size parameter for example in an illustrative embodiment control system 150 shown in fig3 includes five load size setting parameters namely an extra small load size setting a small load size setting a medium load size setting a large load size setting and a giant load size setting depending upon which of the load size settings is selected controller 138 sets an appropriate agitation speed value corresponding to the selected load size setting as the load size setting increases the agitation speed increases to improve mechanical cleansing action during the agitation phase and as the load size setting decreases the agitation speed decreases actual agitation speed or intensity values may be calculated according to the above relationships or may be empirically determined for each of the available load size settings for instance an exemplary agitation speed versus load size table for a load of cotton garments is set forth below in table 1 a control lookup table such as table 2 may be stored in controller memory 142 shown in fig3 so that microcomputer 140 may select the appropriate agitation speed value for the selected load size setting mechanical cleansing action during agitation portions of the wash cycle is therefore substantially optimized while four soil level settings and five load settings are set forth above in exemplary tables 1 and 2 it is anticipated that tables 1 and 2 may include greater or fewer than four and five settings respectively without departing from the scope of the.