that's why I don't use the damn cycle.  I do not pay attention to the labels (names) of the cycles.  I am intelligent, not stupid when it comes to laundry.  I know how to do laundry and don't need someone telling me or making choices for me.  I use Allergen for any load needing hot water because the requirement is the wash water temp has to reachg 130 degrees F for 3 minutes--and it uses extra water.   (unless I need Sanitized--but then I still use Allergen with Extra Hot water temperature).  I am looking for a specific way it executes the cycle.  Is the heater used?  Does it use fast, medium, or slow speed wash tumble I'm looking for?  What ever I'm wanting the machine to do for how I feel a certain type of fabric and load should be dealt with, then that's what I use--I don't care what the cycle description is intended for.  I use my Jeans cycle for Permanent Press most of the time.  It uses extra water, has a cool down phase of the warm wash water and has a medium speed tumble.  I use Bulky Items for Perm Press if I need a gradual heat up of water and steam to deal with stains.  It's similar to Jeans, but can use the heater and adds steam too.  I pretty much use Allergen, Jeans, Hand Wash, and Bulky Items. 

Thanks Cameron.  The Energy Star & EPA people purposely base the energy star designation on the "Normal" cycle and purposely dumb it down.  Because the y know that's what most people will use because they equate it to what their old product would accomplish on "Normal".  Not so if you want good results of clean dishes that are dirty or clean laundry that's dirty.  If more people would study and wise up, they'd realize we've been sold a bill of goods. 

I have a 2009 Kenmore Elite He5T washer.   Among the numerous cycles, I've discovered the "Express Wash" (or speed wash, quick wash, etc) cycle uses more water than the "normal" cycle and I've been happy with it!   This is my default cycle of choice.

I select Express Wash, HEAVY soil and Extra rinse.   Selecting heavy soil changes the wash time to around 15 minutes (versus the default 5 mins) and I select extra rinse "just because".  Total cycle time when all is said and done, usually 54 -56 minutes (it varies based on the load).

The BULKY Items cycle uses even more water, but does a series of tumble / pause during the wash.   Bulky also limits max spin RPM to "medium", at least on my machine.

I have a photo at home showing the actual water levels for normal, express and bulky items cycles.   I'll have to find it and post it.

Kevin 

P.S... Mark, I discovered a while back that newer FL'ers will work poorly with the water level even a 1/4 or 1/3 way up the glass, with all but a max size load.   I've manually added water to various FL washers and if it doesn't start draining the excess water out, the clothes just float or roll around in higher water levels.   Granted the level in these new machines is too low, but 1/4 or 1/2 way up the glass would net poor cleaning results.  

Those FL washers in the laundromats have water level so high, because let's face it, people really cram as much as they can into each machine before starting it and they need the high level to get results. 

On my 2012 Duet default is medium, but can go up to High. 

Water levels in my KM Elite He5T.

(click the "View Full Size" button)

Re: Bob's comment about the "bulky items" cycle spin speed.   Mine defaults to a max speed of "medium" but that's the max it will allow, cannot adjust it higher on "bulky".

Kevin

Mine defaults to high spin on Bulky and won't go to max spin. Also, the spin between the rinses seem slower, thus I'll need to select extra rinses if I use the Bulky cycle for towels.

The water levels change considerably with the load's absorbency. This is a rinse on Delicates (also Bulky, Wool and Handwash) with an absorbent load. :)

In your pictures, The bulky water level looks about like what my 2005 Duet uses on Normal, Heavy Duty, Whitest Whites and Sanitary....The only difference is on normal and sanitary it does a cool down toward the end of the wash filling with more water before it drains. 

It just goes to show how much those "regulations" have changed things in 4 years.   I guess "their" idea of washing clothes has reverted back to beating the wet clothes a rock by the river, since this is essentially what it's doing with this low of a water level.

Kevin

Most of the cycles I use have a (wash) water level either similar to the Normal cycle pictured above or just about covering the perforated area of the drum. Adding more water, I have found the following to happen

- decreased cleaning because clothes don't tumble but just roll over each other

- more suds 

- unless substantially more water is added, the pool of water is pushed away anyway by the rotating drum/paddles

- more time needed to heat the extra water

- more water does not deal with pet hair (in my case)

Bottom line in my case is that, while it is fun to watch, extra water on normal cycles doesn't do a thing for me. Even adding extra rinse water isn't as effective as an extra rinse.