A laundry washing machine includes a wash tub that allows laundry and water to be loaded therein, a holding unit that separates some of the water in the wash tub and holds the some of the water, where the water contains a substance that was attached to the laundry and that is dissolved therein, a detection unit that detects a predetermined substance contained in the some of the water held by the holding unit and outputs information indicating a result of detection, and a laundry detergent dispenser that dispenses a laundry detergent into the wash tub or instructs a user to add the laundry detergent to the wash tub after the some of the water is separated.

A laundry washing machine and method automate the selection of a load type for a laundry washing machine during an initial fill phase of a wash cycle and based in part on weight and fluid level sensed by weight and fluid level sensors operatively coupled to a wash tub and after a selected amount of water has been dispensed into the wash tub.

A method of controlling a washing machine with a drum rotatably provided in a tub that receives water, and a circulation pump that circulates water in the washing machine, the method including: rotating the drum in a first rotational direction by a first rotational amount during which laundry is raised on an inner circumferential surface of the drum by a centrifugal force; subsequent to rotating the drum by the first rotational amount, further rotating the drum by a second rotational amount in the first rotational direction during which the laundry falls from the inner circumferential surface of the drum; increasing a pump speed of the circulation pump while the drum is rotated by the first rotational amount in the first rotational direction; and decreasing the pump speed of the circulation pump while the drum is rotated by the second rotational amount in the first rotational direction.

A method of controlling a washing machine that includes a drum rotatably provided in a tub that receives water, at least one nozzle spraying water into the drum, a washing motor rotating the drum, and a circulation pump circulating water within the washing machine, the method including: operating the washing motor to rotate the drum in a first rotational direction while repeatedly alternating between an acceleration and a deceleration of the drum so that laundry in the drum alternates between maintaining contact with an inner surface of the drum during acceleration, and separates from the inner surface of the drum during deceleration; and operating a circulation pump motor in the circulation pump, while the drum rotates in the first rotational direction, to accelerate a pump speed of the circulation pump during the acceleration of the drum, and to decelerate the pump speed during deceleration of the drum.

A method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, including a step of receiving an end signal, wherein the end signal represents an end of a washing programme of the washing machine. In addition, the method includes a step of reading a door contact signal, wherein the door contact signal represents a state of a door of the washing machine, and a step of providing a start option signal to a user interface if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within a predefined time period started in response to the end signal, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme.

A method for the hygienic treatment of textiles in a washing machine, including a step of receiving an end signal, wherein the end signal represents an end of a washing programme of the washing machine. In addition, the method includes a step of reading a door contact signal, wherein the door contact signal represents a state of a door of the washing machine, and a step of providing a start option signal to a user interface if no opening of the door has been recognized using the door contact signal within a predefined time period started in response to the end signal, in order to provide a user with a selection option for starting a hygiene rinse programme.

The present invention relates to an accessory used for a top-loading washing machine having: a cabinet for forming the outer appearance thereof; a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, and of which the upper surface is opened so as to accommodate objects to be treated; and a laundry inlet provided at the upper surface of the cabinet, and washing machine accessory comprises: a body forming the exterior thereof and having a closed inner space; one or more ultrasonic wave generators provided inside the body; and a control unit formed so as to control the ultrasonic wave generator, wherein the body is formed in a shape in which a cross sectional area thereof is gradually reduced from the bottom toward the top thereof, such that the center of gravity of the body is located at the lower side thereof.

A laundry washing machine and method automate the selection of a load type for a laundry washing machine during an initial fill phase of a wash cycle and based in part on weight and fluid level sensed by weight and fluid level sensors operatively coupled to a wash tub and after a selected amount of water has been dispensed into the wash tub.

A laundry washing machine and method utilize weight, fluid level and fluid property sensors to dynamically select a load type, control a wash cycle and control an amount of detergent dispensed during a wash cycle.

A laundry washing machine and method automate the selection of one or more parameters of a wash cycle of a laundry washing machine based in part on a color detection sensor disposed proximate an opening of the wash tub and configured to capture color composition data of one or more items added to the wash tub and a weight sensor operatively coupled to the wash tub, where the weight sensor is configured to detect the addition of an item among the one or more items to the wash tub and initiate capturing of the color composition data, and a controller is configured to configure one or more parameters for a wash cycle based upon the captured color composition data.