I have a fancy washer that offers a dazzling array of settings: 8 options for the type of load, 5 water temperatures, 5 spin settings, 3 soil levels, and 8 “special care” choices. Add in the possible combinations, and it’s staggering.
Even with all these choices, for 95% of the loads, I use “normal” and “semi-warm” water. I hit two buttons and press go.
Not everyone is able to be so quickly blinded, however, and all the buttons momentarily stop others as they seemingly feel like they should understand/use the additional settings. It’s akin to skimming a magazine vs. reading full articles, being comfortable pursuing in a museum without stopping at every placard and sign, or learning the minimum functionality of your computer.
There are times when thoroughness is called for and other situations where an overview is efficient. Certainly, my washer habits reduce the care that could benefit me, and those who skim miss out on important details. The key is to pay attention to your preferred style and align it with the situation at hand.
