I have always wanted a smart washer/dryer combo. Like it or not, we spend quite a bit of time doing laundry. Unlike the best smart lights and security cameras, which are affordable and easy to set up, an internet-connected laundry room costs over $2,000 to get one of the best washers and best clothes dryers with smart built-ins. I just wanted these washers to talk to other smart devices like phones and lights, so I hacked my existing setup and got away with 1 percent of that.

Below are five different sensor options I found, ranging from free (if you already have an Alexa device at home) to $25. These devices can be added to your existing washer or dryer and integrated into your smart home to send notifications to your phone, make announcements on your smart speaker, and even flash lights to let you know when your clothes are clean or dry. Here's how to get started.

If you're an Amazon Smart Home user, you've probably noticed that Alexa's list of automation triggers has grown over the years. One of its newest options is "Listen for Appliance Beep." You can place one of the best Alexa smart speakers near your washer and listen to the chimes and tunes that play when the washer or dryer has finished its cycle. This sound will initiate a series of automated events. For example, it can send notifications to all devices (phones, smart speakers, TVs, etc.) or flash the smart home lights.

If you want to control the machine remotely, you can also connect it to a high wattage (16A or higher) smart plug with energy monitoring. Energy fluctuations can be used to trigger automation. Set up a trigger to notify that the washing machine is done when the power drops below 25 watts, with the condition that it is active if the power consumption of the machine is 25 watts. However, some electric dryers and washing machines have too much power for the smart plug.

Temperature and humidity sensors like this one ($15, Amazon) can be attached to the dryer's exhaust pipe. It creates an automation that monitors the temperature as it drops from high to low, letting you know when the laundry is ready to be removed. In my experience, this would notify me within 5 minutes of the end of the cycle.

Place or install a vibration sensor ($17, Amazon) in the location of the most noticeable impact while the washer is on. Typically, this is the top or side of the machine. A "stop-sensing motion" trigger can be used to turn off the notification when the machine stops.

Have an older washing machine that uses a timer dial? You can add a two-piece contact sensor ($15, Amazon) to the knob in its natural position. This detector separates when you turn the timer to set the cycle. Simply create a quick smart home routine where both sides of the sensor make contact again and the timer returns to zero, signaling that the job is done.