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John Lam

“Marriage is about the most expensive way for the average man to get laundry done,” actor Burt Reynolds once joked.
Back in the day, laundry tasks were considered women’s work. These days, sisters are doing it for themselves: in a 2011 survey by American cleaning product Clorox, only 26 per cent of men said their significant other regularly washed their clothes.
Laundry is a tiresome chore best dealt with as quickly, and with as little effort, as possible. Thankfully, new smart laundry appliances make light work of wash day.
At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, smart-home devices were everywhere – but it was advances in laundry kit which stole the show.
Imagine being able to do the laundry, without going into the laundry. That  day is here, in the Wi-fi connectivity unveiled by LG, Samsung and Whirlpool, which allows launderers to multitask for the first time.

LG’s Twin Wash, a machine with a second washing drawer for  small loads, and a turbo booster for faster wash cycles, had busy smaller households in mind. It is paired with an energy-saving dryer.
The built-in SmartThinQ technology enables the user to download custom cycles, monitor their status via an LG smartphone app, and receive an alert when the cycle is complete. The energy monitoring feature provides helpful data, while LG’s proprietary HomeChat messaging service allows users to check the status of their washing machine, to troubleshoot minor issues before they deteriorate.
For tiny laundries which barely have room for a machine, Samsung unveiled its new Activewash top-load washer which has a built-in sink, complete with a water jet and scrubbing surface.
Samsung has also jumped on the Wi-fi bandwagon, with its internet-enabled washer and dryer combos, controlled remotely by a smartphone app.
Whirlpool, which released its Wi-fi-enabled appliances in 2013, says its intelligent products are programmed to save energy, and wear and tear on clothes, while allowing householders to manage appliances more efficiently.
The wireless technology, compatible with the home’s existing online network, “helps with everyday tasks”, says brand spokesman Warwick Stirling.
“If the kids leave the door open on the fridge, it will send you a notification,” he says. “Appliances can be managed remotely – you can stop them start them, or they can give you tips on how to better use them. And send you an SMS or e-mail when the washer or dryer is done – all using the network technology that’s in your home today.”

The brand’s latest washer/dryer set, unveiled at CES 2015, has an intuitive touch display that seeks out your laundry preferences by asking “what to wash” and “how to wash”, and has an enhanced diagnostics tool to help correct common user errors – complete with a guide offering helpful suggestions. The technology even has a temperature control (the Nest Learning Thermostat) to intuitively prevent clothes from wrinkling in the dryer when the owner is away, and can switch to quiet mode when they arrive home, so as not to disturb them.
Optional altruism is also built in: the new “connect to care” programme on the Whirlpool mobile app allows users to convert each load of laundry into a donation to Habitat for Humanity, designating the desired amount of giving per load.
So this year’s range of smarter, even intuitive laundry appliances, does take the drudgery out of household tasks, saving energy and money at the same time – and incorporating human kindness.
Now if only someone could invent a device offering hands-free ironing as well. Philips claims to have “the world’s smartest irons”, but that’s only because they choose their own temperature. Oliso has its Smart Iron with iTouch, which might make it easier and quicker to use, but still requires manual operation.
Still, it’s early days in the internet of things, especially in the fledgling realm of household appliances. Ben Artis, Whirlpool's senior category manager of smart homes, says there's much potential out there.
“For the first time, appliances can be better informed about when to run, so they avoid peak-hour pricing,” he says. “We're already seeing consumers seeking out these benefits.”


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Premier Living

HKT PREMIER

Make light of wash day with the smart laundry machines of the future

Samsung joins the hands-free washing brigade with Wi-fi-enabled appliances.

LG’s Twin Wash has a second drawer for small loads.

Download custom cycles using the LG Smart ThinQ laundry app.

The Whirlpool mobile app invites users to donate to charity with each laundry load.

Whirlpool’s Smart Top Load washer and dryer.

Smarter, intuitive laundry appliances take the drudgery out of household tasks, saving energy and money


“Marriage is about the most expensive way for the average man to get laundry done,” actor Burt Reynolds once joked. Back in the day, laundry tasks were considered women’s work.
