Guide in using washing machines in South Korea

When you’re living in South Korea, you’ll be working and going out on most days. Going outside comes with changing into different clothes, so using an automatic washing machine is convenient for those who live alone or don’t have much time to do their laundry.

There are two types of automatic washing machines in South Korea: Top-loading “Setaggi”(세탁기) and Front-loading “Deureomsetaggi”(드럼세탁기) machine. 

 

Laundry machine menu

Each type of machine has different labels on its menu, but all of them have the same mode options such as the water’s temperature, laundry modes, and spinning speed.

Power

There are buttons for On/Off called “Jeon-won(전원)” and a start/pause button called “Donjak/Ilsijeongji(동작 / 일시정지)”. 

Timer

There will also be a timer on these washing machines to indicate how much time you have left before the door unlocks and spinning ends you can add or reduce the time set for your laundry.

• Timer- Yeyak(예약)
• Reducing time- Sigandanchug(시간단축)
• Time remaining- Nam-eunsigan(남은시간) 
• Button lock- Beoteun jamgim(버튼 잠김)
• Door lock- Mun jamgim(문 잠김)

Spin cycle

There will be another panel for the type of spin cycle. There is also a light indicator that shows what type of cycle it’s currently doing.

• Pre-wash- Aebulbballae(에벌빨래)
• Main washing- setak(세탁)
• Rinse- heng-gum(헹굼)
• Spin- talsu(탈수)
• Drain- baesu(배수)

Type of laundry

Once the washing machine is turned on, you’ll have to choose what type of clothes you’ll be washing. There will be a list of different types of laundry on your washing machine:

• Quick wash- Kuaysok-setak(쾌속 세탁)
• Hand wash- Sonsetak(손세탁) 
• Standard wash- Pyojun(표준)
• Economical wash- Alltteum-salmeum(알뜰삶음)
• Wool- Ul(울)
• Lingerie- Lanjeli(란제리)
• Synthetic fabric- Habseom(합성섬유)
• Rinse + Spin- Heng-gum + Talsu(헹굼 + 탈수)
• Blankets/Bedding- Eebul(이불)
• Sheets/Linen- Chimgulyu(침구류)
• Overcoat- Oetu(외투)
• Knitwear- Niteu(니트)

Water temperature(세탁온도)

After choosing the type of laundry, you can choose the water temperature(cold or hot) for your clothes.

Spinning speed(탈수)

Lastly, you’ll be choosing the spinning speed for your laundry. Depending on the type of fabric and its thickness, you can choose a gentle wash or a stronger wash.

• Strong- Gang(강)
• Medium- Jung(중)
• Weak- Yak(약)
• No spin-dry- Talsuanham(탈수안함)
• Drain- Baesu(배수)

Additional options(추가선택)

• Pre-wash- Aebulbballae(에벌빨래)
• Additional rinse- Yeng-gumchuga(헹굼추가)
• Anti-rub- Gugimbangji(구김방지)

What type of laundry detergent and softener should I use?

There are different brands of laundry detergent and fabric softeners in the market, so it’s better to choose what suits you better. Here are some terms you should be familiar with when choosing the right ones:

• Laundry bar soap- Ppallaebinu(빨래비누)
• Powder detergent soap- Galubinu(가루비누)
• Liquid detergent soap- Aegcheseje(액체세제)
• Fabric softener- Seom-yuyuyeonje(섬유유연제)