How to Use a Japanese Washing Machine

How to use a Japanese washing machine

Basic washing machine buttons – an explanation of the modes on a Japanese domestic washing machine
1. 電源 (でんげん) ・入/切: Power on/off button

2. スタート・一時停止（いちじていし）: Start / Pause (start or pause the wash)

3. コース: Wash courses (explained in detail in the image below)

4. 行程（こうてい): Programme / wash steps

つけおき: soak clothes before washing

洗い: wash

すすぎ: rinse with water

脱水（だっすい）: spin

5. 水位（すいい）: Water level (adjust according to the amount of laundry)

6. 洗剤の目安（せんざいのめやす）: Standard amount of detergent (corresponding to the water level)

7. 予約（よやく）: This is the timer mode (press this button to set how long after pressing the machine should start)

Example: If you press the timer button and the display shows 2, the machine will start washing automatically in 2 hours.

* The display (when not in timer mode) shows the remaining minutes while washing (残り～分: ~ minutes left)

8. 風乾燥（ふうかんそう）: This is the air-dry mode. It partially dries the clothes before you hang them out, shortening the drying time. You can also set a timer for this mode.

9. ふたロック: lid lock (when this light is on, you cannot open the lid of the machine)

10. 標準（ひょうじゅん）: Standard mode, the normal wash course for all kinds of everyday clothes such as pyjamas and work clothes. On some machines this course is called 「おまかせ」 (default mode)

11. 念入り（ねんいり）: This is the thorough wash mode, which soaks and washes; the total time is usually 3 times that of a normal wash. For clothes left for a long time or with many stains (this mode uses a lot of electricity & water)

12. お急ぎ（おいそぎ）: Quick wash mode, called 「スピード」 on some machines, for everyday clothes that are not very dirty (this mode saves electricity and water)

13. 毛布（もうふ）: This is the blanket wash mode

14. 風乾燥 （ふうかんそう）: This is the air-dry mode.

15. ソフト: This is the gentle wash mode, for thin, delicate clothes, high-quality fabrics or woollens.

On some machines this course is called 手洗いコース (てあらいコース: hand wash). However, clothes with the dry mark 1 label cannot use this gentle mode.

16. ドライ: This is also a gentle wash mode for thin, delicate clothes, high-quality fabrics or woollens, but gentler than the ソフト mode above, and it applies to clothes with the dry mark 1 or dry mark 2 label. On some machines this course is called 「 おうちクリーニング」.

17. 槽洗浄（そうせんじょう): Automatic drum cleaning mode to clean the drum periodically; you should use it regularly to keep the machine clean.

Detergents & fabric softeners 1. Laundry detergent: in Japanese it is called 洗濯用洗剤 (せんたくようせんざい: sentaku you senzai).

See also:
Japanese Vocabulary and Phrases for Using a Washing Machine
Japanese Vocabulary: Household Items