Description

Send a notification when laundry is done

Details

This assumes that your washing machine has some kind of visual indication that the cycle finished - ideally an LED or so.

You will need:

• Arduino MKR1000
• One photoresistor connected to analog pin 0
• IFTTT’s webhooks channel activated

Photoresistor

I used Sunkee GM5539 photoresister. See tutorial to learn how to connect it to the Arduino.

Setup IFTTT

• Log in to your account or create one if you do not have it yet.
• Activate webhooks service if you did not do so yet.. You will need the key from it later when programming the Arduino.

• Create a new applet by clicking __My Applets

  New Applet__

• Select Webhooks for service and select Receive a web request
• Enter washing_machine_done for event name and click Create trigger
• Select Notification for action service and select Send a notification from the IFTTT app
• Enter Washing machine finished for notification and click Create action
• Click Finish

Setup Arduino

• Run the configure script
  • Enter the name of your wifi network
  • Also its password
  • Webhook service key from IFTTT
• Connect your MKR1000
• Compile and upload (Arduino IDE should work)
• Attach the photocell to the LED indication on your washing machine
  • I cover the cell with duct tape so no residual light can get to it, for example if somebody turns the light on in the laundry room.
• Power the Arduino

Customization

• To change the pin to which the sensor is connected, update the value of PHOTOCELL_PIN variable.
• You can change the event name to what ever you want, but you will also need to change in the source file. The event name is stored in WASHING_MACHINE_DONE variable and you will need to use the same name in the IFTTT applet.

More…

You could probably open the washing machine and connect to its LED wires directly. I did not do that to not void the warranty and because I just wanted an non-intrusive solution.

If you are experiencing problems, the code sends debug messages on serial port which you can read via Arduino IDE.