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We all know that the best way to wash laundry in your washer is by choosing the correct wash cycle (items will be washed more thoroughly when you select the most suitable cycle).
So, if you have just bought an LG washing machine (or you’re considering buying one),below are LG washing machine cycles explained to help you have your clothes washed perfectly.
LG washing machine cycles explained (LG front load washing machine cycles explained and LG top load washing machine cycles explained)
We all look at the standard cycles provided in most LG washing models (Check your owner’s manual for a complete washing cycle guide for your specific LG washer).
LG washing machine cycles explained – description and differences
Cotton/Normal
Washes your normally soiled clothes – it does that by combining a variety of drum motions.
Bear in mind that for the most part, the Cotton programme will start immediately (on the default settings) if you press “Start/Pause” button but you forget to select a cycle.
It is important to note that this is the cycle that is used most frequently for clothing items like your jeans, shirts, sheets, towels, and mixed loads.
In fact, you should use this cycle for everything else except delicate fabrics (wool and silk).
Cotton Large
This washes laundry by combining a range of drum motions but uses less energy than the Cotton programme (with comparable settings).
Quick Tip: Cotton is really tough hence cotton wash cycles are designed to use the minimum possible amount of water to get exemplary cleanness (They actually use more agitations than other cycles).
Delicate /Handwash/ Wool
This is the washing cycle you should select when you want to wash lingerie (machine-washable), sheer, and lacy clothing.
In other words, this is your best bet for all extra delicate fabrics (to protect your delicate fabrics, wool/silk/handwash cycles have a low speed agitate cycle as well as a low speed spin/dry cycle while they maintain minimum temperature).
Here is a good rule-of-the-thumb: Select HANDWASH cycle for all items that is intended to be hand-washed.
On the other hand, be sure to choose DELICATES cycle for all your extra-delicate clothes (dress shorts, nylons, blouses, and sheer/lacy garments).
Meanwhile, use WOOL cycle for machine-washable and hand-washable woolens like washable wool.
To add, it is essential to use a proper detergent for all machine-washable woolens.
Allergene
This cycle typically uses the super intense steam heat to get rid of 95% (at least) of all typical household allergens (dust mites, pet dander, and more).
That being so, you should use it to wash allergens-infested items like pillowcases and your bed sheets.
Also, it can be used to wash items such as undergarments (panties/boxers/briefs- these often carry fecal matter).
Sanitary
This is for your dirtiest clothes- it will use extreme temperature changes (extra-hot, during the wash and cold, during rinse) to wash extreme dirt.
Keep in mind that this wash cycle also eliminates 99.9% of the bacteria in laundry during the wash, thanks to the high temperatures.
Quick Tip: Your bathroom towels are likely to smell better and stay better smelling longer once you start using sanitary cycle to wash them.
Towels
This is best for towels plus cotton garments.
Heavy Duty
Use this for your heavily-soiled cotton fabrics.
Bright Whites
Use this for all your bright white fabrics- it’s purposely engineered to wash whites sparkling clean.
Permanent Press
This cycle is specially designed for your formal attire –and any other clothing items- that you want to remain wrinkle free after the dry.
Use it for clothes with the “permanent press” tag.
Quick Tip: A permanent press washing cycle is simply a slightly-milder version of the previous cotton cycle, typically at lower temperature. This helps protect clothes which have been heat-treated to maintain their shape.
Mix
Washes mixed fabrics at the same time.
It can also be used for all kinds of fabrics but special garments (sportswear, silk/delicate, dark clothes, duvet/curtains, wool).
Easy Care
Washes clothing items that do not usually need to be ironed after washing.
Should be used mostly for clothes made of polyamide, polyester, and acrylic.
Baby Care /Baby wear
This is designed specially to wash baby clothes – it uses gentle motion and the performance is generally better when it comes to baby clothes than other washing cycles.
Sports Wear
As the name implies, this washes special garments such as sportswear as well as outdoor wear
Speed Wash
This washes lightly soiled fabrics quickly.
For high-wash and rinse efficiency, ensure you are washing only small loads (load 2-3 lightly-soiled garments).
Quick 30
Cleans small loads of lightly-soiled clothes too but for about 30 minutes, hence the name Quick30.
Small Load
This can be used when you want to clean small loads of linen, cotton, towels, shirts, jeans, sheets, and even some mixed loads.
Bulky /Large
This is the wash cycle that is optimized to wash large items like your blankets and comforters.
Tub Clean
This is essentially a maintenance cycle for your LG washing machine.
You see, mold and mildew usually accumulates around your washer’s rubber door gasket.
In addition, dirt will collect after you run multiple washing cycles so your machine could start to have a foul odor after some time.
That is where the tub clean cycle comes in – you should run it once per month (at least) to prevent mold, remove mildew, and eliminate moisture.
That way, your washer will always smell super fresh!
Rinse+Spin
Rinses and spins laundry (there is no washing). Remember to use fabric softener (if necessary).
