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Appliance Glossary: Clothes Washers
Look up the definition of terms and phrases related to washers.

A - C \| D - G \| H - P \| R - Z

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A - C

Agitation strokes
The number of rotations made by an agitator per minute.

Agitator
The device in the center of a top-loading washer that stirs the load and creates the washing action.

Approximate manufacturer's price
To calculate the approximate manufacturer's price, brandwise researches the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) and the minimum advertised price (MAP) through retailers nationwide. When we are able to collect it, brandwise uses the MSRP; if not, we resort to the MAP. In the absence of both prices, brandwise displays the highest price charged by a brandwise retailer for that specific product. Because of that, the price consumers end up paying may be slightly lower or higher than what they see on the site, depending on which merchant is selected, sales in progress, special offers and other variables.

Automatic balancing system
A device that senses when a load is out of balance and corrects it by using a floating suspension system. Machines without this feature may automatically shut off and require the user to shift the load manually.

Bleach dispenser
A funnel that pours bleach into the tub while the washer fills with water rather than requiring the user to manually pour it in directly.

Built-in faucet
A feature, often used to pre-treat clothes, that lets a user push a button and spray water into the tub before a washing cycle is activated.

Capacity
The volume of the washer cavity measured in cubic feet that lets a user know how much clothing the tub holds.

Cold cycle
A cycle that’s best for delicates or dyes that may run.

Colors cycle
A cycle with cold water that’s best for dyes that may run.

Controls
The knobs, buttons or electronic touchpads that regulate washing functions. The most common types of controls are: rotary, which offer control by turning a dial; pushbutton, which are controls that invert at the press of a finger; electronic, which are low-profile press pads; or a combination of the three options.

Cotton cycle
A warm cycle with aggressive agitation speed for durable items.

Cycles
The options available for washing clothes. See Cold cycle, Colors cycle, Cotton cycle, Delicate cycle, Energy saver cycle, Extra rinse, Favorite cycle, Handwashable cycle, Regular/normal/heavy duty cycle, Hot/cold cycle, Knits cycle, Permanent press cycle, Prewash cycle, Soak cycle, Warm/cold cycle and Wool cycle.

D - G

Delay start
A timer that lets a user start a load at a later time.

Delicate cycle
A constant agitation wash at a shorter and/or slower speed than normal.

Detergent dispenser

A container for detergent that lets incoming water filter through to dissolve detergent as it enters the wash load.

End-of-cycle signal
A buzzer or chime that alerts the user to the end of a cycle.

Energy saver cycle
A cycle that uses a fraction of the normal amount of rinse water in the final cycle, thus saving money by not heating as much water.

Extra rinse
A feature that lets a user set a second rinse cycle for heavily soiled items.

Extra spin
A feature that lets a user extend the spin time to remove excess water from items.

Fabric softener dispenser
A plastic agitation cap that generally pours the fabric softener into the wash load during the final rinse.

Favorite cycle
A one-touch option that automatically sets a user's most frequently used wash settings.

Front-loading washer
A washing machine that loads from the front, like a dryer, and washes without the aid of an agitator. Front loaders generally use less water than top loaders.

H - P

Handwashable cycle
A wash cycle that alternates a slow, intermittent wash with soaking to give fine washables delicate care.

Heavy duty (also see regular cycle)
A wash cycle designed to provide cleaning with fast agitation. Best for cottons and heavily soiled clothes.

Hot/cold cycle
A cycle for heavily soiled items that need warm or hot water for optimal cleaning. In order to save energy, this warm or hot water cycle is followed by a cold rinse cycle.

Knits cycle
Similar to a delicate cycle, it uses warm water and gentle agitation for items like sweaters.

Lid opening
The direction and range the washer lid opens and the accessibility it provides.

Motor speed
A feature on the motor that determines the number of agitator and spin speeds on the washer. Washers come with one-, two- or three-speed motors.

Normal cycle
The most commonly used cycle for all-purpose mixed loads.

Permanent press cycle
A cycle designed to reduce wrinkling through various methods, including slower spin and agitation or a partial drain-and-fill method to cool the water.

Prewash
A brief wash period before a cycle begins.

R - Z

Regular/normal/heavy duty cycle
Generally, a cycle designed to provide cleaning with fast agitation. Best for cottons and heavily soiled clothes.

Safety lock
A feature on some models that lets the owner lock the control panel to keep settings from being changed; on other washers, this feature locks the lid to prevent children from opening the appliance during operation.

Self-adjusting rear leveling legs
A device that automatically levels the machine after the installer sets the front legs.

Soak cycle
A cycle in which the tub is filled with water to remove stains. There's little to no agitation during this cycle.

Sound reduction
Insulation features in some washers that reduce noise.

Spin speed
The rate at which the tub spins, propelling excess water from the clothes and out of the tub. Many machines feature several spin speeds.

Temperature selections
The settings on a machine that dictate wash and rinse water temperatures - typically cold, warm and hot and assorted combinations.

Top-loading washer
The most common washer configuration in the U.S., this type of machine loads from the top and washes by using an agitator to move the clothes and the water. It uses more water than a front loader.

Tub material
What the interior of the machine (the tub) is made of -- typically porcelain, plastic or stainless steel.

Warm/cold cycle
A cycle for heavily soiled items that need warm or hot water for optimal cleaning. In order to save energy, this warm or hot water cycle is followed by a cold rinse cycle.

Water level
The amount of water that enters the tub for a given load size. Levels include low, medium high and extra-high.

Wool cycle
A special option for washing wool and other similar delicates-the machine uses a slower, gentler agitation and less rinse and spin cycles.