The spin drain function, often called the Drain and Spin cycle on a washing machine, is a specific setting designed to remove water from clothes and the drum without adding more water.
Understanding the Drain and Spin Cycle
Unlike standard wash cycles that use water for cleaning, the Drain and Spin cycle is purely focused on water removal. According to descriptions of this function, it does not use any water. Instead, it relies entirely on the machine's spinning mechanism.
How it Works
The primary mechanism of this cycle is the rapid spin speed. The washing machine drum rotates at a very high velocity, creating centrifugal force. This force pushes the water out of the fabrics and through the drain system of the machine.
When to Use the Drain and Spin Function
This cycle is useful in several scenarios, as highlighted by its design:
- Quick Drying Aid: It uses a rapid spin speed to help quickly dry hand-washed clothes, soaking wet items and heavier fabrics. If you've washed something delicate by hand, or if items like towels or jeans are holding a lot of water after a wash, this cycle can significantly reduce drying time.
- Draining After Interruption: This cycle is also designed to drain your washer after a canceled load or interrupted cycle. If you stop a wash cycle mid-way, the machine might still contain water. Running the Drain and Spin cycle will remove this standing water, preventing odors and making it safe to open the door on many machines.
Practical Applications
Here are a few common situations where you might select the Drain and Spin cycle:
- After hand-washing sweaters or delicates to remove excess water before laying them flat to dry.
- If your main wash cycle finished but the clothes still seem excessively wet (indicating a potential issue or just very absorbent fabric).
- When you've used your washing machine to soak items and need to drain the water out.
- If you paused or canceled a wash cycle and need to empty the drum.
Using the Drain and Spin cycle effectively can help protect your clothes, save time on drying, and maintain your washing machine.
