Apparatus for controlling a washing machine (230) comprising a controller configured to receive identification information of a garment (100) placed in a washing machine (230), the identification information being wirelessly readable from an identifier (102) on the garment (100), whereby the controller is configured to control the apparatus to retrieve stored washing instructions for the garment (100) from at least one memory (224) separate from said garment (100) and to operate said washing machine (230) according, at least in part, to the retrieved washing instructions.
