washing machine How the Auto-Dose feature works on Samsung front loading washing machines

[andyr12345]

How does the autodose feature work on the new Samsung ecobubble washing machines? ... I'm glad you asked! - I will try explaining it as best I can, I am not an expert in any way whatsoever , just a Samsung washing machine buyer. I will try to keep it non technical as well so maybe some terminology I may get wrong so please forgive me. 

So the machine we bought was the Samsung ecobubble series 5 front loading washing machine with Autodose and Wi-Fi connected feature in February 2022  from a well known UK electrical store. 

our model number is 90T534DAW . The 90 denotes that its 9Kg maximum load, T denotes it is a 2020 washing machine model. The '3' in the '534' denotes that the washing machine features autodose feature (if the 2nd digit in the model number has an '8' that should denote that it has autodose but do check for certain)  

So basically the way I can describe it, and how handy it is , is that in place of the conventional 3 compartment Samsung have put a conventional looking soap drawer. In fact until you pull the detergent drawer out the front of the machine looks like a washing machine like other machine with a normal detergent drawer:


But have a look how different it looks when you pull out the soap drawer and you will see that its not just an ordinary washing machine soap dispenser drawer:

So you have 3 compartments in the drawer still, except for the difference here is the compartment for the fabric softener (on left) and the detergent (right hand side) have caps on them then you have a compartment above them in the middle of the drawer (I will explain what that is for in a bit) .

So, here are the caps removed:

So on the left is the container for the liquid fabric softener and on the right the compartment for the  liquid soap detergent . according to the manufacturer, when filled up to the top the washing machine should do up to around 20 washes I think it is, before it needs re-filling.

I cannot tell you how convenient it feels just filling them up and then forgetting about them - so every time after they are filled up with the liquid when you go putting on washes you only have to fill up the drum with dirty laundry and away you go, no searching for washing detergent or fabric softener and then opening the drawer and then guessing how much detergent and softener to put in then spill it all over the inside of the soap drawer and down the front of the washing machine (and maybe all on the floor too!)

- this clever washing machine will weigh the clothes at the start of the washing cycle and then the inbuilt electronic sensor will detect how much detergent and fabric softener the washing machine should add for that particular wash - not too much (overdose and waste washing liquid and have too much soap in your washing) and not 'under-dose' either (under dose when you have not put enough detergent in with your wash and does not get your clothes clean enough because you have not put in enough detergent) - pretty cool as well as saving money on detergent and fabric conditioner in the long run. 

The convenience does not stop there, I am sure you are thinking to yourself well do I have to keep taking off the caps to see how much liquid is left in the compartments then and keep checking on them? - well no, not really you see what Samsung have done is put a sensor on the soap drawer compartments so when they start getting too empty a message pops up on the washing machines LED information panel indicating what is low (so "your fabric softener is running low" - or "your detergent is running low" if your liquid detergent needs topping up) - according to the manufacturers your machine should still be good for another couple of washes after the message show giving you enough time to pop out and buy some more detergent or fabric conditioner from the shops - brilliant! 

So what is the third compartment for (the middle compartment without a cap on) well yet another thing Samsung has thought about. That is there for 'manually adding' either washing powder or specialist washing liquid (say if you like using colour liquid that does not contain bleach for your coloured washing or special detergent for wool say or delicates but the liquid detergent in the autodose compartment contains liquid that has bleaching agents in it or not recommended for delicates or wool - then no problem , just go into the autodose settings in the menu display and set autodose to 'off' then you can manually add your liquid detergent or powder to the middle compartment like you would with a conventional washing machine without autodose feature. it is also handy as well if say you have run out of washing liquid , but have some washing powder around in the utility room say, just go into menu and turn off the autodose for the detergent and add your washing powder manually to the washing machine instead!.

So basically this is a rundown what will happen: 
1.) take off caps and fill up the fabric softener compartment on the left hand side to the top  - then do same with wash detergent on the right hand side. Replace the caps and the detergent and fabric softener should last up to 20 washes before you have to fill them again.
2.) go into settings on the display panel and choose the level of autodose strength to 'high, medium, low' - you really only have to do this once , not on every wash (a bit of leeway and try different settings if you like but start off with medium settings, so if you think your washing is still coming out with stains  or not totally clean then adjust the setting to 'high' for autodose of detergent - because some liquids may be better at getting rid of stains than others , and cheaper liquids may need setting to high setting) 
3.) start a wash cycle - your display will say "weighing your washing" and for the next minute will turn the drum (without water so clothes are dry as they are being weighed and detect how much detergent to use for that wash) - then time of wash may change in the display info window then the washing machine will start to fill up with cold water.
4.) as your machine fills up with cold water you may hear some funny unusual 'glug..glug...glug' noises coming from the side of the machine that the soap drawer is placed on (so left hand side) so don't be alarmed these are the pump action for the autodose feature. Its pumping out the correct amount of liquid detergent for your wash , it pumps it from the pull out compartment drawer and then into the housing of the drawer and then down a big black hose from the soap dispenser housing mixed with water and into the wash drum . Whilst this is happening very briefly you will see the words in the LED display window something like "adding detergent" . you do not have to do anything, its all handled automatically!
5.) at the end of the wash when '1' is shown above the rinse button you will hear the glugging noise again , this time briefly you will see some words in the info display window saying something like "adding fabric softener to your wash" . 
when the compartments start to get empty or if the liquid you add to the compartments are of thinner viscosity make a louder glugging noise dont worry about that its completely normal.

From time to time you may want to clean your soap drawer or replace it with some fresh liquid (or different liquid to what you have been using) Samsung has even thought of this - you can physically pull the drawer right out of its housing completely by pressing down on the blue catch at the back as you are pulling out the drawer. 


Then over a sink you can pull the whole lid off the soap dispenser drawer safely and easily:

 

Well That's about it as far as explaining how the auto-dose feature works on the new series 5 (and series 6) Samsung washing machines now . I think I have covered everything but if I have missed something or you have any questions just leave your comment below and I will try my best to answer any questions you may have. 
Thank You for reading. 
Andy.