This Raspberry Pi Device Will Let You Know When Your Laundry Is Done

Ever throw a load of clothes in the washing machine, only to forget a few moments later? Wait too long and usually you’ll have to repeat the process all over again. Rather than waste time, detergent, and energy, why not create your own notification system?

That’s exactly what GitHub user “Shmoopty” did with the help of a Raspberry Pi Zero. Now, whenever his laundry is done, he’ll receive an alert on his phone and/or desktop, prompting him to go change over the clothes.

But this setup isn’t only limited to washers and dryers. In fact, it can work with dishwashers, garage door openers, fans, furnaces, and pretty much any other appliance that vibrates.

This gadget uses a 801S vibration sensor module to detect faint shaking. Stick it to whatever you’d like to monitor, and if the shaking lasts a specified amount of time, it will assume that the appliance is running. You can then receive tweets or PushBullet notifications when it stops.

Want to make any old machine smart… without having to tear it apart? Then check out Shmoopty’s project here.