The washing machine manufacturer Indesit tries to make everything in its technology as clear as possible. On the control panel of most machines there are not just icons indicating one mode or another, but also the name of each mode and function. This makes it easier to select programs and remember them. In most washing machines, the programs are similar, let’s look at them in more detail, find out their duration, temperature conditions and load.

Basic

All washing modes/programs are divided by the manufacturer into standard (main) and special (additional). The main ones are found on almost all models of washing machines, these include:

On some washing machines The names of cotton modes can be: pre-wash, normal (everyday) wash, intensive and delicate wash. In this case, for each program the water heating temperature is indicated.

Special

Additional, also called special programs, are found on the latest models of cars. Such programs involve washing a certain type of clothing. Here is their list:

• Program "Jeans" - washing items made from denim at a temperature not exceeding 40 0 ​​C, with a load of no more than 2.5 kg and at reduced spin speeds.
• Express 15 is a quick wash mode for 15 minutes, which allows you to refresh no more than 1.5 kg of laundry at a temperature of 30 0 C.
  
• Sports shoes - with this mode you can wear sneakers made of suede and fabric. The heating temperature is only 30 0 C, loading no more than two pairs per wash cycle. The process lasts 50 minutes.
• Sportswear is a delicate wash of sportswear at a temperature of 30 0 C for 1 hour 18 minutes. The machine drum load in this mode is approximately 2.5 kg.

Additional functions of a washing machine of this brand also include:

1. additional and gentle rinsing;
2. spin;
3. drain without spinning;
4. Eco Time – this function will reduce washing time by optimizing water consumption. The function is compatible only with one of the cotton washing modes and synthetic washing modes.

How to choose a mode

The choice of washing modes is carried out using the programmer knob. The program numbers are indicated around the handle, and the decoding of these programs is given on the left side of the washing machine. On very old models there is no verbal decoding, but there is a decoding in the form of symbols that should be intuitively clear. The picture below shows such a control panel for an Indesit machine.

In the column on the left, numbers from 1 to 7, programs for washing cotton products are offered. In the next column, programs numbered 8 to 10 are programs for washing synthetics. In the last column (on the right) program number 11 is a delicate wash.

Icons numbered 5 and 12 are rinsing, numbers 6 and 13 are watering, 7 and 14 are temperature, number 15 is drainage.

The photo below shows another control panel of the Indesit machine. It has the following functions (circled in red):

• pre-soaking;
• easy ironing;
• delayed start;
• additional rinse.

Thus, the peculiarity of the modes of Indesit washing machines is that they are all divided into two or three groups, regardless of the machine model, and are numbered. These are programs for washing cotton, synthetics and special modes. In order not to make a mistake when choosing a program, you need to carefully read the labels on the clothes, all the information is there. Have fun washing!

The quality of washing depends on many factors. And water temperature is one of the main ones. At best, things just don’t stretch well, at worst, they will be hopelessly damaged. Therefore, before you wet your clothes and underwear, you need to study the information on the labels. If they are not there, then knowledge about the regimes, tissues and general rules, with clothes.

Washing temperature

Many automatic washing machines allow you to set the washing temperature with an accuracy of almost 1 degree. Therefore, it is very important to know in what cases this or that heating is used, at what temperature it is better to wash things, depending on the degree of contamination and the material of manufacture.

Up to 30 degrees

This is cool water. It is used for slightly worn items. If the stains are stubborn and strong, then pre-soaking with powder or soap will be required. This heating is suitable for delicate fabrics (wool, silk, some types of synthetics) and products that require careful handling, for example, knitwear. Also, at this temperature things do not fade.

Up to 45 degrees

From 30 to 45 degrees is the most universal temperature range. It can be used on almost all fabrics and even daily use. Fresh stains can be easily removed in this range.

Up to 60 degrees

This mode is used for more durable and strong fabrics, such as linen or cotton. At 60 degrees, even heavy stains can be easily washed off. In this case, additional soaking or treatment with cleaning agents is not required. This mode is used for bed linen and cleaning children's clothes.
90 degrees and above

At this temperature, things are not only washed, but also disinfected. This is a way to wash cleanly without resorting to expensive and often hazardous chemicals. However, a fairly small number of things and fabrics can withstand boiling: these are natural fabrics like cotton and linen. Even when exposed to such temperatures, they do not deform or become unusable. But they may lose color. Therefore, boiling is used mainly for white or light-colored fabrics. It is recommended to boil children's clothes, medical clothing, and underwear of sick people (especially when skin diseases), textile toys, etc.

