How to Use an Automatic Clothes Washer | The Five-Step Sequence

Using an automatic clothes washer is a five-step process: check garment labels, sort laundry, choose the cycle and temperature, add detergent, and load the drum without overfilling before pressing Start.

Standing in front of a beeping machine with a pile of laundry and no clue which button to press is a rite of passage nobody enjoys. The good news: every automatic washer — front-load, top-load, smart or basic — follows the same core workflow, and the controls are actually simpler than they look. You just need the right order and a few specifics that most manuals bury. This guide covers the exact steps, the common mistakes that ruin clothes and machines, and what to do when your washer has options you’ve never touched.

Step One: Prep Your Clothes

Check the care tag inside every garment before it goes anywhere near the drum. That small sewn-in label tells you the maximum temperature and the recommended cycle type — and ignoring it is how wool sweaters shrink and silk blouses get wrecked. Empty all pockets, zip zippers, and fasten hooks so nothing snags other clothes during the tumble.

Step Two: Sort Like a Pro

Darks and lights get washed separately, every time. A red sock in a white load is not a gamble worth taking. Pure whites and denim both need their own loads for thorough cleaning — whites come out brighter, jeans come out cleaner. Delicates and heavy fabrics also wash better apart: a single load mixing lace and canvas towels means neither gets the treatment it needs.

Step Three: Load the Drum Correctly

Overloading is the number one cause of poor wash results and premature machine wear. Clothes need space to tumble and let water and detergent reach every fiber. Here is the visual guide for load size based on drum fill:

A hand’s width of open space between the clothes and the top of the drum is the universal safety rule. If you can push the load down and the drum looks packed, pull some items out.

Step Four: Add Detergent to the Right Spot

Where detergent goes depends on your machine’s dispenser layout. Most front-loaders and many modern top-loaders have a pull-out drawer with compartments marked for pre-wash, main wash, and fabric softener. Fill the main-wash compartment with powder or liquid — never overfill past the MAX line or the machine will rinse it straight into the drain.

If your washer has SmartDispense, like some LG models, you only fill the tank when it runs low and the machine handles the rest. For machines without a dispenser drawer, pour detergent directly into the drum before loading clothes. Pods go into the drum first, never into a dispenser drawer unless there is a dedicated pods compartment.

Step Five: Choose the Cycle and Start

Press the Power button if the display is dark — some machines power down to save energy and need waking up. Turn the cycle selector knob (or tap the screen on smart models) to pick the wash program. The most common preset cycles cover the basics:

Set the water temperature using the Temperature button. 40°C (about 104°F) works for most mixed loads. Cold water saves energy and is safer for darks and delicates. Hot water handles whites and heavily soiled items. Close the door firmly — the machine will not start if the door latch is loose — and press Start.

What the Machine Does Next

Once Start is pressed, the washer weighs the load and adds the appropriate amount of water automatically. On modern machines you do not set the water level; the sensors handle it. The wash cycle runs, water drains, fresh water enters for the rinse, and the final spin removes enough moisture that clothes come out damp rather than dripping. A chime sounds when it is done.

If you are shopping for a new machine, the current models make this even easier — our roundup of the best automatic clothes washers breaks down which features actually matter and which are just marketing hype.

Seven Mistakes That Shorten a Washer’s Life

Even experienced users slip up on these. Avoiding them keeps both clothes and machine running longer.

• Overloading. The most common error. Clothes cannot tumble, detergent cannot circulate, and the drum bearings take extra strain.
• Ignoring care labels. Hot water on a “cold only” shirt is permanent damage in one cycle.
• Using too much detergent. Excess suds trap dirt and leave sticky residue inside the drum and on clothes.
• Leaving wet clothes in the machine. Mold and mildew start forming within hours. Transfer laundry to the dryer or a rack as soon as the cycle finishes.
• Using non-HE detergent in a high-efficiency washer. HE washers need low-sudsing detergent; regular detergent produces too many bubbles that interfere with the wash sensors.
• Putting pods in the dispenser drawer. Pods must go in the drum unless your machine explicitly has a pods compartment. A pod in the drawer will not dissolve properly.
• Closing the door after a wash. A front-loader needs its door left ajar between washes so the rubber gasket and drum dry out completely. A closed damp door is a recipe for musty smells.

Monthly Maintenance and Safety Checks

Run a cleaning cycle once a month using a washing machine cleaner or a cup of white vinegar on the hottest program. This removes detergent buildup and kills bacteria that cause odors. Check the drain hose and inlet pipes for leaks or kinks every few months. Keep the machine on a firm, level surface — adjust the feet with a wrench if it wobbles during the spin cycle.

Before every load, confirm the water supply is turned on and the drain hose is properly connected. On top-loaders, close the lid and the inner safety cover before the spin starts. On Samsung top-loaders specifically, set the water selector to “Wash” and the timer between 20 and 45 minutes, then pull the timer knob to begin.

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