A washing machine setting designated for heavily soiled laundry refers to garments with significant and stubborn stains or ingrained dirt. Examples include work clothes saturated with mud, grease-stained kitchen aprons, or athletic wear caked in sweat and grime. These items require more aggressive washing cycles with higher water temperatures, longer wash times, and more robust agitation than lightly soiled items.
Selecting the appropriate setting is crucial for effective cleaning. Utilizing the “heavy soil” option ensures that heavily soiled items receive the necessary level of cleaning power to remove embedded dirt and stains. Conversely, using a less intensive setting on heavily soiled laundry can result in unsatisfactory cleaning, potentially requiring rewashing. The evolution of washing machines from basic agitators to sophisticated programmable appliances demonstrates the continuous improvement in cleaning technology to address varying laundry needs, including those with significant soiling.