The washing programs "delicates" and "easy-care" sound very similar to many.
What are the differences and what do you have to look out for?
The delicates program on the washing machine is rarely used by most people.
The program is intended for textiles that require special care, recognizable by the corresponding washing symbol - a tub and two lines below it.
Only a few textiles bear this label.
However, you should never confuse delicates with "easy-care" because there are a few differences.
Difference between delicates and easy-care: Delicates must be washed more gently
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The delicates program washes delicate clothing particularly gently.
But what is the difference to "easy care"?
© Michael Bihlmayer/Imago
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Textiles marked as delicates consist of particularly delicate fabrics such as silk or fine lace.
So if you want to wash silk blouses or delicate lingerie, the delicates program is the right choice.
The program is also suitable for other delicate fabrics such as curtains.
Delicate laundry is cleaned even more gently in the washing machine than in the easy-care program.
These are the differences:
Lower spin speed:
The spin speed is reduced
for delicates
reduced as much as possible to protect the textiles: only 600 revolutions per minute instead of 800 to 1,200 in the easy-care program.
Higher water level:
The delicates program uses more water than a synthetic cycle.
As a result, the items of laundry literally float in the washing drum and do not rub against each other as much.
Lower temperature:
The maximum washing temperature for delicates is only 40 degrees.
Only fill the washing machine quarters:
While the washing drum should only be filled about half with easy-care laundry, according to the manufacturer, it will only be filled up to a quarter with delicates.
These washing tips from grandma are a thing of the past
These washing tips from grandma are a thing of the past
Only use the delicates program occasionally
The delicates program is therefore not suitable for everyday laundry – you can only fill the washing machine to a fraction and high temperatures are also not possible.
Incidentally, bras should not be put in the washing machine at all – or only under certain conditions.
List of rubrics: © Michael Bihlmayer/Imago