The washing machine, what a great invention! If it wasn’t for the washing machine we would still be squatting over a cold river, scrubbing sudsy wears with all our might. Pity those ancient Greeks, fathers of philosophy and western civilisation, cursing a red wine stain spilled in Bacchus relievers, fermenting now on a once ivory tunic….but I digress. Indeed, the washing machine is a great technological advancement; so much so that it may seem you need a degree in mechanical engineering just to understand how to use one. So to help, here is a jargon busting rundown to make life easier and enable the mind to tackle more philosophical riddles.

Wash Load: Refers to how much the machine can hold.

Spin speed: This means how fast the drum will rotate during a wash. Washers will have a numbered dial. The higher the spin the more water will be extracted from the clothes, hence less drying time.

3D sensor wash: A 3D sensor detects the drum movement during a wash and relays the information to a speed control to balance the wash. Advantages are less stretching, tangling and fewer wrinkles.

Variable Spin: Used for delicate clothes to prevent damage.

Half Load: Ideal for small washes; saves energy and water.

Hand Wash: A very gentle wash for clothes with the hand wash label.

Wool Program: For delicate items made from wool or silk.

Delay Timer: Lets you programme wash to begin and end at a certain time.

Quick Wash: This setting is meant for lightly soiled garments.

Water Consumption: Refers to the amount of water used during the wash.

Drum Capacity: The drum is the internal cylinder where the clothes are placed. The capacity is how much can fit.

Anti-crease Option: The drum will continue to rotate sporadically after wash is finished. This prevents wrinkling.

Time Saver Option: Lets you shorten the times of programmed washes. Helps saving time and energy.

Overflow Protection: A safeguard in case of leaks.

Time To End Of Programme: Counts down the time to end of wash in real time.

Digital Display: Shows time and other features in easy to read digital display. This can usually lit in the dark if needed.

Energy Rating: These range from A-G and indicate how much energy the machine will consume. A being the lowest and G the highest.

EU A-20%: This is found on some new machines and it means the machine uses 20% less energy than the EU lowest standard.

Soak Procedure: The clothes are soaked in water before the wash beginning. The better the soak the more detergent will be absorbed into the clothes.

Rapid programme: For small loads of lightly soiled clothes.

Tilt-angle design: The drum is tilts at an angle downwards after the wash which makes it easier to unload.

Pre-Wash: This is an extra cycle to remove stains and grit before the main wash.

Electronic Programme Selector: Electric buttons to select desired wash

Mechanical programme selector: A turn-dial in the place of electric buttons to select wash.