When should I use my washer’s extra-rinse or rinse-only option?

The key difference is whether you are adding a rinse to a wash or selecting a separate rinse cycle.

Extra Rinse adds another rinse to the wash cycle you selected. For the LG WM8000, the manual describes Extra Rinse as an addition to the selected cycle. Rinse-only is a separate program for rinsing a load; names can include “Rinse,” “Rinse Only,” or “Rinse & Spin,” depending on the controls. GE notes that a rinse-only cycle is available only on washers programmed with that feature. [S1] [S2]

As a practical guide: choose Extra Rinse when you are setting up a wash and want the washer to rinse that load again. Choose a separate rinse option when you want a rinse without starting a full wash. If you are unsure which control your machine provides, look up the washer’s exact model number and use its manual rather than assuming another brand’s buttons work the same way.

Start with the model number on the washer or its documentation, then find the matching owner’s manual. Check the control-panel labels and the manual’s cycle or options section for terms such as “Extra Rinse,” “Rinse,” “Rinse Only,” and “Rinse & Spin.” Follow the selection instructions for that particular model. The LG manual describes both Extra Rinse and Rinse+Spin, but its controls and instructions are specific to the WM8000. [S1]

GE says compatible panels may offer a Rinse, Rinse Only, or Rinse & Spin selection, and directs owners to the manual for model-specific selection steps. That does not establish that every washer has a rinse-only setting, or that the same button sequence applies across models. [S2]

If you cannot identify the model, don’t guess from a similar-looking control panel. Record the labels you see and consult the manual or the manufacturer’s support information for that model.

Don’t treat Drain & Spin as a rinse cycle unless your washer’s manual explicitly gives that instruction. GE describes a limited alternative for certain top-load models that have Drain & Spin but no rinse-only cycle: use Deep Rinse only where that option exists. The guidance is model-dependent; it does not say that every washer can add a rinse to Drain & Spin. [S2]

Check whether your exact model has a separate rinse selection or the specified Deep Rinse option. If neither appears in its manual, the available information here does not establish another suitable setting. Ask the manufacturer about the model rather than substituting a setting based on its name.

Use this decision guide:

1. Setting up a wash? Select your wash cycle, then add Extra Rinse if your model offers it and you want an additional rinse within that cycle. On the LG WM8000, that is how Extra Rinse is described. [S1]
2. Want a separate rinse rather than a full wash? Look for a separate Rinse, Rinse Only, or Rinse & Spin program listed for your washer. Do not assume it is available. [S2]
3. Only see Drain & Spin? Check the manual before choosing it. GE’s Deep Rinse alternative applies only to certain top-load models where that option exists; it is not a general instruction for all washers. [S2]
4. Still uncertain? Pause and verify the model-specific instructions before starting.

Example, assuming the manual for your washer lists both options: if you’re selecting a wash cycle and want an added rinse, select that cycle and enable Extra Rinse as the manual describes. If you want a separate rinse without starting a wash, choose the listed rinse-only program instead. The example is conditional—the actual labels, steps, and available programs depend on your model.