A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A vent door is positioned within the intake duct for regulating a flow of air into the wash chamber and a drive motor selectively rotates a wash basket within the wash tub. When a command to reduce humidity is received, a controller may open the vent door and rotate the wash basket in a periodic cycle to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A fan is operably coupled to one of these ducts for urging a flow of air through the wash chamber. A controller is configured for determining that a wash cycle has finished and operating the fan according to a periodic fan schedule, the periodic fan schedule comprising an ON time and an OFF time of the fan, to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A fan is operably coupled to one of these ducts for urging a flow of air through the wash chamber. A controller is configured for determining that a wash cycle has finished and operating the fan according to a periodic fan schedule, the periodic fan schedule comprising an ON time and an OFF time of the fan, to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.

A washing and drying machine includes: a washing drum for accommodating the washings and rotating under a driving force of a motor; an air supply portion for supplying air into the washing drum; a heating portion configured to heat the air to be supplied into the washing drum when turned on and stop heating when turned off; and a control portion for controlling the motor, the air supply portion and the heating portion to execute a washing and drying operation. A drying procedure in the washing and drying operation includes main drying treatment repeated for multiple times. During each time of the main drying treatment, the control portion is configured to keep the heating portion being on within a first period, and keep the heating portion being off within a second period different from the first period, and the second period is longer than the first period.

A washing and drying machine includes: a washing drum for accommodating the washings and rotating under a driving force of a motor; an air supply portion for supplying air into the washing drum; a heating portion configured to heat the air to be supplied into the washing drum when turned on and stop heating when turned off; and a control portion for controlling the motor, the air supply portion and the heating portion to execute a washing and drying operation. A drying procedure in the washing and drying operation includes main drying treatment repeated for multiple times. During each time of the main drying treatment, the control portion is configured to keep the heating portion being on within a first period, and keep the heating portion being off within a second period different from the first period, and the second period is longer than the first period.

A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub defining a wash chamber and an intake and exhaust duct that are fluidly coupled to the wash chamber. A vent door is positioned within the intake duct for regulating a flow of air into the wash chamber and a drive motor selectively rotates a wash basket within the wash tub. When a command to reduce humidity is received, a controller may open the vent door and rotate the wash basket in a periodic cycle to urge the flow of air through the wash chamber and out the exhaust duct to lower a humidity within the wash chamber and the gasket, e.g., to reduce mold and mildew growth.

A method of treating a load of articles in a wash basket of a washing machine appliance includes obtaining an image of the wash basket of the washing machine appliance and the load of articles therein. The method also includes determining a load size of the load of articles in the wash basket based on the image. The method further includes providing a user notification comprising a recommended drying cycle based on the determined load size.

A method of treating a load of articles in a wash basket of a washing machine appliance includes obtaining an image of the wash basket of the washing machine appliance and the load of articles therein. The method also includes determining a load size of the load of articles in the wash basket based on the image. The method further includes providing a user notification comprising a recommended drying cycle based on the determined load size.

A washing and drying machine includes: a washing drum for accommodating the washings and rotating under a driving force of a motor; an air supply portion for supplying air into the washing drum; a heating portion configured to heat the air to be supplied into the washing drum when turned on and stop heating when turned off; and a control portion for controlling the motor, the air supply portion and the heating portion to execute a washing and drying operation. A drying procedure in the washing and drying operation includes main drying treatment repeated for multiple times. During each time of the main drying treatment, the control portion is configured to keep the heating portion being on within a first period, and keep the heating portion being off within a second period different from the first period, and the second period is longer than the first period.

A method of drying a load of articles in a wash basket of a washing machine appliance includes rotating the wash basket within the washing machine appliance. The method may also include monitoring a humidity within the washing machine appliance while rotating the wash basket and comparing the monitored humidity within the washing machine appliance to a humidity threshold. The method may also include estimating a remaining moisture content of the load of articles. The method further includes terminating the drying in response to at least one of the monitored humidity and the estimated remaining moisture content.