• “Delayed start” as an option is especially convenient for housewives who want to leave the house for a while. After setting the start time of the program with a delay from 1 to 24 hours, you can always adjust the time of its end to your arrival from work, for example.

The auxiliary functions of the washing unit include the “rinse” program, which takes an additional 30-40 minutes.

Which mode should I choose?

How to enable exactly the program that is optimal for specific things. You need to load the same type of things into the tank, with the same degree of contamination, from the same material. White - separately, colored - separately. Taking into account the characteristics of the products to be washed in one cycle, a program is selected, and individual functions and conditions can also be adjusted. For example, you can cancel the spin, add a rinse, or set a certain temperature. The proposed programs are guidelines for the user, but everyone can select the procedure and conditions that are more suitable for specific things.

If you select a specific program - for wool or cotton, then the temperature, time and other conditions will be set automatically. There is no need to think or make mistakes - the device itself selects the optimal settings. So, the recommended drum rotation speed depending on the fabric:

• cotton and linen - up to 1400 rpm;
• silk - 400 rpm;
• synthetics - 600 rpm;
• denim - 800 rpm.

Spin is also set automatically. But in most SMAs it can be adjusted and turned off.

Manufacturers tried to provide for as many situations as possible. Before installing the desired program, evaluate the items - what they are made of, how dirty they are, and at what temperatures they can be washed. It is possible to select programs according to different criteria:

• By purpose of things - children's, sports, shoes.
• By material - linen, wool, cotton, etc.
• According to the conditions - economy, express, steam wash, etc.

The user can decide for himself whether such steps as soaking, spinning, light ironing, additional rinsing, and drying are needed.

Specifications

LOADING : 8 kg.

DIMENSIONS : 85x60x44 cm. WEIGHT: 64.5 kg.

CLASS : washing A, energy efficiency A+, spin B.

Water consumption - 55 l, electricity 1.43 kWh (at full load).

WASHING : 16 programs: Mix POWER SYSTEM Perfect 20°C, Mix POWER SYSTEM intensive 40°C, Mix POWER SYSTEM super intensive 60°C, Mix POWER SYSTEM PerfectRapid 59 min. at 40°C, Quick wash 14 min./30 min., White cotton/Strong fabrics, Mixed/Synthetic fabrics, Children's clothing, Rinse, Drain+Spin, Silk, Hand wash, Wool, Delicates, Cotton.

ADDITIONAL MODES : Pre-wash, Selecting the level of soiling of the laundry, Changing the washing temperature, Hygiene+, Extra rinse, Easy ironing, Night wash.

CONTROLS : electronic interface TOUCH, digital display, delayed start for 24 hours, power-on indication, indication of time until the end of the wash, delayed start indication, spin speed selection indication, loading hatch lock, Start/Pause button, spin adjustment button, Night button.

SPIN : centrifuge rotation speed 1300 rpm.

TECHNOLOGIES : SimplyFi, Mix POWER SYSTEM, Kg Check function, electronic foam sensor, electronic imbalance sensor.

FEATURES : loading hatch diameter 35 cm, hatch opening angle 180°, electronically controlled motor, shiatsu drum made of stainless steel, tank made of Silitech material, overflow protection, noise level during washing 60 dB(A), during spinning 76 dB(A) ).

DESIGN : body color - white, hatch - chrome.

WARRANTY : 1 year. SERVICE LIFE: 7 years.

PRODUCING COUNTRY : Russia.

The depth of 44 cm allows you to conveniently place the machine in a small bathroom, of which there are unusually many in our country, or in the kitchen, and even in a small pantry this model can be placed so that there is still room for a lot of things.

How to choose the time?

The duration of the process is determined by the type of fabric and the degree of contamination. Cotton items take the longest to wash—about two hours. The cycle increases if a prewash and an additional rinse are added. The choice of time occurs at the moment of choosing programs - the user, first of all, sets a goal: to wash a specific product efficiently and carefully.

There are options where the user can select a process based on time. So, in SMA there is an express wash, which allows you to get by with a minimum amount of time - it takes 15-30 minutes. True, when launching it, you need to adequately assess the degree of contamination of the product.

HOT, WARM, COLD

The innovative technology Perfect 20° - Mix&Wash (Washing mixed fabrics at 20°C) allows you to wash cotton, synthetic and combined fabrics at a temperature of 20°C with almost the same efficiency as at a temperature of 40°C.

The energy consumption when using this program is about 50% of the energy consumption of a normal wash at 40°C.

How to fix the error?

A person makes a choice, and he tends to make mistakes. What to do if you started the machine and after some time you realized: you have chosen the wrong settings. Many users are interested in whether it is possible to change the mode during washing. How to disable the wrong program? Proceed like this:

• press the “pause/stop” button;
• keep the button pressed for approximately 5 seconds.

The settings will be reset, and you can install another option. There is another way to reset - reboot the SMA. But be sure to read the instructions on how to do this correctly so as not to harm the electronic module.

Useful video:

Choosing the right program is half the success. You will be able not only to wash things efficiently, preserving their attractiveness and integrity, but also to save all types of resources - time, electricity, water, detergents.