Clothes washer wash cycle method and apparatus

1. A method for operating a washing machine in a wash cycle, the washing machine comprising a rotatable basket disposed in a wash tub and an agitator disposed in the basket, said method comprising:

adding a predetermined amount of wash liquid to the wash tub;

oscillating the agitator in an oscillatory back and forth motion at a first oscillation frequency for a first predetermined time interval, wherein the oscillatory back and forth motion comprises rotating the agitator clockwise a specified amount about a vertical axis of the washing machine then rotating the agitator counterclockwise a specified amount about the vertical axis of the washing machine;

oscillating the agitator in the oscillatory back and forth motion at a second oscillation frequency for a second predetermined time interval, wherein the second oscillation frequency is greater than the first oscillation frequency;

rotating the basket at a first rotational speed for a third predetermined time interval, wherein a sub-cycle of the wash cycle comprises said oscillating at the first oscillation frequency, said oscillating at the second oscillation frequency, and said rotating;

continuously directing recirculated wash liquid into the basket; and

repeating the sub-cycle a series of times during the wash cycle, wherein the wash cycle is performed prior to a rinse cycle and dry cycle.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising continuously repeating the sub-cycles during the wash cycle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising rotating the basket at a second rotational speed for spin drying clothes in the basket during a dry cycle.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising terminating rotating the basket before repeating oscillating the agitator at the first oscillation frequency.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising terminating oscillating the agitator at the second oscillation frequency before rotating the basket.

7. A method in accordance with claim 4 further comprising continuously directing recirculated wash liquid into the basket.

8. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein rotating the basket comprises rotating the basket around a vertical axis.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of wash liquid is a function of a load size.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the predetermined amount of wash liquid is a function of a load type.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first oscillation frequency is in the range of about 10 to about 160 strokes per minute.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second oscillation frequency is in the range of about 50 to about 210 strokes per minute.

13. A method of washing clothes in a washing machine, the washing machine comprising a rotatable basket disposed in a wash tub and an agitator disposed in the basket, said method comprising:

loading clothes into the basket;

adding a predetermined amount of wash liquid to the wash tub;

oscillating the agitator in an oscillatory back and forth motion at a first oscillation frequency for a first predetermined time interval, wherein the oscillatory back and forth motion comprises rotating the agitator clockwise a specified amount about a vertical axis of the washing machine then rotating the agitator counterclockwise a specified amount about the vertical axis of the washing machine;

oscillating the agitator in the oscillatory back and forth motion at a second oscillation frequency for a second predetermined time interval, wherein the second oscillation frequency is greater than the first oscillation frequency;

rotating the basket at a first rotational speed for a third predetermined time interval, wherein a sub-cycle of a wash cycle comprises said oscillating at the first oscillation frequency, said oscillating at the second oscillation frequency, and said rotating;

continuously directing recirculated wash liquid into the basket; and

repeating the sub-cycle a series of times during the wash cycle, wherein the wash cycle is performed prior to a rinse cycle and dry cycle.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising draining the wash liquid froth the wash tub in the wash cycle and rinsing the clothes in the rinsing cycle.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising continuously repeating said sub-cycles.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 further comprising rotating the basket at a second rotational speed during a dry cycle.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein the first rotational speed is less than the second rotational speed.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising terminating rotating the basket before repeating oscillating the agitator at the first oscillation frequency.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising continuously directing recirculated wash liquid into the basket for a predetermined time.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16 further comprising terminating oscillating the agitator at the second oscillation frequency before rotating the basket.

21. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein rotating the basket comprises rotating the basket around a vertical axis.

22. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the first oscillation frequency is in the range of about 10 to about 160 strokes per minute.

23. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the second oscillation frequency is in the range of about 50 to about 210 strokes per minute.