Drain and Spin
This literary performs a drain-spin action.
If you’re wondering if it’s any useful, well, it’s the best cycle when you have wet clothes that you need to have excess water drawn out from.
LG washer bedding cycle
If you’re looking for a great way to clean all your beddings effectively and gently, then choose the Bedding cycle on your LG washer…the cycle is specially engineered to wash all your bedding items perfectly ( think of sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and more).
Not only is it very gentle on bedding fabrics (it therefore won’t damage your delicate sleep items) but it is also gives you an option to run a prewash or even an extra rinse cycle if you feel that it is important (depending on considerations such as how dirty are your beddings).
So yes, if your washer features this setting, its your best bet (out of all other LG washer settings) when washing beddings.
LG washing machine hygiene cycle
Now, LG Washer hygiene cycle is another unique cycle that you will find handy when you want to get rid of harmful bacteria and allergens off your laundry.
If you’re wondering how, it uses three weapons to remove germs from your clothes:
- Super high temperatures
- Steam
- Tumbling action
These three combined always gets the better of dangerous bacteria making it a good option when you want to clean heavily soiled items like workout clothes, towels, and bedding.
Use it too when washing other items you think are contaminated with microorganisms like diapers and your pet beddings.
LG download cycle list
Aside from the above standard LG washing machine cycles, you can download a couple of new washing, uniquely designed cycles to your LG washing machine.
Below is a list of the washing cycles you can download to your washer -once you connect your LG washing machine to LG ThinQ app– and what each cycle is used for:
Small Load (Default)
Washes just small laundry load (below 3 lbs.)
Color Care
This prevents colors in your fabrics from fading.
BeachWear
Use this to wash your beachwear.
New Clothes
This is specially built to wash your new clothes (and keep them looking new)
Denim
This cycle is specifically built to wash and maintain your jeans.
Sportswear
This gets rid of stains from your sportswear.
Swimwear
Use this to wash your swimming costumes (it’s designed to remove salt or chlorine from your swimming gear)
Rainy Day
Select this cycle when you want to wash clothes that have been made wet (slightly wet) by rain.
Gym clothes
If you’re a fitness fanatic, this is the most ideal cycle for your gym clothes (removes sweat stains perfectly).
Blanket
Use this cycle to wash your daily used blankets.
Note that it should not be used for blankets made of wool.
Sweat stains
This removes sweat stains (plus odor) from clothing.
Single garments
This is intended to wash a single garment.
Rinse+Spin
See Rinse and Spin cycle above
Baby clothes
Use for food-stained baby clothing. It has a pre-wash and hot-water wash.
Children’s sportwear
Used to wash dirty and stained kid’s sportwear (gets rid of sweat, dirt, and grass stains)
Collars and Cuffs
Uses increasingly hot water to remove stubborn stains from collars and cuffs.
Juices & Food stains
Will remove strong-willed stains from fabrics by combining hot water and super powerful wash motions.
Overnight
Select this cycle if you want your machine to wash at night at reduced noise.
The cycle also prevents wrinkling by continuing to tumble once the cycle is completed.
EconoWash
This minimizes energy consumption while washing.
Delicate dresses
Use this to wash your lightly-stained cocktail dresses.
Half-load wash
Optimizes washing settings intelligently (for the best wash performance) when you want to wash half-sized wash loads.
Full-load wash
Optimizes washing settings intelligently (for the best wash performance) when you want to wash full-sized wash loads.
Eco Sanitary
This reduces energy usage while sanitizing the load (to reduce bacteria).
LG washing machine cycles explained (LG washing machine modes explained) – What else you need to know about LG washing machine modes
- Select the most appropriate water temperature depending on your chosen wash cycle- Be sure to check your garment manufacturer’s wash instructions or care label to avoid damaging your clothes.
- Double check that you have selected the right spin speed too for your desired wash cycle.
LG washing machine cycles explained (LG washing machine programs)- Final words
Don’t worry too much about these cycles- most of your laundry will be washed just fine on normal cycle.
Otherwise, understanding the different cycles will help you get better results since you’ll be selecting the most suitable cycle according to what you’re washing.
In a nutshell, if your goal is to achieve maximum amount of washing while using the least amount of water possible and the minimum washing time, then keep the explanations we have in this article in mind when deciding on a wash cycle.
Oh, and remember to add an appropriate option depending on your wash cycle.
For instance, selecting the extra rinse option with your desired cycle will ensure the removal detergent/bleach residual from your fabrics.
I would like to suggest a SOAK CYCLE.. I am on well water with some iron in it. so I have to soak my whites in IRON OUT for a few hours and sometimes overnight to get them white again.
The SOAK CYCLE should rotate a few times every 5 minutes or so over a extended period of time, to keep the clothes wet with the IRON OUT.
My LG machine has a Direct Wear cycle. What kind of a cycle is it and what garments can be washed using it?