Part 1 – The Washing Machine

Most Americans own a washer and dryer and perhaps have dedicated an entire room in their homes to laundry activities. Apartment dwellers also have access to laundry appliances within their community or at a local laundry facility. We appreciate the convenience of having these machines take care of our laundering needs. However, laundering clothes has not always been so convenient. Let’s delve into the history of laundry and the appliances that have simplified the laundering process.

The Early Days of Laundry

In ancient times, cleaning clothing was quite a physical task! Laundering clothing required going to a lake or river, immersing the clothing in the water, slapping it against the rocks, and then stomping on it to ‘beat’ out dirt and stains. Eventually, tools like paddles and washboards were added. Before the invention of modern detergent, animal fat, lye, and other natural ingredients such as ash, wood, and grain were combined to provide a cleaning agent.

During the Middle Ages, communal washhouses in Europe became popular. These locations would have stone or wooden tubs and a pot nearby. Water was boiled in the pot to soften the fibers of clothing, thus helping to remove stains more efficiently.

The Invention of the Washing Machine

In the 19^th century, rudimentary ‘machines’ were designed that added paddles and rods with handles to a tub base. The handle turned the rods and the tub or drum to agitate the clothing, making laundering clothing less physical.

With the invention of electricity came the first electric washing machine, which was a drum and galvanized tube with an electric motor. In the 1940s and 1950s, fully automatic machines began to appear. These machines washed, rinsed, and spun clothes without manual labor. Over time, these machine designs became more compact, efficient, and affordable, which led to widespread adoption of these machines in homes around the world.

Modern washing machines are sophisticated home appliances with a multitude of features, including various wash cycles, temperature controls, and energy efficiency. In addition, environmentally friendly machines use less water and energy while improving cleaning performance.

Maintaining Your Modern Washing Machine

Whatever brand of washing machine you choose, you can trust the River City Appliance experts for all your care and maintenance needs. Contact our team today for professional assistance.

Stay tuned for part 2 of this series, where we will discuss the invention of the clothes dryer!