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History of the washing machine – sand, streams and no fabric softener
In 1797 the first washing machine – the washboard – was invented, changing laundry as we knew it. No longer did people have to rely on abrasive sands, rudimentary homemade soaps and natural streams. 1797 hailed the dawn of the “wash board era” which, while a huge innovation at the time, was still remarkably time consuming and incredibly hard operate.

Throughout the Victorian times washing days were scarce, taking house on a monthly basis. In fact the longer your family could go between laundries, the more highly ranked you were perceived to be. This may sound want a controversial statement, but quite simply you had more dress – a symbol of wealth and status.

Of course Victorian Britain was not considered one of the cleanliest places. Hair teamed with lice, human waste was tossed into the streets and the River Thames was almost an open sewer breeding cholera epidemics and various other problems. One of these problems was The Great Stink of 1858, when during the summer months the smell of the Thames in the hot summer threatened to overwhelm London with its disease and putrid stench. Even parliament was affected by the smell of the Thames.

The industrial revolution – washing boards, dollies and mangles

With the world such a dirty area, one can understand laundry was not quite as crucial as it is at the present but with the industrial revolution looming, change was on its way. During this period the Washing Dolly was in great use throughout the country – especially as this took place before water was piped into homes. A washing dolly is a pole with one end shaped choose a small three-legged stool. It was used to agitate the dress in the boiling water much wish for the spinning drum in today’s machines.

In 1853 the tax on soap was abolished and so it became much more commonplace and starches and blues were used to keep white items white – although this was viewed as a specialist skill.

Towards the end of the 19th century mangles became popular in households for wringing and flattening costume – reducing the necessary for a flat iron. The design became smaller and cheaper and so the technology was more easily incorporated into houses.

Washing began early in the morning to cater for the hard work and drying, taking a whole day to complete – hence the phrase “washing day”.

The first Washing machine
In 1851, across the pond, American James King patented the first washer resembling today’s appliance. While still hand powered, King’s machine used a drum but it was expensive and therefore not widely used at home. The idea didn’t greatly catch on for another 20 years.

In 1874 William Blackstone presented his wife with a present he’d built. The gift was a washer – who could ask for the whole more?!? Blackstone’s washing machine took the hand-scrubbing out of washing day even though it was still manually powered. Inside the main tub, a small, flat, pegged piece of wood was moved by the use of an outside hand-crank. This removed the dirt from clothes. Blackstone’s machines were mass produced and very successful bringing with them developments to the machine such as wringers and replacing the wood with metal.

Electricity and the modern day washer appliance

It is unclear who invented the electric washer. Alva J. Fisher is often cited as its creator however other sources state Louis Goldenberg (a Ford employee) of New Brunswick, New Jersey invented the electric washing machine around the late 1800s to early 1900s.

The electric washer has evolved in its numerous forms to turn into a staple of the modern household. Much choose other kitchen appliances washing machines are vital in our daily life and have been cited as a factor in women’s liberation as they helped housewives escape the drudgery of household chores.

Washing machines integrated into the kitchen or utility room environment highlight just how should washing machines are to modern society.

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