Maytag washers are notable for their effective advanced washing technologies and settings, and one such provision is PowerWash, which comes in handy when washing heavily soiled laundry. But since this cycle is highly intensive and considering the nature of the clothes it’s suited for, how long is the powerful cleaning PowerWash cycle on Maytag washer?
A PowerWash Cycle in a high efficiency washer takes more time than a normal cycle in a top load washer. While a Normal Cycle takes about 60 minutes, a PowerWash Cycle on a Maytag washer takes about 120 minutes (2 hours) due to an extended wash and rinse time for cleaning laundry.
Understandably, heavily-soiled laundry items need more time to soak, wash, and rinse. So, you expect a PowerWash Cycle to take much longer than a normal laundry cleaning cycle. But again, it depends on the nature of the clothes you are washing, as some may be more heavily soiled than others.
This guide will help you learn more about the PowerWash Cycle, a cleaning feature, including how it works, its pros and cons, why it’s effective, and the option to go for in case your Maytag washer lacks PowerWash.
Let’s dive in!
What Does PowerWash Mean On a Washing Machine?
PowerWash is a cleaning feature on selected Maytag washing machines that combines powerful wash action, high-speed spinning and agitation, and an extended time to remove hard stains and dirt from garments and fabrics in one wash. That includes heavily greased workwear and stained beddings.
How Does the PowerWash Cycle Work?
PowerWash employs two major working mechanisms to clean dirty laundry thoroughly, and they are cleaning and delivery.
a. 360-Degree Agitator Action
Here, the Maytag washing machine uses a power agitator feature to break down stains and dirt from fabric in a 360-degree fashion. Simply put, the robust agitator moves in all directions during wash cycles to dislodge the heavy stain and grease from your clothes.
b. Reverse Impeller Wash Action
Unlike the first case, where the washing machine uses a power agitator, it uses a power impeller that moves reversely for cleaning. The impeller spins the clothes backward as hot water saturates them, and the detergent sieves through to loosen the dirt.
Such actions ensure that stubborn stains fall off your clothes, and due to the dissolution and active power of the detergent, the washer thoroughly cleans your laundry.
How Long is the PowerWash Cycle on Maytag Washer?
Now that you know what the PowerWash Cycle is and how it works, let’s discuss the expected time. Ideally, you expect a PowerWash cycle to take much longer than a Normal cycle and given that a regular cycle averages 60 minutes, a PowerWash cycle averages at least twice that.
So, expect a PowerWash cycle to run for about 120 minutes (2 hours). The cycle may, however, be slightly longer or shorter depending on these factors: wash basket, deep water wash option, power washing.
How soiled the clothes are – If the clothes are heavily soiled, expect them to take much longer to clean up, which means a more extended PowerWash Cycle.
Cycle pairing – PowerWash is compatible with other cycles. Consequently, the overall time depends on the cycle you pair it with. That’s if you decide to.
Detergent action – If you use the correct detergent, you can expect your washer to wash faster, even with PowerWash. If the detergent is less powerful, the washer will take longer to complete a PowerWash cycle.
Load size – Though PowerWash is best for large load sizes, the more you overload the washer, the less it’ll spin, which means the more time it’ll take to wash. Thus, you can expect a much longer PowerWash when you overload the washer.
What is the PowerWash Cycle Good for?
The PowerWash Cycle is not suited for all types of clothes and fabrics. This specific cycle with power wash feature is best for heavily soiled garments and textiles, especially those stained with stubborn dirt, blood, mud, paint, makeup, wine, or oil.
Such options include the following:
Stained kids’ clothes
Stained industrial workwear
Heavily soiled beddings
Heavily soiled towels
Dirty sportswear
PowerWash is not just best for heavily soiled fabric. The fabrics should also be sturdy as the cycle involves robust actions, such as power washing, which may damage delicate fabrics. For example, this cycle with power wash feature is not best for silk, lace, nylon, and other soft materials.
Likewise, don’t use PowerWash on wrinkle-susceptible clothes, as they will likely form creases after the washer’s powerful action.
It’s also worth noting that PowerWash is best for large loads. If you intend to wash smaller loads, the PowerWash cycle may not be ideal.
Pros and Cons of the PowerWash Cycle on Maytag Washer
Pros of PowerWash Cycle
The PowerWash Cycle has its advantages which makes it a worthy consideration. They include the following:
Thorough wash – Through powerful wash action and hot water, the PowerWash Cycle intensely removes stubborn stains and dirt from clothes to guarantee a comprehensive wash.
Odor-free wash – Through the detergent action and extended rinsing time, the PowerWash Cycle absorbs odor from clothes to ensure they smell well.
Suited to large loads – The PowerWash Cycle allows you to wash large loads of deeply soiled clothes. In that case, you can do more laundry quicker – in one wash.
