Tumbling method of washing fabric in a horizontal axis washer

A method of washing fabric in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis comprising the steps:

• loading fabric to be washed into the wash chamber of said washer;
• rotating said wash chamber about its horizontal axis with fabric therein at a spin speed to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on said fabric such that said fabric will tumble in said wash chamber;
• introducing concentrated detergent solution having a concentration level in the range of 0.5 to 12% detergent by weight onto said fabric as said fabric is tumbling in said wash chamber;
• sensing an amount of concentrated detergent solution being released from said tumbling fabric and terminating the introduction of concentrated detergent solution into said wash chamber just after said fabric has reached a full saturation level at said spin speed;
• directing a recirculating spray of concentrated detergent solution onto said fabric for a first period of time as said fabric is tumbling in said wash chamber;
• after said first period of time, diluting said concentrated detergent solution with water to a lesser detergent concentration level, no less than 0.28% by weight, and spinning said wash chamber to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on said fabric such that said fabric will again tumble in said wash chamber;
• directing a recirculating spray of said lesser concentrated detergent solution onto said fabric for a second period of time as said fabric is tumbling in said wash chamber;
• and
• draining said lesser concentrated detergent solution from said wash chamber subsequent to said second period of time.

A method of washing fabric in a washer having a wash chamber rotatable about a horizontal axis comprising the steps:

• loading fabric to be washed into the wash chamber of said washer;
• rotating said wash chamber about its horizontal axis with fabric therein at a spin speed to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on said fabric such that said fabric will tumble in said wash chamber;
• introducing concentrated detergent solution having a concentration level in the range of 0.5 to 12% detergent by weight onto said fabric as said fabric is tumbling in said wash chamber;
• sensing an amount of concentrated detergent solution being released from said tumbling fabric and terminating the introduction of concentrated detergent solution into said wash chamber just after said fabric has reached a full saturation level at said spin speed;
• directing a recirculating spray of concentrated detergent solution onto said fabric for a first period of time as said fabric is tumbling in said wash chamber;
• after said first period of time, diluting said concentrated detergent solution with water to a lesser detergent concentration level, no less than 0.28% by weight, and spinning said wash chamber to effect less than a one gravity centrifugal force on said fabric such that said fabric will again tumble in said wash chamber;
• directing a recirculating spray of said lesser concentrated detergent solution onto said fabric for a second period of time as said fabric is tumbling in said wash chamber;
• draining said lesser concentrated detergent solution from said wash chamber subsequent to said second period of time;
• rinsing said fabric by adding water to wash chamber;
• and
• spinning said wash chamber to effect removal of said rinse water.