Bosch's washing machines have some unexpected tricks up their (freshly laundered) sleeves

Keeping up with the laundry can seem like a constant, unwinnable battle  – especially for busy households, hectic schedules and large families. Down-time at home is precious, and no one wants to spend it wrangling with the washing machine or dryer. Bosch is known for leading the charge with tech innovations that make household chores simpler and less painful, and the brand's range of smarter laundry appliances is an excellent case in point. These machines are designed to help you tackle the laundry quickly, efficiently and effectively, no matter what type of clothes you're washing. 

The first of these smart features is SpeedPerfect; a function designed to get your clothes reliably clean and looking their best, in much, much less time than usual. SpeedPerfect will knock up to 65% off the cycle duration, and it's compatible with most programmes, too. Not only is it ideal for situations where time is short, it also means you can tackle more loads in less time, making that mountain of washing piling up in the laundry room than much less daunting. You'll find the SpeedPerfect function on the Bosch Serie 6 WAU28T64GB and WAU28PH9GB 9kg freestanding washing machines, or the Serie 8 WIW28501GB Integrated Washing Machine.

The next clever addition is the Bosch i-DOS function. Bosch washing machines with i-DOS use intelligent dosing technology to save you time, energy and money. i-DOS automatically detects how dirty your clothes are, and determines exactly the right amount of detergent and water you need to ensure perfectly clean clothes every time. 

 All you need to do is make sure the built-in detergent and conditioner containers are refilled every now and again, and i-DOS will take care of the rest for you. 

You'll find this function on the Bosch Serie 6 WAU28PH9GB Freestanding Washing Machine, which also boasts a 9kg max load and SpeedPerfect function making it the perfect machine to really take the pain out of laundry day.

So that has washing covered, but what about getting your clothes dry? Bosch has that covered too, with its Heat Pump Dryer range. Heat Pump drying is the latest big thing in tumble dryer design. A modern version of a condenser dryer, it works by passing hot, humid air from the dryer through a heat pump for re-use, to conserve energy (it can even help keep bills down). All you need to do is empty a water container every now and again. 

That's not the only trick this dryer has up its sleeve either: you can control it with your smartphone. Link your dryer up to your Wi-Fi using Home Connect, and you can launch your cycle even when you're not in the house. It means you aren't tied to staying at home while you're doing the laundry – it's another clever way to slot your laundry around your busy schedule.

Together, this army of appliances are all you need to take charge of the laundry rather than the other way around. Check out the full John Lewis & Partners washing machine range.