Method for washing laundry in a program-controlled domestic appliance, and corresponding domestic appliance

1. A method for washing laundry items in a program controlled domestic laundry-care appliance, the method comprising:

heating washing liquid present in a drum to a washing liquid temperature in accordance with a washing program using a heating unit within the appliance and controlled by a programmed controller operatively associated with the appliance;

setting a wash temperature limit value using the programmed controller, the wash temperature limit value being a function of a temperature gradient value across free washing liquid in the drum and washing liquid bound by the laundry items based on captured parameter values, the captured parameter values being determined by a sensor system operatively associated with the appliance and, the captured parameter values being specific to the laundry items and/or the appliance;

determining an energy input required to achieve the wash temperature limit value based on the captured parameter values;

distributing the energy input to the heating unit over different phases of the wash program by achieving predetermined temperature peaks; and

applying energy to the heating unit before the washing liquid temperature drops below a lower temperature limit value.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining the energy input required to set the wash temperature limit value includes generating the energy input value in at least two different phases of the washing program as a function of a measured value used to determine advancement of the washing program, with predefined temperature peaks.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining the energy input required to set the wash temperature limit value includes determining the energy input value before the washing liquid temperature drops below the lower temperature limit value.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the temperature gradient value is determined during or after a change in the energy input of the heating unit.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising taking into account quantity and/or absorbency of laundry items in the drum of the appliance when determining the temperature gradient value.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein heating of the washing liquid in the drum is controlled via computer-based system as a function of the captured parameter values.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein setting the wash temperature limit value includes setting the wash temperature limit value as a function of quantity of laundry items in the drum and/or absorbency of laundry items in the drum.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein setting the wash temperature limit value includes setting the wash temperature limit value as a function of a temperature limit value associated with a selected wash program and/or captured parameter values including a mean water level in the drum during a heating phase and/or a temperature of the appliance and/or an ambient appliance temperature.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein setting the wash temperature limit value includes setting a higher temperature value as the wash temperature limit value as the load quantity increases.

10. A program-controlled domestic appliance for washing laundry items via a washing liquid, the domestic appliance comprising:

a drum to retain washing liquid;

a heating unit within the appliance to heat a predetermined amount of the washing liquid in the drum to a wash temperature;

a sensor system to capture parameter values that are specific to laundry items and/or the appliance; and

a programmed controller programmed to control the heating unit as a function of a temperature gradient value across free washing liquid the drum and washing liquid bound by the laundry items based on the captured parameter values to heat washing liquid its the drum to the wash temperature and the controller programmed to calculate an energy input required by the heating unit to achieve a mean wash temperature based on the captured parameter values, distribute the energy input to the heating unit over different phases of a wash program, calculate predetermined temperature peaks, and apply energy before the temperature drops below a minimum predetermined value.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising regulating the wash temperature limit value of the laundry in at least one of a second phase and a third phase of the wash program based on a washing liquid temperature hysteresis.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising heating during a second phase wherein the washing liquid in the drum is heated to the wash temperature limit value of the selected wash program, and heating during a third phase after the washing liquid in the drum has been heated to the wash temperature limit value.

13. The program-controlled domestic appliance as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the programmed controller is programmed to determine the temperature gradient value during or after a change in the energy input of the heating unit.

14. The program-controlled domestic appliance as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the sensor system is programmed to capture quantity and/or absorbency of laundry items in the drum of the appliance, and the programmed controller is programmed to determine the temperature gradient value based on the captured quantity and/or absorbency of laundry items.