How a Washing Machine Works

Do you know how a washing machine works? You've listened to it thump and slosh and hum. It's cleaned your clothes hundreds of times. That big white box in your laundry room is really a technological marvel, able to wash and rinse your clothes at the touch of a button.

How A Washing Machine Works: The Basics
A washing machine is a collection of pumps and motors that churn your clothes in soapy water and then rinse them in clear water. The drum of a washing machine has an agitator in its center that pushes and pulls the clothes through the water during the wash cycle.

When the clothes are clean, the washing machine drum spins at hundreds of RPMs, using centrifugal force to squeeze water out of the fabric. When the machine has run through its cycle, your clothes are left clean and just a bit damp (instead of soaking wet).

Major Parts Of Your Washing Machine
Your washing machine is made up of a number of components that are designed to work together and to stand up to the rigors of thousands of washing cycles. Here are the players:

• Controls - The controls of your washing machine are made up of electrical switches and mechanical gears. These components send information to the motor and pump to control the wash and rinse cycles. The controls allow you to set the water temperature, rinse speed, load size, and the length of the washing cycle.
• Motor - The motor of your washing machines is responsible for powering the agitator and washing tub. When agitating, the motor turns back and forth at about a three quarter rotation. While spinning, the motor turns in a singe direction at hundreds of revolutions per minute (RPMs).
• Plumbing - A washing machine has a number of pluming components that handle water as it flows through the machine. Hot and cold water supply lines carry water from the house to the washing machine. These lines attached to a solenoid valve that mixes the water according to the temperature setting for the load of wash. A drain pump and hose carry dirty water away from the washing machine at the end of each cycle,
• Tub - Your washing machine actually has two tubs: an outer, waterproof tub that holds the washing and rinsing water, and an inner tub that holds the clothes as they're cleaned. The inner tub is perforated with hundreds of tiny holes that allow water to escape during the spin cycle.
• Agitator - This plastic cone rest in the center of the inner tub. The agitator has specially designed fins that create a current in the water when they turn. The current pulls clothes down from the surface and returns clothes from the bottom of the tub. The cycling of the clothes through soapy water creates the cleaning action of your washing machine.
• Other components - Your washing machine contains other parts that protect the machine itself including shock absorbers, vibration dampers and a clutch/brake device to help the motor speed up and slow down safely.