Smart washing machines: 6 genuinely useful features that make life easier

Investing in a Which? recommended smart washing machine can add convenience to your laundry routine while saving both time and money.

Many modern machines, for example, will monitor energy use in real time – good news if you're trying to stay on top of your bills. Plus, we've reviewed smart washing machines that offer smartphone support so you can put them to work while you're kicking back on the sofa.

Whether you're learning about your new smart appliance or considering an upgrade, keep scrolling for a list of key features to look out for.

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Handy smart washing machine features

1. Monitor washes from your smartphone

At a glance: Control your smart washing machine remotely with the brand's partner app.

The majority of smart washing machines pair with a smartphone app to give you control on the go. In other words, you can start or pause a wash without having to be in the same room as your appliance – so timing your washes to suit your schedule is easier than ever.

Take Bosch's Home Connect app, which is available on iOS and Android. From the app, you can schedule a wash so that your clothes are ready at a specific time. The app will display the estimated time remaining, plus the current mode selected (with details on spin speed and temperature).

If you think there's a chance you'll forget your wash is complete, you can configure your smart washing machine app to ping your mobile or tablet. Other companion apps include Miele@home (Miele), Smart Touch (Candy), SmartThings (Samsung) and My AEG Care (AEG). Some features are also available on a smartwatch, so you can schedule a wash from your wrist.

2. Try voice commands

At a glance: Use wi-fi devices around your house to send orders to your washing machine.

Once you've synced your smart washing machine with your home wi-fi network, you can use voice commands made through your phone to control it. You don't even need to be in the same room as the appliance to guide it through a cycle.

If you download the Samsung SmartThings app (available on iOS and Android), you can link your Samsung profile with your go-to voice assistant – Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri for Apple devices. When that connection is made, you instantly add support for handy voice commands, including:

• 'Alexa, start the washing machine.'
• 'Hey Google, start the washing machine.'
• 'Hey Siri, how much time is left?'

Meanwhile, investing in a wi-fi speaker means you don't even need to reach for your phone. You might have a Google Nest speaker sitting in your living room, for example – so a voice command aimed at the speaker would relay instructions to a compatible smart washing machine.

Shopping for a smart speaker to buddy up with your appliances? Our wireless, smart and Bluetooth speaker reviews reveal the best of the bunch

3. Get updates on service alerts

At a glance: Stay on top of maintenance jobs to keep your washing machine ticking over.

Various smart washing machine apps tell you when it's time to descale your machine, clean the filters or run through routine checks. No, these aren't the most exciting jobs in the world, but they could keep your machine in action for longer.

For example, if you own a compatible LG washing machine, you can use the LG ThinQ app to manage issues. Once your appliance is added to your wi-fi network, head to the Report tab for up-to-date information. At the top of the Report screen is the Care Alerts button, which will flag any potential problems. A digital version of the user manual is also found within the app.

Samsung SmartThings, Bosch Home Connect and the Whirpool app also offer service alerts.

Of course, you'll also be notified if there's an issue via the warning lights on the machine itself. We suggest checking in with the user manual if you're unsure how to deal with it, or you can explore our guide: Washing symbols explained.

If you're struggling with an inefficient washing machine, it might be time to upgrade – consult our expert washing machine reviews before you buy

4. Automatic programs

At a glance: Describe your next washing load and the appliance will pick a suitable program.

Having a washing machine that's brainy enough to pick an ideal cycle will take the guesswork out of laundry.

On compatible machines, you'll be quizzed on the size of the load, fabric type and how dirty your clothes are. Once you've provided that information, the appliance will adjust the total wash time, temperature and spin speed to offer the optimum cycle.

If you have a smart Bosch, the automated program accessed through your phone is called Easy Start Assistant. There's also the Stain Assistant feature – you manually type in the type of stain you're dealing with and the AI helper will recommend the next steps.

Ultimately, using the automatic program setting means you can stop the washing machine from using more energy than it needs to. 

5. Track energy use

At a glance: Check how much energy your washing machine is using in real time.

Energy bills have been high, and our rigorous lab tests have seen that running costs vary enormously. Machine capacity, load size and which programs you use all have an impact.

With a smart washing machine, you can stay on top of your energy usage with stats sent straight to your phone – crunch the numbers and you might decide to change the way you use your machine to save money (see also: Cut your laundry costs by £150 this year). You can make positive environmental changes, too.

The Miele@home app has a dedicated dashboard that tracks the water and energy consumption of your appliances after each cycle. At the end of each month, you'll receive a personalised report summarising your usage.

Our guide to energy-efficient washing machines uncovers stain-blasting Eco Buys efficient with both energy and water

6. Auto-dosing

At a glance: Some models weigh the load and adjust the amount of detergent accordingly.

Auto-dosing will simplify your chores by automatically dispensing a sensible amount of detergent and fabric softener for each load. Just make sure you keep those drawers topped up.

Some Bosch washing machines, for example, are equipped with i-DOS technology – it can detect load volume, fabric type, dirt levels and water hardness. From the Home Connect app, you can scan your detergent bottle to see the recommended dosage.

In our test lab, we've also seen a selection of Hisense washing machines that have auto-dosing functionality. One of our Eco Buy models has an automatic detergent and fabric conditioner dispenser that can hold enough for up to 24 cycles.

Which? reviews uncover the best smart washing machines

Our expert says:

'The primary focus of our washing machines testing is, of course, getting your clothes clean – but that's not to say ease of use doesn't matter. Anything that succeeds at making laundry day a little easier can only be a good thing, especially if it gives you some time back in your day to do what you love. 

When buying my next washing machine, I'll definitely opt for one that can be used with a mobile app, as checking how long is left on the cycle without leaving my curious toddler unattended sounds very appealing to me!'

Rebecca Jakeman, washing machines expert, Which?

Ready for an appliance upgrade? Read our smart washing machine reviews to find the right one for your home

Why you need to consider security and support when buying a smart washing machine

Smart washing machines connect to wi-fi or Bluetooth, and so as with any internet-connected device, it’s important they receive regular security updates to guard against potential security and privacy threats.

Unfortunately, support policies of smart washing machine brands can vary dramatically. Despite our estimate of the 'lifetime' of a washing machine being around 11 years on average, when we reached out to the biggest brands to find out about security updates, we found some could offer support for as little as a year.

Go with Bosch, Miele or Siemens if you want a smart washing machine with the longest support periods. LG and Samsung’s five years of support is good but – as with all ‘from launch’ policies – you need to buy as new as possible.

Find out which smart washing machine brand are falling short in our guide to smart washing machine support policies.