Modern washing machines offer numerous specialty cycles. Most of them are self-explanatory and have to do with either the type of laundry you’re washing, such as “delicates” or “colors,” or the soil level of the items. But what about the mysterious “prewash” cycle? Read on to learn how it works and why it’s one of your washer’s best-kept secrets!
How the Prewash Cycle Works
The prewash cycle on your washing machine is a quick wash cycle—usually just about three or four minutes—that you activate in addition to a regular wash cycle. Before starting the prewash, make sure you have detergent in both the prewash and regular wash compartments.
During the prewash cycle, your machine fills with water, agitates your laundry, then spins and empties the water. After that, it automatically moves on to the regular wash cycle you’ve selected.
Why Choose to Prewash?
The process of the prewash cycle is pretty straightforward, but the question remains: why prewash your laundry when you’re already washing it? Isn’t that overkill?
If your clothing is only lightly soiled, then a prewash cycle may be unnecessary. However, the prewash cycle is a lifesaver if you have heavily soiled laundry items such as:
- Sports uniforms
- Cloth diapers
- Grease- or dirt-encrusted work clothes
Whether you’ve been out on a mud run or been doing heavy-duty yard work, there are many scenarios in which you might be faced with extremely dirty laundry items.
In these cases, the prewash cycle loosens and disposes of the worst of the soil, leaving the regular wash to clean and disinfect your laundry completely. This extra prewash cycle is instrumental in preventing stains and odors.
In short, without the prewash, heavily soiled laundry would not get fully clean. So, the next time you have extra-dirty laundry, try the prewash cycle and see what a difference it makes!
If you have questions or concerns about your washing machine or laundry cycles, reach out to the team at All Brands Appliance Repair. With over 46 years of experience, we’re your go-to appliance experts in Wilmington, MA, and the surrounding area. Call us today for all your appliance repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting needs!
