Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes initiating a rinse cycle of the washing machine appliance, operating a dispensing assembly to dispense wash fluid into the wash tub, obtaining a wash fluid turbidity of the wash fluid using the turbidity sensor, determining that a target volume of wash additive was added to the wash fluid based at least in part on the wash fluid turbidity, and implementing a responsive action in response to determining that the target volume of the wash additive was added to the wash fluid.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, a blower operably coupled to the wash basket, a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the wash basket for rotating the wash basket, and a controller. The blower is configured to introduce air into the wash basket. The controller is configured to initiate a wash cycle for cleaning the load of clothes, determine that air dry conditions are satisfied, and perform an air dry operation after completion of the wash cycle in response to determining that the air dry conditions are satisfied. The air dry operation may include operating the blower to circulate the air within the wash basket and operating the motor assembly to tumble the load of clothes. A method of operating a washing machine appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes a step of initiating a rinse cycle of a washing machine appliance. The method also includes a step of sensing, with a conductivity sensor, a conductivity measurement of a rinse fluid within a tub of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes a step of determining, based on the sensed conductivity measurement and a baseline conductivity measurement, a change in conductivity value. The method also includes a step of detecting, based on the change in conductivity value, a presence of rinse additive within the rinse fluid.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes a step of initiating a wash cycle of a washing machine appliance. The method also includes a step of sensing, with a conductivity sensor, a conductivity measurement of a wash fluid within a tub of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes a step of determining, based on the sensed conductivity measurement and a baseline conductivity measurement, a change in conductivity value. The method also includes a step of detecting, based on the change in conductivity value, a presence of oxygen bleach within the wash fluid.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance includes a step of initiating a wash cycle of a washing machine appliance. The method also includes a step of sensing, with a conductivity sensor, a conductivity measurement of a wash fluid within a tub of the washing machine appliance. The method further includes a step of determining, based on the sensed conductivity measurement and a baseline conductivity measurement, a change in conductivity value. The method also includes a step of detecting, based on the change in conductivity value, a presence of chlorine bleach within the wash fluid.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within the cabinet and defining a wash chamber, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub for receiving a load of clothes, a water supply for providing wash fluid into the wash tub, a microphone positioned within the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the water supply and the microphone. The controller is configured to monitor a sound signal generated during operation of the washing machine appliance using the microphone, analyze the sound signal to identify a sound signature associated with an adverse operating condition, and implement a responsive action to correct the adverse operating condition in response to identifying the sound signature.

Abstract: A laundry appliance includes a tub positioned within a cabinet, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub and defining a chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, a user interface panel mounted to the cabinet, and a controller in operative communication with the user interface panel. The controller is configured to determine the laundry appliance has been turned on, obtain a list of favorite operating cycles based on historical data related to operating cycles performed by the laundry appliance, and display the list of favorite operating cycles on the user interface panel for selection by a user through the user interface panel.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub, a wash basket rotatable mounted within the tub, and a heating element in thermal communication with the wash tub such that the heating element is positioned and configured to generate steam within the wash tub. A method of operating the washing machine appliance includes receiving a cycle selection and a steam option selection from the same input selector. The method also includes activating the heating element during the selected cycle of the washing machine appliance in response to the received steam option selection.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub, a wash basket rotatable mounted within the tub, and a heating element in thermal communication with the wash tub such that the heating element is positioned and configured to generate steam within the wash tub. A method of operating the washing machine appliance includes receiving a cycle selection and a steam option selection from the same input selector. The method also includes activating the heating element during a wash cycle of the washing machine appliance in response to the received steam option selection.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes receiving a start input for an operation of the washing machine appliance. The method also includes estimating a hold time that is predicted to occur after the operation. The method further includes determining the estimated hold time is greater than a maximum hold time. In response to the estimated hold time greater than the maximum hold time, an operation start time may be delayed or a keep fresh cycle may be performed after the operation.

Abstract: A method for operating a washing machine appliance may comprise a step of monitoring, with a sensor, a conductivity measurement of a tub of the washing machine appliance. The method may also include a step of receiving an input indicative of a selection of a self-clean cycle of the washing machine appliance. The method may further include a step of activating the self-clean cycle of the washing machine appliance. The method may also include a step of recording the conductivity measurement of the tub in response to the self-clean cycle being activated. The method may further include a step of comparing the recorded conductivity measurement to a first reference conductivity value. The method may also include a step of determining, based on the compared recorded conductivity measurement and the first reference conductivity value, the presence of a cleaning agent within the tub.

