If I can make my washer tattletale on itself, maybe—just maybe—I’ll stop discovering forgotten, half-damp laundry that smells like existential regret. The goal: set up an automated reminder that pings my phone and motivates me to actually move it to the dryer.
The Setup
You’ll need:
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A smart plug (TP-Link Kasa, Gosund, or Meross—anything that plays nice with Alexa or Google Home).
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A routine app (Alexa, Google Home, or SmartThings).
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A playlist that convinces you to stand up—mine’s titled “Laundry or Perish.”
This experiment doesn’t require coding, but it will require you to admit that you’ve rewashed the same load three times this month.
⚙️ Step 1: Give the Washer a Voice
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Plug your washer into the smart plug.
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In the smart plug’s app, turn on Energy Monitoring (most have this).
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Set an automation rule: when power usage drops to near zero, it means the wash cycle ended.
Your smart plug now knows when the washer’s done—like a digital tattletale that never gets tired of being right.
🔔 Step 2: Make It Snitch Nicely
Now connect that event to your favorite automation tool:
For Alexa:
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Open the Alexa app → More → Routines → Create Routine
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Trigger: “Smart Plug power < 2W”
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Action: “Send notification to my phone” or “Announce ‘Laundry is done!’ on every device.”
For Google Home:
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Use Home → Automations → Add new → Starter: device changes state → Smart Plug OFF
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Add an Action: “Send a notification” or “Play a song on my speaker.”
This means you’ll get a gentle digital nudge instead of realizing at midnight that your clothes are now technically compost.
🎵 Step 3: Motivation Mode (Optional but Fun)
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| Motivation mix for your laundry routine |
You know that one song that makes you feel capable of folding towels like a functioning adult? Connect that.
Create an extra action in your automation:
When washer stops → play “Motivation Mode” playlist on [your preferred device].
Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube can all be triggered through smart routines or IFTTT.
Mine starts with Eye of the Tiger and ends with Lo-fi Beats to Pretend You’re Productive To.
🧺 Step 4: Optional Upgrade – “The Dryer Whisperer”
If you want to go pro, add a second smart plug for the dryer. Sync both to a Google Sheet or app like IFTTT so it logs:
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Wash started
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Wash ended
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Dry cycle started
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Dry cycle ended
Bonus: you’ll have data to prove that laundry takes up 17% of your adult life.
📊 Results
✅ Loads completed on time: 100% (okay, 80%).
✅ Forgotten laundry: zero (for now).
🧭 Verdict
Automation can’t make laundry fun, but it can make it less tragic. You’ll still have to fold, but at least now you’ll be doing it to the sound of your victory playlist instead of the scent of mildew.
For more ways to automate everyday chores, check out Consumer Reports: How to Use Smart Plugs for Smarter Home Automation .