Solution Spotlight: Smart Laundry Reminders for ADHD Homes
I Was Sick of Musty Laundry—So I Hacked the Wash Cycle
Staying on top of the laundry has always been my Achilles’ heel. I’d start a load, get pulled into the next task, and only remember hours later, usually when the clothes already smelled musty. As someone with ADHD, I needed additional mechanisms – gentle reminders – that nudged me without becoming more noise. My clients—busy caregivers, solo entrepreneurs, and hands-on property owners—face the same mental load. If I could crack this at home, I could bring the fix to their spaces too.
The Real Cost of A Forgotten Load
Pay no mind to the ADHD mountain of forgotten laundry behind me
- Wet clothes left in the washer waste water, energy, and precious time
- “Smart” washers lock you into one ecosystem and cost a premium
- Off-the-shelf laundry sensors add another hub and rarely respect data privacy
I set out to build a privacy-minded, quick-ROI solution that would:
- Detect exactly when the washer or dryer started and stopped
- Send a clear, concise alert that cut through distraction
- Keep core data local by running everything on Home Assistant
The 5-Minute Upgrade That Outsmarts Any Washer
Eve Energy smart plug with power monitoring
Power-Monitoring Smart Plug: Renter-Friendly, ROI-Ready
I installed a compact smart plug with power monitoring, which required zero rewiring or expensive appliance upgrades. The main thing was checking to ensure that the plug could handle the appliance’s power output. In this case, a smart plug rated for an 1800-watt output did the trick. It sits in the wall outlet next to the washer/dryer unit, pairs with Home Assistant in minutes, and can move with you when you relocate.
Find yourself never rewashing mildewed clothes again
Two Wattage Markers, Zero Guesswork
Inside Home Assistant, two automations drive the logic:
- Laundry Started – When power rises above 5 W for five seconds, the system flags the cycle as active.
- Laundry Done – When power drops below 1 W, the system fires a completion event.
Cloud Ping or Local Alert—Your Privacy, Your Choice
For notifications I chose Pushover API. Yes, Pushover is cloud-based, but every payload is end-to-end encrypted before it passes through Apple or Google’s push servers. They see only ciphertext, while my phone, watch, or any other device running Pushover’s messaging app get a single quiet vibration that tells me it’s time to flip the load.
One of the better push alerts I usually receive
But how would we pull this off if we didn’t want any cloud involvement? Home Assistant offers fully local options for generating alerts, anything from flashing smart lights, playing soft, audible tones on a bedside speaker, or on-device pop-ups via the Home Assistant Companion app. I opted for Pushover because it fit my workflow at the time, but you can pick the alert style that matches your privacy comfort level.
All Brains Stay Indoors: Data Privacy Built-In
All energy data and automations live on my Home Assistant mini-PC. The only external traffic is the encrypted Pushover packet containing the short alert text. If you choose a local alerting method, nothing leaves your network at all.
Proof in the Numbers: From 8 Misses to 0
| Metric | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Forgotten loads per month | 6 – 8 | 0 |
| Extra wash cycles | 4+ | 0 |
| Average cycle-switch delay | 2h+ | <5m |
| Laundry-related stress | High | Gone |
Within three months I reclaimed hours of productivity, saved energy and water, and most importantly, eliminated a nagging mental burden.
Why Caregivers, Solopreneurs, and Investors All Win
- Overextended caregivers receive kind, timely nudges that streamline routines without another clunky app
- Solo operators always have fresh linens ready for clients, sustaining a calm, professional vibe—even on packed days
- Hands-on real-estate investors know exactly when cleaning crews can swap loads, cutting turnover time and utility waste across multiple units
Three Quick Wins You Can Achieve Today
- Quick ROI, zero rewiring. A plug-and-play device pays for itself in saved energy and time—often within the first billing cycle.
- Privacy your way. Keep logic local and choose encrypted cloud push or 100% local alerts—whatever fits your comfort level.
- Accessibility matters. Gentle, low-friction reminders respect neurodivergent minds better than noisy alarms.
Ready to Put Laundry on Autopilot? Let’s Talk
I turned my own chaos into a calm, repeatable workflow—and I can do the same in your home, clinic, or rental property. Book your complimentary 15-minute discovery call and let’s start crafting ADHD-friendly smart tech solutions that save you time, energy, and sanity.
