---
title: "The Extra Rinse Button on Your Washing Machine: What It's For and When to Use It"
description: "The extra rinse function in a washing machine washes detergent residue out of the fabric. A Consumer Reports expert recommends using it with a heavily loaded drum and sensitive skin, but not leaving it switched on all the time."
date: 2026-09-05T07:56:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/extra-rinse-button-on-washing-machine
tags: [washing-machine, extra-rinse, laundry-tips, household-appliances, detergent]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# The Extra Rinse Button on Your Washing Machine: What It's For and When to Use It

![A woman's hands pressing a button on a washing machine control panel to select the extra rinse option](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/05/knopka-dopolnitelnogo-poloskaniya-v-stiralnoy-mashine/knopka-dopolnitelnogo-poloskaniya-v-stiralnoy-mashine-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The extra rinse adds one more rinsing stage and washes out more detergent residue from the fabric
- You should enable the function with a heavily loaded drum, when washing towels and bed linen, and if you have sensitive skin
- Consumer Reports expert Rich Handel warns: excess powder is the main cause of soapy residue, and the dosage should be checked first
- Don't keep the button switched on all the time: it increases water consumption, and with correct dosing the function isn't needed

The control panel of a washing machine is covered with buttons and switches, the purpose of which most users never bother to check. One of them — the extra rinse function — can be especially useful if your clothes still smell unpleasant or show visible traces of detergent after a wash. According to Styler (an RBC-Ukraine project), this option adds one more rinsing stage to the selected program, which washes out significantly more detergent residue from the fabric. The manuals for a number of models explicitly state that this option improves rinsing efficiency and helps remove detergent from the fibers as thoroughly as possible.

### When to Use the Extra Rinse Cycle

Experts recommend using this function in several specific situations. First, if you're washing clothes with a large amount of detergent. Second, when the drum is fully or almost fully loaded. Third, if after a regular cycle the fabric still feels too "soapy" to the touch or light traces of powder are visible on dark clothing. The extra rinse button is particularly relevant when washing towels, bed linen, and bulky items — fabrics that absorb a lot of detergent and release it less effectively during a standard rinse. In addition, the function can be useful for people with sensitive skin that is prone to irritation from surfactant residue.

### Expert Tip: the Problem Is Often in the Dosage

Rich Handel, a washing expert at Consumer Reports, emphasizes: don't overdo it with detergent. In his words, an excess of powder or gel leads to residue buildup right inside the washing machine and leaves clothes feeling soapy. If your clothes still smell or feel of detergent after a regular cycle, don't increase the dose — on the contrary, check how much detergent you're actually using, and if necessary enable the extra rinse as a supporting tool.

### Should You Keep the Function Switched On All the Time?

No. If you use the correct amount of detergent, don't overload the drum, and your clothes rinse out well after washing, the extra cycle isn't necessary. Moreover, this function increases water consumption compared to a standard rinse cycle — the exact amount depends on the specific model and how full the drum is. There's no point in leaving the button switched on permanently: it's designed for situations where clothes genuinely need a more thorough rinse, not to make every regular wash "even cleaner."

### The Golden Rule: Eliminate the Cause, Not the Symptom

If the problem of powder residue or a soapy-feeling fabric keeps recurring regularly, before enabling the extra rinse every single time, check two parameters: the amount of detergent you're using and the degree of drum loading. The extra rinse fixes the symptom, but it doesn't eliminate the root cause. Correct dosing and a sensible machine load solve the problem at its source, while the extra rinse function remains a useful reserve for special cases — a heavy load, delicate fabrics, or washing with sensitive skin.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Many people ignore this button on their washing machine, and they're wrong: here's what it's for](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/useful/tsyu-knopku-pralniy-mashini-bagato-hto-ignorue-1788594486.html) - Первичный источник. Описывает функцию дополнительного полоскания, совет эксперта Consumer Reports Рича Хандела, случаи применения и ограничения. Данные согласованы с текстом.
- [Rinse mode: what it does, how long it lasts, and how to enable it when washing](https://hi-tech.mail.ru/articles/148179-rezhim-poloskaniya/) - Подтверждает механику дополнительного цикла полоскания и его влияние на расход воды.
- [How a washing machine works and why it doesn't flood your neighbors](https://science.mail.ru/articles/2404-kak-rabotaet-stiralnaya-mashina/) - Подтверждено по источнику science.mail.ru
- [A hidden button in the washing machine: why people don't know about it for years](https://glavred.info/life/skrytaya-knopka-v-stiralnoy-mashine-o-ney-ne-znayut-godami-10753271.html) - Согласуется с тезисом о малоизвестности функции дополнительного полоскания среди пользователей.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What does the extra rinse button on a washing machine do?
**A:** It adds one more rinsing stage to the selected program, which washes out more detergent residue from the fabric. The manuals for some models state that this option improves rinsing efficiency.

### Q: When should you enable the extra rinse?
**A:** When washing with a large amount of detergent, with a fully loaded drum, when washing towels, bed linen and bulky items, and also if after a regular cycle the fabric still feels "soapy" or light traces of powder are visible on dark clothing. The function is also useful for people with sensitive skin.

### Q: Do you need to keep the extra rinse button switched on all the time?
**A:** No. If the detergent dosage is correct, the drum isn't overloaded, and the clothes rinse out well, the extra cycle isn't necessary. Besides, it increases water consumption. Use the button only when the clothes genuinely need a more thorough rinse.

### Q: Why do traces of powder remain on clothes after washing?
**A:** According to Consumer Reports expert Rich Handel, the main cause is an excessive amount of detergent. Excess powder or gel accumulates in the machine and leaves clothes feeling soapy. You should first check the dosage and the drum loading, and use the extra rinse as a supporting tool.