Depending on the material

Everything is clear with the purpose of temperatures. But what to do if the labels are erased or lost, and only approximately is known about the item and the material it was made from? In this case, they decide which water is best to wash in, based on previous experience or understanding of the fabric. If absolutely nothing is known about the item of clothing, then it is recommended to first wash it in cool water by hand.

Natural fabrics

The most durable and heat-resistant material of all is flax. White fabric can easily withstand boiling, and colored fabric retains colors even at 60 degrees.

Cotton is not far behind flax. It can also be boiled or machine washed at 90-95 degrees. However, the color doesn't hold up as well. Products with patterns or dyed should not be washed at temperatures above 45 degrees.

Wool is one of the most whimsical materials. It can only be rinsed in cool water and using special products.

The same applies to silk. This delicate material does not tolerate heat above 30 degrees.

Artificial fabrics

In most cases, artificial and synthetic fabrics do not tolerate heat well: the fibers become coarse, brittle, or even change their properties. Also, things may become deformed or shrink. Therefore, it is recommended to wash any synthetic clothing at a temperature no higher than 45 degrees, or even better, limit it to 30 degrees.

Viscose is easily deformed; it is better not to expose it to high temperatures, but to limit it to cool water.

One of the most heat-resistant artificial materials is polyester. He calmly tolerates heating up to 40-45 degrees. However, when overheated, the fabric “breaks”. Acetate also belongs to this group.

Elastane or lycra are quite resistant to hot water. Typically these materials are added to another type of fabric (such as cotton). The percentage determines how resistant to heat a particular thing is. Typically, clothing can withstand hot water (up to 60 degrees).

Acrylic cannot be heated: it can barely withstand 30-degree washing. It is as finicky as the wool it imitates. It also requires the use of special liquids and easily loses its shape.

SanPiNs for children's and medical institutions recommend changing bed linen as it gets dirty, but at least once a week. You can adhere to the same frequency at home - within a week the laundry loses its freshness, but does not yet have time to become greasy, and as a result it is easily washed.

IN winter time When a person sweats less and sleeps using pajamas and warm nightgowns, bed linen can be changed once every two weeks. By the way, in many European countries it is customary to change linen every 10-14 days, but there the beds are firstly ventilated, and secondly, the air temperature in the bedroom is often lower than what Russians are used to.

Pillowcases that come into contact not only with the skin, but also with the hair (especially if the hair is oily) usually get dirty faster - especially since in this case the remnants of night creams can accumulate on the fabric, decorative cosmetics etc. At the same time, the fabric is in contact with the skin of the face all night. Therefore, it is better to change pillowcases more often - once every 2-3 days.

It is best to wash the bed of feverish patients after one day of use. If this is not possible, you must at least put a clean pillowcase on your pillow every day.

Preparing laundry for washing

• by fabric type(the washing mode for different sets may be different);


• 
  according to the degree of fabric dyeing(it is better to wash white and light colors separately from colored ones, even if they are items from the same set);


• 
  by degree of pollution(sheets that are only lightly soaked with sweat do not need to be washed intensively, as this will lead to premature wear of the fabric).

Duvet covers, pillowcases or mattress covers are usually turned inside out before washing - this will get rid of dirt that accumulates in the corners.

If there are stains (for example, blood) on sheets made of colored delicate fabrics, they must be treated with a stain remover before washing. Contaminated cotton or linen sheets do not require such treatment - it will be enough to adjust the washing mode.

How to calculate the weight of bed linen for washing

The washing machine has loading restrictions - they are calculated based on the weight of dry laundry. At the same time, if we are talking about washing sheets and duvet covers, we must keep in mind that these are quite voluminous products. And in order for them to stretch well, it is better not to fully load the machine: the weight of dry laundry should be about one and a half times less than the maximum load.

Approximate weight of bed linen:

• double duvet cover – 500-700 grams,


• pillowcase – 200 grams,


• sheet – 350-500 grams.

How and at what temperature do you wash bed linen?

