A neatly organized laundry closet in a light green room featuring a white top-load washer and front-load dryer side by side, flanked by shelves with baskets, folded linens, and decor; a wooden desk with chair on the left, potted plants, a yellow armchair on the right, and abstract wall art.

How Does a Washing Machine Work: A Complete Guide

Doing laundry is part of most weekly routines, but have you ever wondered what happens once you toss your clothes in the washer? Your appliance goes through a series of steps to get your clothes clean.

Here’s a closer look at how it all works.

Select a jump link below to learn more:

Overhead view inside a washing machine drum filled with a tangled pile of colorful clothing items in yellows, oranges, browns, pinks, and striped patterns.

How a Washing Machine Works: A Guide

After you’ve selected your cycle and placed your clothes inside the appliance, your washing machine does the rest. From selecting the right water temperature to filling with the proper amount of water, your washer is designed to ensure clothes are cleaned thoroughly.

Learn more about the different steps your washer goes through to keep your clothes looking their best after every single wash.

1. The Wash Cycle Begins

To begin using your washing machine, add detergent, load your clothes into the drum, close the door and select the appropriate wash cycle. Many washers also let you customize settings such as water temperature, soil level and water fill for optimal cleaning.

2. Fill with Water

After you’ve selected the wash cycle, the washing machine will begin to fill with hot, warm or cold water depending on the settings. A valve opens to let water flow into the drum until it reaches the level required for the selected wash cycle.

3. Agitate and Spin

Depending on the type of washing machine you have, your appliance will use a specific method to loosen soils from dirty laundry. Front load washing machines use a tumbling action, while top load washing machines use either an impeller or an agitator to spin and clean clothes. The combined action of agitation, spinning and detergent helps remove dirt, grime and odors, leaving clothes fresh and clean.

Close-up inside a top-load washing machine showing a stream of water cascading from a dispenser onto a load of brightly colored clothes in pinks, oranges, and whites.
A box of affresh Washing Machine Cleaner tablets placed on a dark countertop in a laundry area, with a single blue tablet in front, folded blue-striped towels beside it, and background elements like hanging clothes, a soap dispenser, and potted plants.

4. Drain and Rinse

Once the washing machine is done agitating or tumbling laundry, it then drains away the soiled water and spins the tub to remove any excess moisture. The washer tub then refills with fresh, clean water for the rinse cycle, which removes any residual dirt and detergent from clothes.

5. Final Drain and Spin

After the rinse cycle is complete, the washer’s tub is drained completely before the final spin cycle. During this cycle, the drum spins at high speed to remove most of the remaining water, leaving laundry damp instead of soaking wet. This is a critical step to ensure your clothes dry efficiently.

No matter which type of washer you have, keeping your appliance well maintained is imperative for efficient cleaning. Affresh® washing machine cleaner helps deep clean all the parts of your washer to ensure it’s free from unwanted odors and to help it perform optimally.

Overhead view of a white Whirlpool top-load washing machine with its lid open, revealing a perforated drum, positioned next to a matching white dryer in a laundry closet with light green walls, wooden shelves holding folded towels, and a wicker basket below.

How Do Different Types of Washers Work?

While all washers aim to clean dirty laundry, different types use slightly different methods. Here is a closer look at how each type of washing machine works to get your favorite clothing items clean.

How Does a Front Load Washer Work

Front load washing machines clean by using a spinning, tumbling motion. Baffles inside the drum lift and drop the laundry, creating friction that helps remove dirt and stains. Thanks to this efficient tumbling action, front load washers use less water, but they often take longer to complete a cycle.

How Does a Top Load Washer Work?

Top load washing machines use an agitator or impeller to wash clothes. An agitator is a tall spindle located in the middle of your washing machine that twists back and forth during a wash cycle. An impeller is a disc or low profile cone on the bottom of the drum that spins during a wash cycle, rubbing clothes together to efficiently clean them.

How Do HE Washers Work?

High efficiency (HE) washing machines are designed to clean your clothes using less water than a standard washer. They also require HE detergent, which produces fewer suds and works effectively with lower water levels. In addition, HE washers often use longer wash cycles and advanced wash motions to deliver a thorough clean while being more energy-efficient.

Explore affresh® Washing Machine Cleaner

Whether you have a top load or front load washing machine, your appliance works hard to keep your favorite clothes clean and looking new. With regular maintenance and cleaning, your washer should be able to efficiently clean your clothes and run optimally.

Affresh® washing machine cleaner helps deep clean the pump, valve, tub, drum, agitator, filter and hose, removing odor-causing residues and grime.