Spin
The spin: the drum turns fast to throw water out. As a button it sets the spin speed; as a lit phase symbol it means the machine is spinning now.
What it is for
Lower the speed for delicates, wool and things that crease; raise it for towels and cottons going on a line or into a dryer. Samsung and Beko both offer a no-spin setting that drains without spinning.
Makes differ, check your machine’s manual: the same drawing can mean different things on different brands, and only your model’s manual says exactly what a programme does, how hot and how long.
- What it looks like
- A spiral winding in from the outside, often next to a number in rpm.
- Names makers use
- Spin speed (Bosch, Beko); Spin (Samsung, hOn, Hotpoint)
Where makes differ
hOn, Bosch and Beko all draw a spiral; Bosch lets you change the speed during the programme. Beko’s spin button steps down through the speeds to rinse hold and no spin. A spiral inside a square on a Bosch tumble dryer is its spin-speed setting, not a spin.
Often confused with
Empties the water out of the drum, with or without a final spin. It does not wash or rinse.
Sources
No single published standard defines washing-machine or dryer programme icons, so this meaning is taken from 4 makers’ own guides and manuals, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- hOn (Haier Europe): hOn — Washing Machine Symbols: how to interpret them with hOn — “Spin: symbol is a spiral.” Checked 2026-09-25.
- Bosch: Bosch Home UK — Washing machine symbols guide — Spin speed symbol (a spiral): “The programme is shown as spinning. You can change the spin speed before and during the programme.” Checked 2026-09-25.
- Beko: Beko UK — WI 1382 washing machine user’s manual (PDF) — Display symbol a, “Spin Symbol” (a spiral), beside the spin speed indicator; pressing Spin lowers the speed, then offers rinse hold and no spin. Checked 2026-09-25.
- Samsung: Samsung UK support — What do the symbols on my Samsung washing machine mean? — Spin and No Spin: with the no-spin icon on, the drum will not spin after the final drain; use the spin button to change between spin settings. Checked 2026-09-25.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.