Before automatic washing machines became widespread, clothes were usually washed in very hot water, and often boiled to bleach and further disinfect. Now there is no need for such “harsh” washing - modern technology in combination with modern detergents allows you to wash clothes at lower temperatures, which ensures better preservation of the fabric.

The optimal temperature for washing light linen bed linen and linen made from thick cotton fabrics can be considered 60 degrees - this temperature is sufficient for disinfection, and the washing efficiency is quite high. If desired, you can wash such fabrics at higher temperatures - the laundry will be disinfected better this way, but the laundry will also wear out faster. To wash such items, you can use white laundry powder or universal powder. To wash heavily soiled laundry (including stained sheets), you can use powder bleaches or laundry detergent enhancers, as well as liquid bleaches for washing machines.

Colored bed linen and linen made from delicate fabrics are washed at 30-50 degrees. For colored laundry, products for colored fabrics are used (marked Color on the packaging). You can use liquid shampoos for washing - they are designed for use at low temperatures and wash things quite well. Heavily soiled laundry is pre-soaked or a pre-wash cycle is used. It is advisable to iron linen that is washed at low temperatures before use, even if you are not a fan of ironing bed linen.

To wash children's bedding, use detergents for washing children's clothes. Typically, children's underwear is made from natural fabrics, which allows them to be washed at fairly high temperatures.

Exact recommendations for washing bed linen are contained on product labels or kit packaging - it indicates the recommended washing temperature, drying mode, the possibility or impossibility of using bleaches, and so on. If we are talking about an expensive set of delicate fabrics or colored underwear with voluminous patterns, it is better to read the recommendations and follow them.

How to wash bed linen in a washing machine: modes for different types of fabric

Most modern washing machines allow you to install additional functions, adjust the spin level, etc., which allows you to select the optimal mode for washing bed linen depending on the characteristics of the fabric.

• 
  Linen – 60-95°C, soaking or pre-washing possible, strong spin;


• 
  Light calico, percale, ranfors– 60-95oC, soaking or pre-wash possible, any mode;


• 
  Satin,– 40-60oC, soaking or pre-wash possible, any mode;


• 
  Colored chintz– 40°C, without using bleach, medium-intensity spin;


• 
  Batiste, bamboo– 30-40°C, delicate mode without spin or with low spin;


• 
  Polyester or cotton with added polyester– 40°C, delicate mode or synthetic mode, soaking possible, double rinsing;


• 
  Silk – 30°C, delicate wash cycle (“silk” mode), special mild detergents and conditioner, low spin or no spin. Attention! Be sure to read the label: for some silk products, dry cleaning only is indicated.

Do I need to wash new bedding?

Newly purchased bedding must be washed before use. Firstly, during the production of bed linen, dust and dirt invariably accumulate on the fabric; secondly, new bedding is sometimes impregnated with a composition that helps the fabric keep its shape.

It is best to wash new bedding separately from other items and at the maximum temperature allowed by the manufacturer. This will not only disinfect the linen, but also (if the fabric is not dyed very well) will allow excess paint to come off.

During the first wash, bed linen may shrink slightly - this is normal and, as a rule, is provided for by the manufacturer when cutting.

Tips for using washing machines

Reasons for the appearance of odors, grease, plaque and black mold in the washing machine.

Do I need to shut off the water pipes when the machine is not in use?

Reasons for the appearance of odors, grease, plaque and black mold in the washing machine:

Many people wash exclusively at 40 degrees. In our time, moreover, there is a tendency to use even more low temperature for washing, in order to save energy. Remember that at this temperature, ordinary powder cannot cope with contaminants (or copes poorly), and you need to use additional biological additives for a good result. It's also worth noting that bed mites (or their eggs) can reportedly survive low-temperature washing, and so it's best to wash your bed linen at 60 degrees.
In addition, regular prevention, in the form of washing at 90 degrees, is necessary.

Washing machines now often suffer from the accumulation of grease and bacteria in them, causing bad smell, rotting hoses and door gaskets, as well as various breakdowns. Another serious consequence could be that the aluminum drum base could be corroded by this buildup, resulting in permanent failure of the washing machine.

Due to the fact that many wash exclusively at 40 degrees, which, combined with poor quality detergents (and in the wrong quantities), and the use of various stain removers for colored fabrics, without bleach (which allow bacteria to multiply), leads to because the washing machine is literally rotting from the inside.

