Washing machine settings vary from model to model, and newer models come with a range of options, including heavy-duty and sanitizing cycles, as well as quick washes and delicate cycles. Each of these built-in washer settings features combinations of water temperatures and spin speeds designed to address our often varied laundering needs, but all those options can be confusing and overwhelming. 

One washer setting, the rinse and spin cycle, is a bit of a sleeper. It’s not an old faithful, like the normal or delicate cycles, and compared to settings on newer machines, like the sanitizing cycle, it is not immediately obvious what it’s for. The rinse and spin cycle is one that you won’t need to use often, but when you do, it can be a beneficial deep-cleaning trick to know about.

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What Is the Rinse and Spin Cycle?

The rinse and spin cycle does exactly what its name says—and nothing else. 

This setting rinses the load with cold water, flushing soils and buildup out of the fabrics. Then, after draining the drum, it spins it to extrude water. The rinse and spin cycle does not use detergent; instead, it relies on clean water to rinse the items, which are then spun at a high speed to remove water and any remaining soil. 

Some washers allow the user to control the spin speed, but the rinse and spin setting is typically a fast-spin cycle; care should be taken with garments that require a slow-spin cycle, also known as the delicate cycle or hand wash cycle, including delicates, wools, and embellished items that can be damaged by overhandling.

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When to Use the Rinse and Spin Cycle

The rinse and spin cycle has limited uses, but when you need it, it is an incredibly helpful washer setting. The most common reason to use the rinse and spin cycle is to remove excess laundry detergent or other heavy product buildup.

The rinse and spin cycle can also be helpful for rinsing clothing that has been washed by hand, particularly if too much detergent has been used, leaving the items full of suds. It can also be used after strip washing. Other uses for this cycle include items that need light cleaning or freshening, or for rinsing garments after using a stain-removing agent that shouldn’t dwell overly long on the fabric, such as lemon juice.

Finally, the rinse and spin cycle can be used as a corrective when a load, usually containing something heavy or bulky like towels or bedding, doesn’t drain properly, leaving it soaking and sodden. Under these circumstances, use the rinse and spin cycle only when there is no drain and spin cycle option.

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Don’t Confuse the Rinse and Spin Cycle with Other Cycles

The extra rinse cycle and the drain and spin cycle sound similar to the rinse and spin cycle, so it is easy to confuse them. However, the rinse and spin cycle differs from the extra rinse cycle on a washing machine, and the two settings are used under different circumstances. Some washers also offer a drain and spin cycle, which differs from the rinse and spin cycle.

The rinse and spin cycle is a washer cycle that does not use detergent or other laundry products. Instead, it relies only on water and agitation to rinse items and extrude water from them. It is not a substitute for a regular laundry cycle.

The extra rinse cycle is an additional rinse cycle that takes place after the regular wash and rinse cycles are complete. This cycle flushes out residue from detergent and other laundry products, as well as soils and allergens left behind after the first rinse cycle.

The drain and spin cycle doesn’t use water at all. It is a short, fast-spin cycle designed to quickly drain and dry items. It is most often used after hand-laundering or to drain a washer or a sodden load after the main cycle has been interrupted or cancelled.