Icons on the washing machine: what they mean, explanation

Basic icons/images

Most companies use standard labeling. It can be divided into categories: cleaning progress, type of washing, fabric material, special capabilities.

Designations of the first group:

Basin with a wavy stripe - soaking.
A container with soap bubbles is the main cycle.
Shower or drops - rinse.
A spiral or snail symbolizes the wringer of things. If this sign is crossed out, the operation can be canceled.
The container from which the arrow points down indicates the possibility of forced draining.
Sun - this sign indicates the possibility of drying the fabric.

The second group includes the following symbols:

basin with a vertical line - preliminary cleaning;
hand immersed in a container of water - hand wash;
feather or butterfly, silk ribbon - mode for cleaning delicate fabrics;
a watch with a shaded dial is an express cycle, and the shaded area will tell the time (half – 30 minutes, quarter – 15 minutes);
tree or plant – launch with reduced resource consumption;
moon and stars - the ability to launch in the dark;
T-shirt with a dark stain - cleansing heavy dirt and stubborn stains.

Depending on the type of fabric and purpose of clothing, the following group is distinguished:

Mountains - for cleaning heavy outerwear. For example, washing a winter down jacket.
T-shirt with number - cleaning sportswear.
Sliders is a program designed to clean children's things.
A dress with a cotton boll or a flower is a mode for cleansing natural fabrics.
Three balls of yarn - cleaning wool products.
Hanger is a designation for washing synthetic fabrics.

The fourth group includes the following signs:

cross - disinfection of things, the cycle takes place at the highest possible temperature;
watering can and “+” - things will go through more thorough rinsing (resource consumption will increase);
iron - light ironing, as the drum will not rotate quickly;
key – blocking the panel from pressing.

Type of wash

It is also divided into several types with their own designations:

"Low temperature". At temperatures up to 30°C, the pattern looks like a basin with one dot inside or a snowflake.
"Heat". At temperatures up to 65°C, the picture is a basin with three points inside.
“No spin.” Crossed out spiral.
"Economy mode" Denoted by the symbol E or the word Eco.

Some models are equipped with a “Drying” function. The icon looks like the outline of the Sun with its rays.

Icons on the Ariston washing machine

Decoding the icons of washing machines of different brands

Many manufacturers strive to decorate the model with original symbols. This creates certain inconveniences for ordinary users. Fortunately, many brands have now begun to reduce the use of symbols to a minimum.

Indesit

Indesit washing machines are among the most convenient and easy to use. This is largely achieved thanks to the detailed descriptions that accompany the symbols on the control panel. Each mode has a number and name.

Basic designations on equipment from Indesit:

curtain – corresponds to the washing mode for curtains and tulle;
clock - indicates an accelerated cycle that can be completed in 15 minutes;
sneakers - indicate a program for cleaning sports shoes;
flower - indicates a cycle for delicate fabrics;
ball of thread - indicates a program for cleaning woolen products;
dumbbells and a T-shirt - correspond to the washing mode for sportswear;
trousers - indicate cleaning of denim products;
iron – corresponds to a mode that makes it easier to iron things after washing;
tree - depicts a program designed to save resources;
flask - indicates the cleansing of synthetic fabrics;
cotton box - indicates a cycle for cleansing natural fabrics;
drop and waves - depict the possibility of draining water without spinning.

Bosch

The German company is famous not only for its quality, but also for its ease of use. Thus, the control panel has not only symbolic symbols, but also clear inscriptions. Thanks to the Russified menu, there will be no problems with setting up the cycle.

Most of the icons used are of a standard type and have a familiar designation. However, some may cause difficulties:

T-shirt with a stain – cycle for heavily soiled laundry;
nightgown and bow tie - indicates delicate washing;
an empty basin and a strip located vertically - allows you to start a preliminary cycle;
a bowl of water and an arrow pointing upward - increased volume of water;
T-shirt and underwear – washing natural fabrics;
T-shirt hanging on a hanger - indicates a cycle for synthetic fabrics.

Samsung

Washing machines from the Korean brand often have no markings at all. Instead, there are inscriptions on the panel indicating the supported washing modes. Only some of the additional functions are marked with symbols:

face and heart – function of fixing the selected settings;
dial - indicates the ability to delay the start of the cycle for the desired time;
basin with a wave - soaking clothes;
T-shirt with bubbles - indicates the cycle with Eco Bubble;
speaker crossed out – ability to disable sound notifications;
lock with a smiley – indicates the ability to lock the buttons for the duration of the cycle.

Electrolux

Representatives of the company mark most products not only with icons, but also with inscriptions. Therefore, understanding the controls will not be difficult even for an inexperienced user. However, there are models that have only icons on the panel. The decoding of many symbols is identical to the designations of other companies. However, several icons differ from the standard set:

bedspread - means cleaning blankets and rugs made of synthetics, down or quilted type;
sneaker - indicates a cycle for cleaning sports-type clothing;
swimsuit – corresponds to the underwear cleaning program;
flower – denotes cleaning of delicate fabrics (for example, viscose or acrylic);
triangle – corresponds to cleaning synthetic products;
shirt – indicates a cycle for cleansing men’s shirts with slight dirt;
butterfly – corresponds to washing silk products.

LG

The Korean company has made a big step towards ease of management in recent years. Unlike its competitors, LG is trying to get rid of a lot of symbols. Instead of a bunch of signs on the company’s modern models, you can see expanded inscriptions. This makes operation incredibly simple and convenient.