Abstract: Washing machine appliance ventilation systems and methods include rotating a wash basket of the washing machine appliance for an ON period, whereby a flow of ambient air is drawn through an aperture in the washing machine appliance from an ambient environment into the wash basket. The systems and methods also include comparing a humidity within the washing machine appliance to a reference humidity value. When a difference between the humidity within the washing machine appliance and the reference humidity value is greater than a threshold, the step of rotating the wash basket for the ON period is repeated. When the difference between the humidity within the washing machine appliance and the reference humidity value is less than or equal to the threshold, the ventilation cycle or method is terminated.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance including a ventilation structure. A vent line is at a wash tub. A vent filter is provided to the vent line that allows air to flow from the wash tub, and through the vent line, the vent filter redirecting cleaning fluids impinging on the vent filter back toward the wash tub. The vent filter may include a plurality of louvers. The louvers may be located adjacent to one another so as to form a plurality of openings for the flow of air from the wash tub.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub, a blower operably coupled to the wash basket, a motor assembly mechanically coupled to the wash basket for rotating the wash basket, and a controller. The blower is configured to introduce air into the wash basket. The controller is configured to initiate a wash cycle for cleaning the load of clothes, determine that air dry conditions are satisfied, and perform an air dry operation after completion of the wash cycle in response to determining that the air dry conditions are satisfied. The air dry operation may include operating the blower to circulate the air within the wash basket and operating the motor assembly to tumble the load of clothes. A method of operating a washing machine appliance is also provided.

Abstract: An item-management system is provided having a household appliance, a camera assembly, and a controller. The household appliance may include a cabinet. The camera assembly may be directed at the cabinet to capture an image of the cabinet. The controller may be in operative communication with the camera assembly. The controller may have access to an item list of one or more stored items. The controller may be configured to direct an item-management operation. The item-management operation may include receiving the image from the camera assembly, identifying, automatically, based on the received image, a stored item from the item list, determining, based on identifying the stored item, an unsuitable status of the identified stored item to indicate the identified stored item is inappropriate for the household appliance, and directing, based on determining the unsuitable status, a responsive action at the household appliance.

Abstract: A method of operating a laundry treatment includes receiving an input for a selected washing operation for a laundry load; determining a filtration requirement of the laundry load of the selected washing operation; implementing a responsive action in response to determining the filtration requirement of the laundry load, the responsive action including an activation state of a selector input on a user interface; and performing the selected washing operation according to a determined set of operating parameters.

Abstract: A system and method for data transmission and performance improvement for an appliance is provided. The system includes an appliance including a controller operably connected to a network computing device. The controller is configured to transmit a packet to a network computing device. The packet includes genealogical data for the appliance encoded in a positional numeral system. The network computing device is configured to receive the packet and decode the genealogical data for the appliance. Decoding includes translating the positional numeral system to an appliance configuration.

Abstract: An appliance performance report method for determining and communicating conditions of appliances. The method includes receiving appliance performance test parameters from a supervisory user of an appliance. The appliance performance test parameters include a test time frame for performing a self-diagnostic test. The method further includes directing the appliance to perform the self-diagnostic test during the test time frame, receiving diagnostic test data from the appliance following performance of the self-diagnostic test, generating a performance report using the diagnostic test data received from the appliance, and communicating the performance report to the supervisory user. An appliance performance report system including a controller is also described.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a water inlet fluidly coupled to a water supply for receiving wash fluid, a wireless communication module, and a controller operably coupled to the wireless communication module. The controller is configured to obtain an event notification of a water discoloration event associated with the water supply and implement a responsive action in response to obtaining the event notification of the water discoloration event, such as stopping an operating cycle and providing the user with an issue rectification guide for mitigating effects of the water discoloration event.

Abstract: A washing machine appliance includes a wash tub positioned within a cabinet, a wash basket rotatably mounted within the wash tub and defining a wash chamber configured for receiving a load of clothes, and a camera assembly positioned in view of the load of clothes. A controller is configured to obtain one or more images of the load of clothes to be washed during a wash cycle, analyze the one or more images using an image recognition process to identify an outlier garment in the load of clothes, determine that the outlier garment is not on a safelist, and implement a responsive action in response to identifying the outlier garment that is not on the safelist.