text: The fabric softener tray in a top-load washing machine operates by utilizing a Pythagorean siphon to distribute fabric softener diluted with water across the clothing in the washing machine. Before starting the washing machine, the user pours fabric softener below the maximum fabric softener line in the loading tray. This line designates the point where if the softener were to be poured above it, then all the fabric softener would resultingly escape the device due to the mechanics of the Pythagorean siphon. As one pours the fabric softener under the line, it does not escape anywhere because it has not begun to escape through the center chamber. Once the washing machine works to distribute the fabric softener into the tub of the machine, it pours water above the fabric softener loading tray so that the liquid goes overtop the maximum fill line. This starts the Pythagorean siphon process, as the mixture begins to pour through the central chamber, thus causing a seal from the surface tension of the liquids across all the chambers. The weight of the fabric softener diluted with water has no access to the outside air because of the seal which then causes all the mixture to be poured directly into the washing machine.