After all, the menus and symbols are completely Russified. Basically, there are only two symbols on the panel, indicating on/off. and start/pause. However, they have a standard appearance: a circle with a vertical line and a triangle with two lines.

Whirlpool

In addition to standard values, the manufacturer provided the model with the following designations:

basin and R located inside the container - indicates an accelerated cycle;
shower – indicates the rinse function;
double shower – corresponds to an additional rinse;
basin and ½ sign placed inside the container - indicates washing with a reduced amount of water during rinsing;
E – denotes a cycle with reduced energy consumption;
feather - indicates the ability to clean delicate fabrics;
standard spiral – corresponds to spin;
a loosely twisted spiral with large gaps allows for a gentle spin.

Beko

The brand tries to use a minimum of signs to mark functions and modes. Basically, the options are indicated only by inscriptions in Russian. And if the company uses designations, it is for additional functions. Among them:

cat - indicates cleaning to remove pet hair (cycle includes soaking and rinsing);
black T-shirt – indicates a cycle for dark fabrics;
baby with pacifier – corresponds to the program for cleaning children's clothes;
MINI – indicates the ability to start a quick cycle.

Candy

The brand actively uses standard icons, but at the same time introduces its own designations. Among the symbols unique to Candy washing machines:

P, located inside the basin, indicates the start of the pre-wash;
two drops and “+” - indicate the Aquaplus function, which rinses the laundry at least 5 times;
T0C located inside the container correspond to the function of changing the water temperature;
a clock with an arrow pointing to the right indicates a delayed start of the cycle;
a piece of cotton wool - indicates a mode for washing natural fabrics;
cotton wool with a dark spot - corresponds to intensive cleaning of fabrics (the cycle starts at 90 degrees);
14, located inside the container, means cleaning from contaminants in a short time (the cycle lasts 14 minutes);
Mix&wash – corresponds to the cycle for clothes made from mixed fabrics;
three skeins of thread - indicate the cleaning of woolen products;
snowflake - indicates starting a wash in cold water.

Miele

The German brand supplies its models with only a small number of signs, and they are similar to the generally accepted ones. And most of the control panel is occupied with detailed descriptions of functions and modes. Therefore, choosing a program and setting it up is quite simple.

Among the signs encountered:

a hand immersed in a container of water corresponds to a program for cleaning woolen products;
20 – provides washing in accelerated mode;
“+” – corresponds to automatic selection of a suitable program;
gear – indicates additional functions.

Ardo

The manufacturer prefers to equip the model with generally accepted symbols. Only a few designations go beyond the standard. These include:

Olympic rings - indicate cleaning of sportswear;
capacity and two waves - correspond to intensive cleaning of stains;
watering can with drops – provides rinsing after the main cycle;
two watering cans with drops - indicate double rinsing (more resources will be spent on the cycle);
container and two lines standing vertically correspond to the standard cleaning mode;
R, capacity and two vertical lines - indicate a cycle that has been shortened in time;
two T-shirts – provide daily cleaning;
crossed out snail - corresponds to the start of a wash, during which spinning will not occur.

AEG

As a rule, the brand provides washing machines with symbols that do not go beyond the usual. However, the company still introduced several original symbols. These include:

0C – indicates the selection of temperature conditions;
a clock with an arrow pointing to the right - corresponds to a delay in starting the cycle;
the dial and two jackdaws located horizontally indicate a cycle that takes a short period of time;
a bowl of water and a “+” on top - indicates the possibility of another rinse;
the lock from which arrows go to adjacent keys corresponds to locking the control panel when they are pressed simultaneously.

Zanussi

To mark the main washing modes and additional functions, the brand uses generally accepted signs and symbols. For example, a flask indicates the cleaning of synthetic fabrics, and a cotton box indicates the washing of natural ones. However, on some washing machines you can find rarer symbols. These include:

snowflake in the basin - corresponds to washing in cold water;
basin and horizontal line - indicate a stop while storing water in the drum;
dots inside the container and a wavy line on top indicate that the laundry is being rinsed;
a circle with a triangle - corresponds to cleaning cotton laundry;
a container with a horizontal wave and an arrow pointing downwards - ensures pumping of water from the drum.

How to use the Spin mode

There are no difficulties in using the function. Even an “inexperienced” user can handle this. The procedure involves the following sequence of actions:

We put clothes in the SMA drum. The volume of things will depend on the maximum allowable load of a particular washing machine model. Overloading of linen, as well as its shortage, should be avoided. Because this may cause an error in the software.
Close the hatch door.
Turn the toggle switch to the “Spin” icon.
Using the handle or pressing the button with the corresponding inscription, we set the drum rotation speed (revolutions per minute).
Let us remind you! The selection may be automatically limited depending on which program was initially selected.
We start the program by pressing the “Start/Pause” button.

Most SMAs (Bosch, Samsung, Candy and others) have the ability to change the drum rotation speed not only before starting the program, but also in the middle of the cycle without stopping it.

Explanation of the icons on the detergent container

Any machine is equipped with a compartment for pouring detergent. They are usually separated internally by partitions. Each compartment is used for a specific product. If you pour the powder into the wrong compartment, the washing efficiency will decrease significantly.

It’s easy to determine the desired compartment; manufacturers mark them with special symbols:

Flower or star – compartment for softeners and conditioners.
A or number 1 (I) – used for powder only. The detergent made from this edema is intended for pre-washing.
B or number 2 (I) – powder for the main cycle is poured into the compartment. This compartment also contains a container for bleach, stain remover or preservative. Some devices do not have an additional compartment. Therefore, bleach and other products are poured directly into the main part of the compartment, onto the already poured powder.