How to Use a Top Loading Washing Machine

Does your client have a top loading washing machine...and you aren't sure how to use it?  Try following these steps:

• Put aside clothes that are labeled as "hand wash only" or "dry clean only."
  • In most shirts, clothing care labels are located on the inside left side of the shirt or inside the neck area.
  • In most pants, clothing care labels are located on the inside of the back of the pants.

2.  Choose the right wash cycle. Wash cycles consist of two important speeds: a speed at which it agitates or tumbles the clothes with water, and a speed that spins the water out of the clothes.  

• Normal Cycle: This cycle goes with a fast/fast approach -- it tumbles fast and spins fast. It helps with cleaning very dirty and sweaty clothes, and is what you will most likely use on a regular basis. Sturdy fabrics like cotton, linen, denim, towels, and bedding do quite well in a normal cycle.
• Permanent or Permanent Press: This cycle goes with a fast/slow approach. These fabrics need fast agitation to be clean but a slow spin to prevent wrinkles. Use this cycle for synthetic fibers like rayons, knits, polyesters, and acetates. Synthetic fibers are known to pill--and slow spin cycles help prevent pilling.
• Delicate Cycle: This cycle uses a slow/slow approach, reducing agitation and preventing wear and tear. However, the level of cleanliness decreases with its slow tumbling. This cycle is best used for specific or special garments like lingerie, sequinned clothing, laced or loosely woven fabrics, or items made of sheer fabrics like pantyhose.
• Special cycles: Newer models of washing machines have special cycles that do things such as sanitize, steam, or claim to protect whites and remove stains. Consult your machine's manual for further explanations on what each special cycle does.

3.  Set the water temperature. In theory, the hotter the water, the cleaner the clothes. Hot water sanitizes and kills germs better, dissolves detergents more effectively, and removes built up grime so clothes look brighter and cleaner. However, in some cases, hot water can shrink clothes, fade fabrics, set certain stains in, and can be quite expensive for your energy bill.  So choose a water temperature that your fabrics can stand but also what you can afford for the best results.

• Use cool water in the delicate cycle for delicate items, items that have dyes that might bleed, or clothes that aren't especially dirty.
• Use warm water in the permanent press cycle, dark colors, and moderately dirty loads.
• Use hot water for bath and kitchen towels, bedding, sturdy fabrics, or any extremely dirtied items.

4.  Add the detergent. Top-loading washing machines require you to pour the detergent right into the drum before you start your cycle. It's best to add your detergents before you load your clothes so the high concentration of detergent doesn't stain or damage your clothes. And in some cases, it's best to turn on the water so the detergent dissolves before you load your clothes in. The amount of detergent needed varies by brand of detergent and type of washer, so check the back of the detergent box and also look for any labels on your washing machine to find out how much to use.

5.  Load your washer with clothes. You need space for your garments to move and clean themselves. Some machines may even have options to indicate whether your load is small, medium, or heavy. This option adjusts the water levels within your wash cycle according to the size of the load. If you have that option, remember that:

• Small loads fill about a third (1/3) of your machine.
• Medium loads fill half (1/2) of your machine.
• Large loads fill three fourths (3/4) of your machine.

6.  Close the top and start the machine!