IIRC the "SANITIZE" setting on the 1-18's was like the "SOAK" cycles on early Filter-Flo's also positioned within the Normal cycle's rinse period. In other words, bullshit. It was one more "perk" they could claim in the brochures.

With the Frigies, you put Clorox in the bleach dispenser and set it to SANITIZE and the idea was you could sanitize the tub without running a full cycle and feel safer if you were a moron.

With the FF's one did essentially the same thing and gave your laundry what was more accurately described as a Pre-wash without the convenience of an automatic segue to the WASH cycle. Eventually GE called it an "Activated Soak". As if the user couldn't just run a cycle and interrupt it and allow the laundry to just sit there and soak while the machine was deactivated. And I think users couldn't deactivate the Solid Tub washers for a soak because the water would drain out of the washbasket through that little hole in the bottom of the tub into the outer tub.

I remember setting the dial on our 1962 Perf tub machine at "SOAK" one time because I thought maybe there was some sort of secret switch in the dial that would work if one started it at that exact point. Felt like an idiot.

The GE bullsh*t was introduced before Enzyme soak products were on the market.