When you wash a greasy plate in a plastic cup at a temperature of 40 degrees, it will wash off, but when you drain the water, you will find a greasy film already on the plastic cup. To defeat fat, you need higher temperatures. If you wash a greasy plate at a temperature of 60 degrees or higher, a greasy film will not appear on the plastic cup.
Currently, manufacturers recommend performing preventative cleaning of the machine once a month. This is especially important if you primarily use low-temperature washes and/or liquid detergents and non-bleach stain removers.

Preventative cleaning is done as follows:

Set the wash temperature to the hottest setting and add detergent, DO NOT add laundry.

If you usually use detergents that do not contain bleach, buy a product that contains it specifically for maintenance cleaning. This will help kill bacteria and prevent black mold and greasy deposits from forming in your washing machine. Do not use pure bleach; there are several types of bleach containing products (such as oxygen bleach) that are suitable for this purpose.

Another way to clean your washing machine is to use soda crystals, which help dissolve the grease and remove it from the washing machine. Soda must be poured directly into the drum. Also use without underwear.

To check if your washing machine has similar problems, carefully inspect its interior for dirt and grease: pull the rubber gasket on the front of the drum and look behind it, there is usually a fairly large space in which dirt and grease accumulate, which causes specific smell and rotting of this seal.

Unpleasant smell from the washing machine.

An unpleasant smell from your washing machine may be the result of a build-up of grease and dirt. It can also be caused chemicals that got into the washing machine from laundry, or come from the sewer, if a special valve for draining is not installed (not installed correctly).

To get rid of the smell that remains even after two preventive cleanings, try pouring vinegar into the dispenser, set the temperature to the highest setting and run the washing machine idle. Repeat if necessary. This is a well-known remedy, vinegar has amazing properties.

Cooler or hotter?
Do you really save energy by washing at 40 degrees?
In order to achieve best result It is advisable to use biological detergents.

Powder with a “stain removal” function, like any other washing powder, must, first of all, effectively cope with general contamination, that is, thoroughly wash dirt, dust, and skin particles held together by sweat from linen and clothes.

Its other task is to remove protein stains. These stains are dealt with biologically by the ingredients contained in the powder. active additives– enzymes.

The most commonly used class of enzymes in powders are proteases. They help remove protein contaminants, as well as grass and some types of food.

In addition to proteases, the bio-powder may contain enzymes of other classes that are effective in removing starch (amylase), fat and oil stains (lipase), as well as pellets formed on clothes during wear and washing (Cellulose).

You need to know that most enzymes work at an average washing temperature (40-50 degrees), and die when it increases. Although there are now some enzymes (mainly amylases) that can withstand washing temperatures up to 80 degrees.

And here we have the first contradiction. Everyone knows that grease, oil and vegetable stains are washed off better in hot water than in warm water. But at high temperatures, not only enzymes are destroyed, but also protein stains coagulate, “sticking” to the fabric and leaving stains that are difficult to remove. That's why best temperature to remove protein contaminants – 40 degrees. It turns out that good wash- it's always a compromise.

If you wash with powder with enzymes, it is better to wash in two stages. First, soak the laundry - let the enzymes work at a moderate temperature. And then, when the enzymes have done their job and the protein stains have been removed, you can wash at a higher temperature and even boil, then other components come into play, removing fat and oil stains.

But we must not forget that boiling is a very rough attitude towards things. Washing at low temperatures is more gentle and allows you to preserve your items longer. In addition, washing with a machine at high temperatures leads to significant energy consumption, which is not cheap at all these days! High efficiency even at low temperatures is an undeniable advantage of washing powder.

In addition, with constant washing at 90 degrees, no maintenance is required!

Whiten or remove protein stains?

Unfortunately, here too you have to choose. The fact is that the quality of bleaching directly depends on the amount of chemical bleach included in the powder. But a high content of chemical bleach inhibits the action of enzymes until they are completely destroyed (if they are part of the powder). And the proportion of enzymes in the powder is already small - up to 1.2%, and an increase in their quantity does not lead to an increase in the quality of washing. So the combination of whitening power and effective removal of protein stains is always a compromise.

Removing black mold from the rubber seal on the machine door and from the detergent container

You can use a regular toothbrush or something similar for this to remove the mold.

