Washing machines use water and detergent to clean clothes. The water goes through the clothes, and the detergent cleans the clothing. The washing machine also uses heat to kill germs on the clothing.
Washing machines use different cycles to clean different types of clothes. For example, a washing machine with a delicate cycle will use less water and detergent, and it will clean clothes more gently.
There are essentially three types of washing machines: top-loading, front-loading, and clothesline. Top-loading machines use a series of hinged panels on the top of the machine to load clothes into the drum. The drum spins around and agitates the water, which washes the clothes. Front-loading machines have a door that opens up to allow you to place your clothes in and then close behind them to spin the drum. Clothesline machines use a line attached between two poles near the top of the machine that you hang your clothes on. The machine pulls the wet clothes through the line and out of the machine.
Top-loading washing machines are the most common and generally the least expensive to buy. Front-loading machines are more popular than ever because they are easier to use, but they can be more expensive. Clothesline machines are the least popular type of machine, but they are also the cheapest.