A method for setting a time of a release of a cleaning agent during a cleaning cycle in a household appliance includes obtaining an evolution over time of a local parameter inside the appliance, the local parameter comprising an acceleration induced by the cycle or a temperature inside the appliance; obtaining reference patterns of evolutions of the local parameter during a cycle comprising different cleaning steps including a step adapted for releasing the cleaning agent at a predetermined adapted time; comparing the evolution of the local parameter to the reference patterns and identifying a cleaning step within the cycle when a similarity between a reference pattern and the evolution is above a predetermined threshold, and setting the release of the agent at the predetermined adapted time within the identified cleaning step when the identified step corresponds to a step adapted for releasing the agent.

A dishwasher with a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a spraying system for spraying liquid into the treating chamber, and a recirculation system for recirculating liquid sprayed in the treating chamber to the spraying system with a variable filtration system. Method of operating includes recirculating a liquid, supplying a first portion of the liquid through the spraying system, supplying a second portion of the liquid through the filter, and varying the amount of the second portion.

A method for the dosing of cleaning agents in cleaning machines, including the steps: receiving control information items, wherein the control information items are dependent on information about a cleaning machine; determining the progress of a cleaning operation; dosing of cleaning agent depending on the received control information items and the determined progress of the cleaning operation; wherein the information about the cleaning machine can be determined via a sensor-based automatic recognition.

A dishwasher appliance that includes a drying system is provided. In one exemplary aspect, the drying system includes an inlet duct having an inlet fan and a heating element disposed therein. The inlet fan is operable to draw ambient air into the inlet duct and move the air through the inlet duct into a tub of the dishwasher. The heating element heats the air passing through the inlet duct. The heated air facilitates drying of the articles within the wash chamber of the tub. The heated and pressurized air within the tub is forced into a vent duct positioned within a door of the dishwasher. An ambient fan draws ambient air into the vent duct to mix with the relatively hot and damp air forced out of the wash chamber by the inlet fan, e.g., to lower the dew point of the air exiting the dishwasher.

A retrofit auxiliary device for distributing cleaning resources to a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber is described wherein the device can connect to various household cleaning appliances of different makes and models and can learn the flow of water and detergent during various stages of operation and then perform the dispensing itself.

An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.

A method for handling a clogging condition in a dishwasher may include detecting the clogging condition; upon detecting the clogging condition, interrupting a wash cycle of the dishwasher and executing a remedial operation to remove the clogging condition. The remedial operation may include executing a drain operation for a predetermined drain time during which a drain pump may be continuously or intermittently operated to drain water from a sump of the dishwasher; following the drain operation, executing a fill operation for a predetermined fill time during which a fill valve may be continuously or intermittently activated to add water to the dishwasher; and following the fill operation, executing a circulation operation during which a circulation pump may be continuously or intermittently operated to remove the clogging condition. A dishwasher and a control system for handling a clogging condition are also provided.

An automated cleaning machine may include one or more short cleaning cycles in which the duration of a cleaning cycle is shortened relative to the duration of a default cleaning cycle. During a short cleaning cycle, other cleaning cycle parameters may also be adjusted to ensure that the articles subjected to the short cleaning cycle are adequately cleaned and sanitized. For example, the wash temperature, rinse temperature, and/or cleaning product amounts or concentrations, may be adjusted to account for the shortened duration of the cleaning cycle. The automated cleaning machine may further include one or more short cycle mode(s) during which short cleaning cycle parameters are used and one or more default cycle mode(s) during which default cleaning cycle parameters are used.

A retrofit auxiliary device for distributing cleaning resources to a household cleaning appliance having a treating chamber is described wherein the device can connect to various household cleaning appliances of different makes and models and can learn the flow of water and detergent during various stages of operation and then perform the dispensing itself.

A method for reducing energy consumption by a medium heating device, the method comprising the step: scheduling an operation (501) of the first device (111) requiring heating of a first medium; scheduling an operation (502) of the second device (112) requiring heating of a second medium; the method being characterized in that it further comprises the steps of: sending (504), from the first device (111), information regarding its operation cycles and water parameters to the second device (112); rescheduling (505) operations of the liaised devices (111, 112) so that drain heat of the first medium is reused to heat a fresh intake of the second medium by the second device by means of a heat exchanger (160); instructing (506), the reprogrammed devices (111, 112) to start their operations according to the new schedule.