Versatility – Though you shouldn’t use the PowerWash Cycle on delicate fabrics, you can use it on various sturdy materials. That includes those that are heavily stained and thickened by dirt.
Compatibility with other cycles – The PowerWash Cycle allows you to pair it with other Maytag washer cycles you prefer for a better and more customized wash.
Time-saving – In some ways, the Wash Cycle saves time. Let’s say you were to wash heavily soiled work wear or beddings by hand; it’ll undoubtedly take you longer since you must soak the clothes and wash them severally. A PowerWash cycle, however, overrides all that, allowing you to wash your laundry in one wash.
Cons of PowerWash Cycle
As good as PowerWash is, a few concerns come with it. Here are the most notable ones:
Heavy on electricity – Since PowerWash depends on heated water, its usage will hike your power consumption, which means you’ll pay much more for the electricity bill.
Not ideal for delicates – PowerWash is best for the toughest and sturdiest fabric. If you use it on delicate fabrics like silk and nylon, you could damage the fabric.
Takes longer – Though the PowerWash Cycle saves time compared to manual washing, it’s not the quickest. You’ll spend twice the time you spend on a regular cycle and thrice or four times the time you spend on a quick wash.
Why is the PowerWash More Effective?
For several reasons, the PowerWash Cycle is more effective than other Maytag washer cycles when washing heavily soiled items. They include the following:
a) Employs robust action
PowerWash is a combination of high-speed spinning and agitation and the use of pressurized water, which means a more powerful action. The robust power action helps to loosen dirt and stains on clothes and ensure a thorough wash.
Overall, the robust power wash feature eliminates the need to pretreat the clothes as it’s more effective in unsettling stubborn dirt and stains.
b) Uses hot water
PowerWash employs heated water to wash the clothes. The advantage of the power wash cycle is that heated water helps to dissolve detergent quickly and easily loosens hardened dirt and stains. In the long run, washing your heavily soiled laundry with power is easy.
c) It involves an extended time
The PowerWash Cycle has a more extended wash time and rinse time. The extra wash time, for example, exposes the soiled items to hot water longer to ensure better results. On the other hand, the additional power wash cycle rinse time thoroughly dissolves the detergent, clears out stains and marks, and absorbs bad smells.
d) Utilizes more water
PowerWash uses more water than most cycles to submerge the clothes fully. The process creates a ‘deep fill’ experience, effectively loosening stubborn dirt and stains with power, guaranteeing a thorough wash.
What if Your Maytag Washer Has No PowerWash Cycle?
As I mentioned, PowerWash is only available on select Maytag washers. So, it may not be available on yours, and if that’s the case, use the Extra Power setting, which will guarantee almost similar wash results.
People Also Ask
1. What Is the Power Wash Cycle On a Maytag Washer?
The Power Wash Cycle is a special cycle setting or feature on select Maytag washing machines that employ powerful wash action and hot water to clean heavily soiled items in one wash.
2. Is Maytag PowerWash a Quick Wash?
The Maytag PowerWash is not a quick wash. The two cycles are very different. On the one hand, PowerWash is best for washing larger loads of heavily soiled items, and it takes about 2 hours, which is more time than any other. On the other hand, a Quick Wash is best for washing smaller loads of lightly soiled items, and it takes 15-40 minutes, which is shorter than most cycles.///
3. How Long Is the Wash Cycle On a Maytag Washer?
A typical wash cycle on a Maytag washer takes about 60 minutes. It could be slightly less or slightly more, depending on how soiled the items are, the cycle you pair it with, the detergent’s effectiveness, and the wash water temperature. Expect the power wash cycle process to be faster when the clothes are not heavily soiled, the detergent is more effective, and when using hot water.
4. What Is the Quickest Wash Setting On a Maytag Washer?
The quickest wash setting on a Maytag washer is a Quick Wash, which takes 15-40 minutes, depending on how soiled the clothes are and the detergent power. This cycle is ideally best for smaller loads, more delicate fabrics, and power wash.
Note, however, that we have the Rinse & Spin cycle with power wash, which takes much less time – 15-20 minutes. The cycle, however, is not a complete wash cycle. It’s only a rinse and spin cycle, so you can’t expect it to power wash clean your clothes thoroughly.
In conclusion, how long is the PowerWash cycle on Maytag washer?
From the above discussion, a PowerWash cycle generally takes 2 hours to complete. The cycle time, however, may vary from time to time depending on how soiled the clothes are, cycle pairing, detergent action, load size, and power wash.
Overall, the PowerWash Cycle is ideal for washing large loads of heavily soiled items, especially sturdy fabrics. You can count on it to thoroughly clean your clothes, get rid of foul odor, and save you time and energy (if compared to washing by hand).