Washing machine: People are just realising what third compartment is used for

There are many household gadgets that we use on a regular basis, but quite shockingly, turns out that we might still not know how to properly use them to their full capacity.

As per a surprising report by Wales Online, many people in the UK don’t know what the actual purpose of each segment of a laundry machine’s wash compartment is. In particular, only 38% of people know why the drawer for washing detergent or liquid has 3 segments and what the purpose of the third compartment is.

The data was reported by a survey by AEG, where 2000 UK respondents participated.

Each compartment of washing machine has a purpose

Harriette Jarman, AEG’s laundry product manager is quoted by the report as saying,

This is one of the fundamental parts of a washing machine, yet clearly most Brits aren’t sure what actually goes in each drawer.

Each compartment does slightly different things and so it’s important that the correct products are placed in the correct compartment- otherwise your wash could be affected.

He further underlines the need to identify how the compartments of your washing machine have been labelled, by reading the instruction manual. Most washing machines would label these compartments as 1, 2 and 3. In some cases, the third compartment could have a star symbol.

Real use for the 3rd compartment of a washing machine

The first compartment is where you should be putting the pre-wash detergent. The second compartment is for the washing liquid or powder. The third compartment, which is identified either by the number 3 or a star is for fabric softener.

The study also underlines the need for people to read fabric label and then adjust their washing cycle to ensure that their clothes get properly cleaned while maintaining their shape and quality for a long time.

Sources used:

Wales Online: ‘Just a third know why washing machine drawers have three sections’

AEG: ‘THE UK'S WASHING HABITS REVEALED’