Soak mode in the washing machine

Despite the availability of high-quality modern laundry equipment, many people still soak their clothes in a basin by hand, risking damage and ignoring automatic washing. It's one thing when there's simply no other choice, and quite another when your washing machine has a soak mode. This useful feature saves time and effort, allowing you to effectively remove even the most stubborn old stains. Let's explore how this option works so you can use it correctly.

How does this program work?

This program has been around for over 20 years, so it has long since become one of the most beloved and sought-after among users. It's incredibly easy to run in a Samsung washing machine—you just need to select the soak program using a separate button or the program selector on the control panel of your "home assistant" and then start the program. The main stages of this work cycle look quite familiar.

• First, the clothes are treated with a mixture of water and detergent. The housewife loads the dirty items into the drum, adds detergent, and starts the cycle. The machine will fill with water and simultaneously draw detergent from the pre-wash tray. The drum will then slowly rotate back and forth to allow the detergent solution to penetrate the fabric better.

If you are running a pre-wash, do not add liquid detergent to the main wash tray, as it may leak out during the pre-wash stage.

• The second stage is a mini-wash, during which a little more liquid is added to the drum, and then the drum starts spinning slowly again so that the household chemicals dissolve even better in the water and begin to penetrate the clothes more actively.
• The third step is the soaking itself—dirty items are trapped in bubbles of dissolved detergent, allowing the foam to effectively penetrate the fabric fibers and remove dirt from the laundry. During this stage, the drum remains stationary.
• The pre-wash ends with the drum rotating again to allow the foam to reach the surface of all items.

Helpfully, the soak duration can be controlled manually, setting a short time for lightly soiled items and a longer time for the dirtiest clothes. A standard soak typically lasts 30-40 minutes—just enough time for thorough pre-treatment. The most important thing is to remember to load both compartments of the detergent dispenser with household chemicals, as after soaking, the machine can immediately begin the main wash, rinse, and spin cycle if the user has configured it that way.

Subsequent main program

Soaking softens stains and dirt so they can be removed more easily during washing. However, pre-treatment is not able to remove all stains, so it is always worth running one of the main wash modes after it. The choice of program depends solely on the fabric, type, and color of the garment to be cleaned. Based on these factors, the user should select one of the following programs in the Samsung washing machine.

• Cotton is a virtually universal cycle suitable for most wash cycles. It perfectly cleans white and colored cotton garments at temperatures up to 95 degrees Celsius, taking up to 180 minutes.
• Synthetics – the same cycle, but for synthetic garments. The cycle duration is 120 minutes and the temperature is 60 degrees Celsius. It features a high-speed spin cycle.
• The Delicate cycle is suitable for the most delicate fabrics that could be accidentally damaged during standard washing cycles. This gentle program cleans clothes at a temperature of 30-40 degrees Celsius and uses the lowest spin speed to avoid damaging the fabric.
• The manual cycle is practically indistinguishable from the delicate mode, as it also runs at 40 degrees and then spins the items very gently.
• Wool – like the first two modes on the list, this cycle is designed for garments made from specific materials. This cycle lasts just 50 minutes, during which the machine gently and softly washes items in water heated to 30 degrees Celsius.
• The baby mode is designed for baby clothing, such as diapers and undershirts. It features a high temperature of up to 80 degrees Celsius, which is necessary to completely kill all harmful bacteria and prevent baby's skin from coming into contact with detergent or other household chemicals that might not have been washed out during the normal cycle.

The children's regime is also suitable for allergy sufferers who do not tolerate certain household chemicals well.

• Quick Wash – This program is designed for those who don't have time to do laundry and need to clean lightly soiled items as quickly as possible. The cold water cycle lasts from 15 to 29 minutes, making it the fastest of all the other programs.
• Daily mode is a special work cycle suitable for everyday items such as underwear, pajamas and robes. Helps to wash clothes thoroughly and prevent them from wearing out quickly.
• The Intensive Eco Cycle is also a fast cycle, but it offers a better cleaning experience thanks to a special technology that keeps the liquid in the drum cool, the washing time is short, and the washing quality remains unaffected.
• Outerwear – This option is essential for clothing made with water-repellent components. Washing is accomplished with increased foaming, which removes dirt without losing the protective properties of the garment.
• Spinning is a standard stage of the work cycle, lasting only 4-5 minutes and allowing you to thoroughly squeeze out items after washing.
• Draining is mandatory after each working cycle to drain the used liquid into the sewer, but can also be activated additionally if you urgently need to get rid of the water in the drum.
• Rinse + Spin – This cycle is useful when soap stains or a strong detergent odor remain on clothes after the first rinse. The cycle lasts approximately 20 minutes.
• Drum self-cleaning is a useful feature that makes maintaining your "home assistant" much easier and more enjoyable. This mode automatically cleans the drum of mold and germs, lasts for 90 minutes, and heats the water to 70 degrees Celsius.

This way, the user always has a wide range of programs to choose from after the automatic soak is complete. This pre-wash mode shouldn't be ignored, as it's much more effective and safer than a standard soak in a basin.

   

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