It turns out that not everyone knows what the 3 compartments in a washing machine are for. | March 22, 2025

Nowadays, a washing machine  has become simply an irreplaceable thing in our homes, but many do not fully know all its functions and do not use them. I myself did not know about this until recently and now I want to share with you.

1. Why does a washing machine have 3 compartments?

 

If you look closely, you can see that the compartments are labeled. The outer ones are marked with numbers, and the middle one has a snowflake pattern. But this order may differ in different brands of washing machines.

On our machine, the outer compartments are numbered with Roman numerals, and the middle one has a snowflake icon.

Roman numeral I, Arabic 1 or letter « A »  – a tray, the contents of which will be used by the unit during pre-wash. Do not pour detergents into this compartment if soaking is not provided for by the mode.

Roman numeral II, Arabic 2 or letter « B »  – compartment for products used during the main wash. It is used during any cycle, unless, of course, the composition is added directly to the drum.

The third compartment  is often marked with an asterisk or a flower. It is intended  for fabric softeners . Before starting the rinse cycle, the machine expects you to pour this product into this compartment to soften and scent your laundry. However, this step is optional.

The compartments are designed specifically to ensure that the washing machine takes the right detergent for different washing modes and that they do not mix.

2. What is the difference between washing modes?

There are many washing modes in new washing machines. But in most cases this is a marketing ploy by manufacturers and the difference between some modes is insignificant.

We are happy that the machine has 10-12 modes, but once we start using it, we are surprised that we only actually use 5 of them: everyday, mixed, delicate, wool and fast.

continued on next page