A front load machine does not put enough water in the machine to soak like a tradional top loader. You can buy a machine that has a soak cycle and it will slowly keep the clothes moving in the water. Mine has a cycle called prewash and that is what I use to soak my whites-i put extra bleach and soap and hit the button for 2nd rinse.
Front loaders from my knowledge only fill up about 1/2 way. There may be a setting for soaking, but if there isn't one I would say no. You are probably stuck soaking the old fashion way.
It totally depends on the machine. Some FL machines have extended soak cycles, some don't. Some, if you stop the machine in the middle of a cycle (to soak, for instance), will drain the tub and reset the timer. Others don't. You have to find out what the particulars of your machine are. For instance, I had an Asko, and you could not pause the cycle. But it did have an extended cycle for washing whites--it took 2 1/2 hours! A friend's Kenmore will permit you to stop the machine mid-cycle and restart it. BTW, I recommend using oxygen bleach, not chlorine bleach, with a front-loader.
I shut mine off after it starts to wash. Can you do that?
