In today’s fast-paced world, it can be difficult to keep up with all of your household chores. One chore that always seems to take forever is doing the laundry. However, what if there was a way to make this chore much easier and less time-consuming to get your laundry dried? With automated laundry systems, you can set your machine’s inbuilt heaters to a certain temperature and it’ll dry your laundry regardless of the weather.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the features of these types of systems so that you can decide if they’re right for you.
Smart Control
Laundry is often seen as a chore, but it doesn’t have to be with an automated laundry system. These systems can be controlled via a sleek remote, smart phone or even voice activated.
And if you’re forgetful, some systems will even send you alerts when it is finished so you know when its time to take clothes down.
Below are the common types of remotes you see in the market today:
- All in One —Typically analog, such remote will have a button for each feature that comes with the laundry system. Often times, the same button is also used to control the various levels of a feature. e.g. Clicking on a heat fan button will turn on the heater, and control the temperature by clicking the same button multiple times. One disadvantage of this remote is that the owner will have to look at what is actually happening to the laundry system to judge the actual settings.
- Hybrid —Such remotes will have a small screen and minimal control buttons (usually up/down/on/off). The actual settings level is shown in the screen giving owner direct feedback.
- Minimalist — These remotes are sleek to look at, are typically mounted to the wall and adds to the interior design of the home. It also has the same disadvantages as the ‘All in One’, where feedback is inferred. A variant is that vendors will also accompany these remote type with a more fully functioning remote and the wall mounted one is for quick access.
- Touch Panel— There are not mechanical parts to this type of remote and they’re portable and have a nice design. It also has the same disadvantages as the ‘All in One’, where feedback is inferred.
- App Based/Smart Displays- Be it on a mobile, tablet or a standalone smart display unit, all features of the automated laundry system can be controlled via this. The advantage of this is also that you’ll get more visual cues on the display and more intuitive level of controls. Some can be voice activated too!
Disinfectant/Steriliser/Dustmite buster
Looking for a way to keep your laundry fresh without all the hassle? Check out those automated laundry systems that come with a disinfectant/steriliser or dustmite buster feature.
Disinfect/Steriliser— How these systems disinfect is by using a UV lamp. Some vendors use UV-A, while others UV-C. Effectiveness of this depends on the type of UV light used. Check out our Buyer’s Guide for more information. In summary, check what type of UV light is been used, and get testing reports of how effective it is, and how safe it is.
One drawback of UV rays is that overtime they’ll fade the colours for our laundry and makes them wear out faster. When considering a system with this feature, make sure the UV light can automatically turn off after sometime to protect your clothes from discolouration.
Dustmite buster — How this feature works is that the automated laundry system uses a combination of ultrasonic waves and UV light to repel the dust mites. But there’re studies done that debunk effectiveness of this approach. It is best to check with any vendor on the effectiveness of their touted feature.
Heating element
Most laundry machines use a heating element along with a fan to direct warm air to your laundry to speed up the drying process. Some models have an automatic feature that allows you to select the desired temperature and airflow and also auto switch-off after a predetermined duration.
Heating element of the system is commonly made from Metal, Ceramic or Polymer PTC. The difference in type used in an automated laundry system is minimal, and owners should be looking at the overall energy efficiency ratings to decide.
Rotation Motor
Unsung hero of an automated laundry system, the rotational motor helps to lift and lower the rack for owners to easily hang their laundry. Each system’s rotary system used will be different and these are the usual factors that owners should be considering.
- Noise — Quieter the better, this is best tested in a showroom.
- Power — This is a double-edged sword. on one hand, the more power it has, the faster and heavier the system can load. but on other hand, power consumption is higher. This is a balance that each owner will have to make depending on their needs.
- Tested lifespan — Nothing last forever but one that lasts long enough should be sufficient. A 5 to 10 year duration is typical and would be enough to justify this investment.
- Warranty — When things go wrong, this would be the most important. Make sure the system you’re buying covers the motor long enough.
Energy saving mode
When you use an automated laundry system, do you know that these systems can also help you save energy? Many of them come with an energy saving mode that can help reduce your overall energy consumption. This can be a great way to save money on your utility bills and help the environment at the same time.
Besides looking at the vendor supplied energy consumption table, the other aspect to consider is also the automatic shut-off/stopping functionalities of the various features/functions of the system. Ultimately usage of a heater for 20 minutes will always be cheaper than 60 minutes.
Final note
Now that you know all the details to consider when looking at buying a new automated laundry system, it’s time to get started!
If you know what you need and ready to go, check out our curated list of vendors for Automated Laundry System.
If you’re looking for more tips on understanding laundry racks, hop to our Laundry Rack Buyer Guide!
