early electric washing machine! circa 1910

The first electric washing machine was invented in 1906. It was a vast improvement over the below systems:

Although electric washing machines made the weekly laundry day considerably easier for the woman (less rubbing, pounding, lifting - not to mention less exposure to the caustic soap used then), there were still problems:

• She still had to heat all the water on the stove (it was so much work, that the whites were washed first, then the colored - all in the same water).
• Originally, the motor wasn’t protected from the water. Short circuits often occurred and/or the women received a nasty shock.
• The motor often worked too vigorously, shredding the clothes.
• There was no spin dry - you used a wringer, which often removed buttons, hair, and sometimes damaged fingers.
  

  

• The tumble dryer arrived on the scene a bit later - circa 1930. Even then, most women hauled the laundry to the clothesline or spread it out over bushes to dry. Then, they faced the hot task of ironing.

SO, three cheers for my washing machine, the dryer, and my electric iron (for the rare occasions upon which I require it). AND, oh yes, three cheers for my husband who doesn’t expect that I will be the only one to run the washer and dryer and, most importantly, neither expects nor wants anything ironed.

Tags: electric washer, wringer