✨ Hidden Appliance Features You’re Probably Not Using (But Should)

Most of us use our appliances on a daily basis—washing clothes, reheating leftovers, blending smoothies, or brewing coffee. The trouble is you’re probably only using a portion of what your appliances actually do.

Modern appliances have so many features that address their efficiency, sustainability, and usability, which can be hidden if not used regularly. At Testergate, we don’t just test appliances as they come from the manufacturer—we unpack every button, every setting, and every appliance manual to reveal the hidden features that will take your appliances to the next level and make your life easier, cleaner, and more efficient.

Here are 10 robust, hidden appliance features you’re most likely avoiding—but should definitely be using:

✅ 1. Washing Machine: Pre-soaking or Stain Removal Function

Why It’s Hidden:
This feature is often hidden in the settings menu or represented by an obscure symbol.

Why You Should Use It:
The pre-soaking function has been designed for tough stains—loosening dirt and grime before the main wash cycle even begins.
Most common misuses of your washer can be avoided with this function:

• Grass and dirt stains from the kids’ clothes

• Grease from dinner oil-filled kitchen towels

• Body oils from your workout wear

Testergate Tip:
Activate this pre-soak mode once a week for heavier laundry. This allows your fabrics to perform to the best of their ability—without using harsh chemicals—and improves fabric longevity.

✅ 2. Refrigerator: Vacation Mode or Energy Saver

Why It’s Hidden:
Usually, it is just a little button or part of the digital settings menu.

Why You Should Use It:
When you are away, vacation mode can help:

• Keep the refrigerator working correctly

• Reduce power usage

• Minimize odors by regulating the internal temperature

Testergate Insight:
If you’re leaving town for a few days, turn on this mode rather than turning the refrigerator off.

✅ 3. Microwave: Sensor Reheat Option

Why It’s Hidden:
Most people just hit “30 seconds” over and over and ignore the rest of the keypad.

Why You Should Use It:
You’ll no longer have cold centers and burnt edges when reheating meals.

Testergate Pro Tip:
The sensor reheat option is great for leftovers, frozen meals, and even leftover pizza slices.

✅ 4. Dishwasher: Half-load or Top-Rack Only Wash

Why It’s Hidden:
It is normally a soft-touch or symbol-based option on newer models.

Why You Should Use It:
The half-load modes can also:

• Save water

• Save electricity

• Clean your dishes faster

Testergate Advice:
Use this when you are sitting down to dinner during the week, or using the dishwasher for smaller loads to cut your water use by as much as 30 percent.

✅ 5. Oven: Delay Start / Timed Baking

Why It’s Hidden:
It is often part of a multi-button sequence that most people will not engage with.

Why You Should Use It:
You can set your oven to start baking later, so dinner comes out of the oven exactly when you want to walk in the door. This is really helpful for:

• Casseroles

• Roasts

• Dishes that you have prepared in advance

Testergate Hack:
Use with auto shut-off for a completely stress-free meal preparation.

✅ 6. Dryer: Steam Refresh or Wrinkle Release

Why It’s Hidden:
People generally choose the standard dry cycle, and ignore anything else.

Why You Should Use It:
Steam modes can:

• Release wrinkles from clothes the wearer has with clean clothes

• Refresh clothes that have a light odor and don’t need to be reworn

Testergate Tip:
Good for fast clothing freshening when you don’t want to iron clothes.

✅ 7. Coffee Maker: Brew Strength, Pre-infusion

Why it’s hidden:
Usually a small button that says “Bold” or “Strong.” And pre-infusion process is rarely outlined.

Why you should use it:
Features:

• Flavor improvement in water flow and extraction time

• Brew stronger cups without using more grounds

• Replicate pour-over methods with other coffee brewers

Testergate Insight:
Different kinds of coffee + brew process = endless combinations of coffee ground setups and exclusive possibilities.

✅ 8. Vacuum: Adjustable Suction Setting

Why it’s hidden:
Usually, it’s hidden behind sliders/adjusters or a dial that nobody touches.

Why you should use it:
The vacuum does not always need to be full power. You can lower suction to:

• Protect your rugs and fabrics

• Increase battery power on cordless vacuums

• Reduce noise by the vacuum while in quick spot clean-up mode

Testergate Wisdom:
If you are vacuuming delicate items or drapes, always turn it down for quiet and safety.

✅ 9. Air-Conditioner: Sleep or Eco Mode

Why it’s hidden:
A small button giving instant access to desirable temperature; it will be skipped due to preference of temperature method.

Why you should use it:
Sleep/Eco mode:

• Adjustment to temperature and humidities automatically over-night

• Save electricity

• Keep coolness without overcooling

Testergate Hack:
Turn on sleep before going to bed for constant temperature comfort within on-going lowered bills.

✅ 10. Blender: Pulse and Ice Crush Modes

Why You Should Use It:
Pulse mode gives you variable control—ideal for:

• Chunky salsas

• Light chopping

• Blending just right—without overblending

Testergate Insight:
Short pulses can help prevent overheating the motor and create that ideal texture in dips, sauces, and smoothies.

🔧 Final Words from Testergate

Every appliance you own likely has one or more hidden features that are designed to make your life easier—yet most users never access these hidden capabilities.

Whether it’s:

• Saving energy

• Protecting your clothes

• Or enjoying better coffee at home like a true foodie…

💡 These hidden features are your friends.

At Testergate, we believe the real essence of a product is not just what it is capable of doing, but how you become proficient with it. So:

• Find a couple of old user manuals

• Hit a couple of extra buttons

• And start exploring your appliances like never before

You might be surprised at what they were able to do all along.