12 such as water temperature wash and rinse times and spin speeds the load mass device 20 may be for example a weighing device that actual measures the mass of the fabric e g weighs the spin tub transmission and fabric load and subtracts the mass of the tub and transmission or a device that measures times associated with filling the tub with water and estimates the load mass therefrom the initial fill time can provide a measure of dry mass and subsequent fill times can provide a measure of wet mass in operation the status of the washer fabric selector 18 is provided not only to the washer 12 but also via the communication channel 16 to the dryer 14 in response to the washer fabric selector 18 being set for the washing of a load the dryer 14 adjusts the temperature and timing of the drying cycle for the same load of fabric after it is transferred from the washer 12 to the dryer 14 this allows the user or operator to set the fabric type for a load of fabric in one step rather than having to set it both on the washer and the dryer the load mass device 20 measures the mass of the fabric load in the washer 12 the measured mass is provided by the communications channel 16 to the dryer 14 the dryer 14 uses the mass from the washer 12 and the setting of the fabric selector 18 to calculate an estimated drying time for the load this estimated drying.