Vertical axis washing machine appliance with features for applying steam to articles and related methods

1. A vertical axis washing machine appliance comprising:

a cabinet;

a wash tub received in said cabinet and configured for containing a fluid used in a washing process, said wash tub extending between a bottom portion and a top portion;

a wash basket mounted in said wash tub, said wash basket configured for the receipt of articles during the washing process and for rotation about a substantially vertical axis;

a sump positioned adjacent the bottom portion of said wash tub, said sump also in fluid communication with said wash tub;

a heater positioned adjacent or within said sump and configured for selectively adjusting a temperature of fluid in said sump;

an inlet conduit extending to said sump;

a valve coupled to said inlet conduit, said valve configured for regulating fluid flow through said inlet conduit and permitting selective addition of fluid to said wash tub though said inlet conduit, an outlet of said inlet conduit positioned at the sump such that fluid exits the outlet of said inlet conduit and flows into said sump without passing through said wash basket;

a drain conduit extending from said sump;

a pump in fluid communication with said sump via said drain conduit, said pump configured for selective draining of fluid from said sump through said drain conduit; and

a processing device in communication with said heater, said valve, and said pump, wherein said processing device is configured for:

opening said valve at a start of a steam clean cycle in order to direct fluid from said inlet conduit into said sump;

activating said pump during the steam clean cycle prior to activating said heater in order to drain said sump of the fluid directed into said sump at said step of opening and rinse said sump;

operating said valve during the steam clean cycle such that fluid from said inlet conduit flows into said sump and submerges said heater directly after said step of activating; and

starting said heater during the steam clean cycle in order to heat and generate steam with the fluid in said sump from said step of operating.

2. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein said wash tub defines said sump.

3. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein said processing device is further configured for deactivating said pump after a period of time has elapsed.

4. The washing machine appliance of claim 3 , wherein the period of time corresponds to a period of time sufficient to drain said sump of fluid.

5. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein said processing device is further configured for readjusting said valve in order to terminate a flow of fluid to said wash tub after a period of time has elapsed.

6. The washing machine appliance of claim 5 , wherein the period of time corresponds to a period of time sufficient to fill said sump with fluid.

7. The washing machine appliance of claim 5 , wherein the period of time corresponds to a period of time sufficient to submerge said heater with fluid.

8. The washing machine appliance of claim 1 , wherein heated fluid is directed into said sump at said step of opening.

9. A vertical axis washing machine appliance, comprising:

a cabinet;

a wash tub disposed within said cabinet, said wash tub configured for containing fluid therein, said wash tub extending between a bottom portion and a top portion, said wash tub defining a sump at the bottom portion of said wash tub;

a wash basket disposed within said wash tub such that said wash basket is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis within said wash tub;

a heater positioned at the sump of said wash tub, said heater operable to adjust a temperature of fluid within the sump of said wash tub;

an inlet conduit mounted to said wash tub at the bottom portion of said wash tub, an outlet of said inlet conduit positioned at the sump of said wash tub such that fluid from said inlet conduit flows directly into the sump of said wash tub;

a valve coupled to said inlet conduit, said valve configured for regulating fluid flow through said inlet conduit;

a pump;

a drain conduit mounted to said wash tub at the sump of said wash tub, said drain conduit extending from said wash tub to said pump, said pump operable to drain fluid from the sump of said wash tub via said drain conduit; and

a controller in communication with said heater, said valve, and said pump, said controller comprising a memory in communication with a processor, the memory including instructions to be executed by the processor, the instructions comprising:

adjusting said valve in order to direct fluid from said inlet conduit into said sump at a start of a steam cycle;

activating said pump during the steam cycle prior to activating said heater in order to drain the fluid directed into said sump during said step of adjusting from said sump and rinse said sump;

utilizing said valve in order to refill said sump with fluid during the steam cycle such that said heater is submerged in fluid, said heater being deactivated during the steam cycle between said steps of activating and utilizing; and

after said step of utilizing, starting said heater in order to heat the fluid in said sump and generate steam during the steam cycle.

10. The washing machine appliance of claim 9 , wherein said step of adjusting comprises filling said sump with heated fluid.