Seems the same as the cleaning cycle on a 2006 model I used for a couple months, except for the 30-mins steam part (the one I used did not have steam). The initial fill is a test to confirm there is no clothing in the machine. Higher fills, spinning to slosh the water around, ends with two short rinses.

That's good to know. It just that it was a lot of noise with that Affresh tab in there. Thanks

I agree about the tablet banging around in there noise. My solution to the problem? Use the recommended chlorine bleach rather than the expensive cleaning tablet.

Try the Tide washer cleaner. I think it is in powder form instead of tablet OR dissolve your Affresh in a container of hot water before and add it already dissolved-no noise. OR use Cascade powder 1/4 to 1/2 cup.(or any brand as long as it is powder).

I used cascade one time but with all the hot washes I do I wonder how often I'll need to clean it.

The process of spinning up with a load of water flushes water more forcefully into areas that don't get a flood during normal operation which helps to dislodge lint and other debris. So, yes you should still run the cleaning cycle, maybe once per month or every 6 weeks depending on much laundry is run in your household. Someone who does only 2 loads per week would take 15 weeks to reach the 30-loads count.