History of washing machines: who invented the washing machine?
Website design By BotEap.comWhen people started washing their clothes, they did so by beating them against rocks and then washing the dirt in a stream or river. While on board the ships, the crew used to put their dirty clothes in a cloth sack and tie a rope around the top. Then they would drop the bag overboard and let the water churn the clothes in the wake of the ship. There is evidence that ancient laundry detergent was made from the ashes of animals slaughtered in Rome. Other soaps include the use of perfumes and bleach.
Website design By BotEap.comWashing clothes by hand was one of the most difficult tasks in cleaning until the invention of the washing machine. It was very taxing on women’s arms and bleach often caused burns. Women often hired help to wash their clothes or took them to a dry cleaner that used the same process.
Website design By BotEap.comIt took many years for the washing machine to become what most people know today. Now you can find machines that steam your clothes, that wash in two different fabric cycles within the same load, and those that use only a few gallons of water. Without a doubt, technological advances have brought about great changes in washing machines and their use.
Website design By BotEap.comTwo types of hand washers
Website design By BotEap.comIn 1797, the first kind of washing machine was invented. It was a scrub board. This allowed the women to stop hitting the clothes against a stone. In 1851, James King invented the drum washing machine, but it was still a manual washing machine. This machine used a manual rotating wheel to stir the water.
Website design By BotEap.comRotary / Rotary Washer
Website design By BotEap.comThe first rotary washing machine was patented in 1858 by Hamilton Smith. Less than 20 years later, in 1874, William Blackstone presented his wife with a birthday present. It was the first washing machine designed to remove dirt from clothes by washing them. He had made the machine convenient for home use. However, most of these machines were made of steel and had heavy, dirty lids. Some were actually made from wooden tubs.
Website design By BotEap.comThe Thor
Website design By BotEap.comThe first fully electric washing machine was called The Thor. Hurley Machine Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, introduced this machine in 1908. The washers had an electric motor and a large galvanized tub. The washing machine was actually invented by Alva Fisher and a patent was issued in 1910. One of the biggest problems with early electrical machines was that water dripped onto electrical wiring causing shorts, sparks, or discharges.
Website design By BotEap.comSome interesting facts about famous washing machine companies
Website design By BotEap.comIn 1893, FL Maytag started an agricultural implement company. When business seemed slow in the winter, he decided to add a wooden tub washing machine in 1907. Soon, he began making washing machines full time and Maytag was born.
Website design By BotEap.comWhirlpool actually started in 1911 as the Upton Machine Company. Located in St. Joseph, Michigan, it started with the electric motor drier washer.
Website design By BotEap.comThe Schulthess Group is over 150 years old. They started production of the first washing machines in 1909. They also supported inventions of a punch card control for those washing machines in 1949. In 1951, the Schulthess Group began producing automatic washing machines from Europe.
Website design By BotEap.comGeneral Electric was the first company to produce a washing machine that had five different push buttons. These were used to control water temperature, spin speed, and stirring speed. This was in 1957. This finally led the washing machine to something that resembles what the world is used to today.