However, when working with black mold, to protect yourself, you should wear safety glasses and a mask during the cleaning process.

You can try special black mold removers sold in supermarkets. But before using them, you should carefully read the instructions to make sure that this product is safe for rubber and plastic objects.

If the door gasket or detergent dispenser becomes too moldy, your only option is to replace it.

What causes black mold to appear in a washing machine?

This mainly involves using low temperatures when washing, as well as using detergents that do not contain bleach. Bleaches in detergents(plus heat) kill bacteria that might otherwise grow inside the washing machine.

It is also important to leave the washing machine door open after washing to allow it to dry completely.

Should you turn off the water supply taps when the washing machine is not in use?

All manufacturers recommend: it's worth doing it.

If the taps are always left on, and therefore under pressure, you may end up with a leak, or even a flood from leaking water, or a broken fill hose.

The question of how long it takes an automatic machine to wash may seem a little strange. However, we dare to say that there is nothing strange about it. A person may be interested in washing time in at least three cases.

Firstly, when a used washing machine is purchased and there are no instructions supplied, secondly, the washing machine does not have a display that would display the washing duration and, thirdly, a person chooses a new modern washing machine and wants to know its capabilities in terms of washing time in different modes. That’s why we decided to talk in detail about how long or how quickly an automatic machine can wash.

Factors that determine the duration of washing

A full washing cycle includes certain stages, there should be at least three of them:

• wash;
• rinsing;
• spin

The duration of each washing step depends on a number of factors, so washing times may vary. These factors include:

• water heating temperature - this means that the higher the heating temperature, the longer the water will heat up, and therefore the laundry will be washed. Least time washing, all other things being equal, will be when the water is heated to 30 0 C, or when washed in cold water;
• the use of additional rinsing also increases the washing time by an average of 20-30 minutes;
• number of revolutions during spinning - the higher the revolutions, the longer the spin time, for example, with a spin of 800 rpm, the machine spins for 10 minutes, and with a spin of 1000 rpm - 15 minutes;
• the extra wash function will extend the time by another 15-25 minutes;
• soaking is similar to the additional washing process;
• the time for the function of boiling the laundry is also increased, again so that the water is heated to at least a temperature of 95 0 C;
• weight of laundry - this function is only available in modern washing machines of medium and expensive class cost, the machine itself determines by the weight of the laundry how much powder and water is needed for washing and sets its duration;
• degree of contamination - this function is also found only in expensive washing machines; thanks to special sensors, the machine determines the water consumption and the optimal washing mode for duration and temperature.

For your information! The presence of the last two functions in an automatic washing machine is not always economically justified. Any housewife will be able to select the washing mode independently on a machine with standard functions without overpayments.

Duration of washing modes

What makes up the time of one washing cycle is more or less clear, let’s now consider the most common programs and modes, and see what their duration may be. In this case, we will talk about a specific mode and its built-in parameters, which can be changed manually, namely temperature, spin speed, this, as we have already noted, also affects the washing time. Most washing machines have the following modes:

For some of these modes, you can set additional functions, such as super rinse, pre-wash, which means that you need to add another 15 to 30 minutes to the time indicated above.

Modern washing machines are equipped with a dryer, which can significantly extend the full wash cycle.

Does washing time depend on the type and model of washing machine?

The answer to this question is obvious; of course, the washing time depends on the model of the automatic washing machine. In modern models, the manufacturer tries to reduce energy consumption as much as possible, reducing the duration of washing modes, thereby making the machine economical. But on average, this time still differs by 20-30 minutes. You can find more accurate washing times for a specific mode in the instructions for the washing machine, and if you do not have a printed version of the instructions, you can find them on the Internet.

As for the type of loading of the washing machine, it does not affect the duration of the wash. and with front loading have similar modes, durations, which may differ, but not significantly. Both have a quick wash mode and an intensive wash mode.

For those who care about the duration of the wash, it is best to choose those models of washing machines whose display shows the remaining wash time. In addition, the delayed washing function will be convenient, which assumes that the machine will start on its own after a period of time from 3 to 19 hours.

So, washing time in an automatic machine can range from 15 minutes to 4 hours. Everything will depend on the combination of parameters and factors that we listed above. Do your laundry correctly and with pleasure!