Washing machines are a today’s generation thing; it is a smart, necessary appliance. It helps make your life easier. Doesn’t it? At certain points in life, we all must have felt what we would have done if appliances like these hadn’t existed.
Though a washing machine is a simple machine, its most confusing part can be its numerous buttons and settings.
We might have randomly pressed buttons without even knowing the purpose of it. But, might have always wondered about the purpose of them.
Soil Level setting is one such setting that brings forth confusion. But worry not; we are here to guide you through all the details.
What does Soil Level Mean?
To summarise, the Soil level setting adjusts the intensity of the wash cycle as per how dirty your clothes are. This is a very helpful feature.
Most of the washers would have different levels varying to the level of dirt to remove from clothes. Usually, there are three – heavy, moderate, and light. But it may vary through brands and models and even up to five levels.
For example, Whirlpool Washing Machines have a three-level setting: light, normal, and heavy, while Insignia Top-loader Washers have a five-level setting: extra light, light, medium, heavy, and extra heavy.
The typical categorization of levels:
Light Soil Level Setting
This level usually calls for delicate fabrics or items needing a quick wash. Since the material is light, it might not carry much dirt. A gentle wash would work wonders. The spin is slower, which would keep your clothes wrinkle-free.
Normal Soil Level Setting
This level is best suitable for regular loads, your everyday clothes. It balances water and strength, thoroughly cleaning without much water usage. This level could have t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.
Heavy Soil Level Setting
The heavy level is designed to handle rough and tough fabrics and heavily soiled ones. The water level and cleaning strength are more than normal, and hot water is suggested to be used. The spin is fast, which is why your clothes might wrinkle. This level could have quilts, towels, etc.
Also, use this level when you need to get a musty smell out of clothes.
Reports clearly say that a normal level is the most appropriate, as it yields the best result in cleaning clothes while not damaging them. Works best for almost all cases.
Choosing the level according to the load’s dirt level is important to maintain the fabric quality and not damage it.
Criteria to choose the right level:
Fabric Type
Considering the fabric of the clothes you are washing is important. Delicate fabrics may require a lower soil level setting to prevent damage.
Soil Intensity
Select the heavy soil level setting to ensure optimal cleaning only if they are very dirty or heavily soiled.
Water Usage
Higher soil level settings would require more water. So, if you are concerned about water usage, opt for lighter soil level settings to minimize water usage without compromising the performance.
But there must be a question arising deep down. Clothes are easily washable without special settings, so why even bother selecting a completely optional soil-level setting?
Why Use Soil Level Setting?
There are various benefits of soil level settings on your washer; let’s look into it.
- Washing of clothes is optimised as per the dirt level and the fabric of clothes.
- Helps determine a better time frame to wash your clothes.
- Makes the process energy efficient.
- Prevents any damage caused to the clothes due to the washing process.
How to Use Soil Level Setting?
Each soil level setting has its duration, agitation, and water usage. This also affects the amount of detergent used and how much you can load.
The best way to determine what suits you best is to review the instruction manual thoroughly; usually, the companies write everything about it.
To highly optimize the use, it is preferred that you look forward to classifying clothes into piles according to the dirt level.
Some Interesting Facts
Soil level is different from water level.
Soil level affects water usage but is a completely different function than water level.
Water level determines only how much water is to be used, while soil level setting determines agitation, time, water temperature, and water usage.
Different water usage for each level of setting.
Each soil level setting’s water requirement is different to work efficiently.
Variation in water temperature.
The water clothes are washed in can have varied temperatures as per the requirement of the soiled level and material of the cloth.
Conclusion
The soil level setting in your washing machine plays a vital role in ensuring efficient and effective laundry. By selecting the right soil level setting, you can optimize your washing experience. Using soil level setting, you can also contribute to energy efficiency and optimum water usage.
Every brand and washing machine has a different display for soil level settings.
