3 Simple Ways to
Share What You Make

With Instructables you can share what you make with the world — and tap into an ever-growing community of creative experts.

PhotosPhotos

Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

Step by StepStep-By-Step

Share your step-by-step photos with text instructions of what you made so others can do it too!

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

VideoVideo

Share your how-to video. You'll need your embed code from a video site such as YouTube.

Get Started

Learn more & Get Tips

Print PDF

Favorite

Wash reminder

Never forget that you left wet clothes in the washer again! This instructable shows how to make a clothes in the laundry reminder device.

WashReminder.wmv668 KB

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1Why and How

The problem
Our laundry room is next to the baby's room and you have to turn off the washer and dryer when he takes a nap. So my wife asked me to think of a way to remind her that she had clothes in the washer.

My solution
Make a little device that can be turned on when the washer gets paused and will flash until turned back off reminding her to finish the laundry.

Material
1 sheet of white 3/8 inch poster board (Michaels $5)
1 Red flashing LED (Free from halloween candy display package)
2 AA batteries w/ holder (Free from halloween candy display package)
1 on/off switch ( Pulled from old toy)
Small piece of red tissue paper
Small piece of aluminum foil
Washer with arrow image (made by my artist brother)

Tools
Exacto knife
Metal ruler
Glue gun
Soldering iron
Glue stick

« Previous Step

Download PDFView All Steps

Next Step »

9 comments

Mar 7, 2011. 1:34 PMpriddypix says:

just reminded me....i have stuff in the washer!

Apr 20, 2008. 8:17 AMebergh says:

Great idea! I couldn't find the parts so I used a 555 IC chip and some LEDs in a Radio Shack box with a small switch. I put some supermagnets on the back to hold it on the fridge door. Hard to see but the two LEDs are under the tail of the arrow - in the panel of the washer, and flash. Switch is on the right side. Idea is for my wife to snap it on when she leaves 1st, so I will see it when I come in...

Apr 20, 2008. 6:31 PM

Stryker (author) says:

Very nice. Did you make yours after seeing mine or did we both think of the same idea?

Apr 20, 2008. 10:49 PMebergh says:

Oh, I was definitely inspired by yours! Excellent idea you had there :) Wish I had found the blinky card, but not a biggy... had the 555 chip already on hand. If I were to do one again, I might go for an alternating blinking circuit! -eb

Dec 13, 2007. 11:38 AMinventorjack says:

This is quick, cute and clever. Any chance on posting a video of the finished product in action, though?

Dec 14, 2007. 2:03 PM

Stryker (author) says:

I just put a little wmv of it in action. It's really exciting.....

Dec 14, 2007. 1:31 AMFaireLight says:

Cute. BUT, I have a simpler plan. I put the Santa Claus Teddy Bear magnet on the washer when clothes are in the washer. I put the magnet on the dryer when the clothes are in the dryer. It always works for me.