Washing machines are incredibly useful appliances that we rely on to clean our clothes. But have you ever wondered what’s actually going on inside that spinning drum? Let’s break it down step-by-step and see how these machines get our garments fresh and clean!
Filling Up With Water
The first thing a washing machine needs to do is fill up with water. There are two hoses connected to the back of the machine – one brings in hot water, the other cold. The machine mixes these together to get just the right washing temperature.
Adding Soap
Once the tub is partly filled, it’s time to add the soap. Most washers have a detergent dispenser drawer that you pour liquid or powder soap into. The machine will then release and mix in the soap at the appropriate time during the wash cycle.
Loading Clothes
Now that everything’s prepped, go ahead and load the dirty clothes into the drum. Try to leave some space between items so water and detergent can circulate effectively. Then simply close the washer lid.
Agitating and Spinning
Here’s where the magic happens! Washing machines clean clothes in two main ways:
Agitation
The central drum gently rotates back and forth to rub clothes against each other and the water. This agitation helps lift dirt and stains from the fabric. Most washers offer different cycles that agitate clothing more or less vigorously depending on the type of fabric and soil level.
Spinning
After clothes have had some time agitating in soapy water, the washer needs to rinse the detergent and remaining dirt away. So the tub spins very quickly, flinging water outward. The rinse water is drained away via a pipe at the bottom. This spinning and draining may happen several times to make sure no soap residue remains.
Finishing Up
At the end of the cycle, washing machines perform a fast, high-speed spin to extract extra moisture before clothes are ready to wear or head to the dryer. Some machines even play a little tune when the load finishes!
And there you have it – those are the inner workings that transform your grubby clothes into fresh and tidy outfits. Washing machines may seem commonplace, but the washing magic they perform is still pretty impressive when you consider the mechanics behind it!
References
How Washing Machines Work. Explain That Stuff! https://www.explainthatstuff.com/howwashingmachineswork.html
The Way to Wash. AHAM: The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. https://aham.org/AHAM/Consumer_Education/The_Way_to_Wash
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.