Does higher spin clean clothes better?

Author: Melvina Stehr  |  Last update: Thursday, October 30, 2025

Spin speed—measured in revolutions per minute (RPM)—is key to achieving cleaner, drier clothes. Higher spin speeds mean more effective water extraction, allowing your items to spend less time in the dryer or on the line.

Should I wash my clothes on high spin?

It really depends on what you're washing. Unless You're dealing with delicate items, I always use the highest spin option, as it makes drying faster and cheaper. Especially on a front-load machine, it shouldn't effect the clothes at all.

What spin speed is best for clothes?

As always, do check the manufacturer's instruction book or the wash care labels on individual garments for their own recommendations:
  • Cottons: 1400 rpm.
  • Delicates: 600 rpm.
  • Woollens: 1200 rpm.
  • Silks: 400 rpm.
  • Shirts: 600 rpm.
  • Denim: 900 rpm.

What cycle cleans clothes the best?

Generally speaking, cold wash cycles are best for delicates, colored, and normally soiled clothing; warm water is best for more soiled clothing and whites; and hot water is best for very soiled clothing or for loads, like underwear and towels, where you want to remove germs and allergens.

Is it better to have a 1400 or 1600 spin washing machine?

Would go for a minimum 1200 but 1400 would be better really. It's particularly useful if you don't have much room for drying clothes or have a damp/cold hous as if you get a slow spin machine, it leaves more water in the clothes and takes ages to dry.

Expert explains the benefits of changing spin speeds of washing machines - Appliances Online

Does higher spin clean better?

Spin speed—measured in revolutions per minute (RPM)—is key to achieving cleaner, drier clothes. Higher spin speeds mean more effective water extraction, allowing your items to spend less time in the dryer or on the line.

Is there a big difference between 1200 and 1400 spin?

A 1200RPM - 1400RPM spin speed will suit most family situations, balancing economy and performance. Faster spin speeds will decrease the time it takes to dry your clothes. Faster spin speeds reduces the time required in a tumble dryer.

What is the best mode to wash clothes in the washing machine?

Washing Machine Settings and Cycles
  • Normal – Used for cottons and coloured, mixed fabrics. ...
  • Whites – Used for white clothing to get everything properly clean. ...
  • Delicates – Used for lace and other fabrics that could get damaged by a vigorous wash.

Which cycle is best for dirty clothes?

The Heavy-duty cycle is for jeans and towels, or heavily soiled clothing. This cycle uses a long wash cycle combined with high-speed agitation and spin. The Bulky cycle is great for pillows, blankets, and rugs. This cycle allows items to soak in water and soap for a short time before starting the wash.

What type of washer cleans clothes better?

While both front-load and top-load washers are effective for cleaning, front-loaders are better at removing dirt and stains, thanks to the horizontal drum rotation and tumbling motion. The design of a front-load washer repeatedly lifts and drops your laundry, using gravity to knock clothes against each other.

What spin should you wash clothes on?

Washers generally have a default spin speed that varies based on the type of fabric. For example, wool, lingeries or blouses require a slower spin speed (around 600-800 RPM), synthetic fabrics need around 800-1000 RPM, while a high-speed (900-1400 RPM) is recommended for cotton.

Is lower spin better for clothes?

As a rule, lower spin settings are perfect for delicate fabrics and prevent parts of garments such as sleeves getting tangled. A fast spin speed is perfect for towels or heavy fabrics like denim. The spin is measured in 'revolutions per min' or RPM.

Does high spin shrink clothes?

Clothes are much more likely to shrink when exposed to hot water or high dryer settings. Washing clothes in cold water goes a long way toward preserving the “off-the-rack” size. Avoiding heavy duty cycles, fast spins and high-heat drying can also prevent shrinkage.

Should towels be washed on high spin?

Washing Machine Cycle - Your luxury towels can be washed on the regular or normal cycle in your washing machine. These cycles work best for cleaning towels, as the faster spin and longer washing time versus the gentler cycles helps to better clean dirt and bacteria from the fabric fibers of the towels.

What spin should I wash jeans on?

Washing: Jeans and jeans go hand in hand

The machine should not be too full to avoid severe wrinkles - a moderate spin speed of 800 or 1000 revolutions is also helpful for this. Washing several pieces of jeans together prevents them from staining other textiles.

Is a second rinse necessary?

A second rinse bath produces a much cleaner final product by rinsing off the soil that is redeposited during the first rinse. Often times, the second rinse tank includes a heated facility water inlet which constantly overflows the second rinse tank with small amounts of water to ensure water cleanliness.

What cycle for dirty clothes?

Heavy Duty

The Heavy Duty washing machine cycle uses hot water and high spin speed for thick, heavily-soiled fabrics, like towels and jeans. Loads washed in this cycle may take longer because these items tend to absorb more water than other types of fabrics.

What setting is best for washing dirty clothes?

For lightly soiled items, a low or light setting works well without overworking the fabric. Medium soil levels suit most everyday laundry needs. Meanwhile, heavily soiled clothes benefit from a high setting for deep cleaning.

What cycle do you get stains out?

The heavy-duty or stain removal cycle works best for tough stains. If your washer has a pre-wash or steam function, use it for added cleaning power. Hot water settings are ideal for greasy stains, while cold water helps with protein-based stains. For delicate fabrics, stick to a gentle cycle to avoid damage.

What is the best wash cycle for clothes?

Warm washes (40°C) are best for items that have come into contact with body fluids, such as underwear. Wash such garments on warm temperatures with Ariel. Cold washes (15-30°C) should be used for lightly- to moderately-soiled daily items.

What is the safest setting to wash clothes?

Step 5: Choose the Proper Setting

For most laundry loads, the normal wash cycle is best. But if you haven't experimented with cold-water washing, give it a shot. Many detergents have been reformulated to work better at lower temperatures, so we think you'll be happy with the results.

What does rinse and spin do?

The rinse and spin cycle in washing machines is essential for effective cleaning. During this cycle, water rinses clothes to eliminate detergent residue, while the spin function removes excess water, making drying faster.

Is high spin bad for clothes?

While a high spin speed is idea for more robust fabrics, such as denim, cotton, and wool, using a high speed on delicate fabrics, such as silk, can lead to damage. Equally, using a high spin speed can increase how creased your garments are after a wash.

What spin should I wash clothes on?

However, most washing machines are set to the standard 1200 rpm/1400 rpm, a speed which suits most washing loads. So you don't have to worry about the spin cycle speed for the majority of the time. However, you may want to change the speeds when washing delicate items or silk fabrics.

Is a 1400 or 1600 spin better?

Through the research that we've done - we've found the difference between a 1200rpm and a 1600rpm machine is that the 1600rpm extracts about double the amount of water. Between 1600rpm and 1400rpm, there's about a 50% increase in the amount of water released.

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