I am trying to calibrate my monitor, and in the instructions, the first step is to set the contrast to it's maximum value. The instructions don't say to set the contrast back to default or some other value. What should I do with it? Everything on my monitor is washed out.

Maximum contrast is the other way -- it shouldn't flatten to gray, it should enhance contrast to be fuller white and black. When you are done calibrating, leave the monitor ALONE. If you change things after calibrations, the calibrations are void.