Website design By BotEap.comWhen people first started washing their clothes, they did so by banging them against rocks and then washing the dirt away 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. They would then throw the bag overboard and let the water agitate the clothing in the wake of the ship. There is evidence that ancient laundry detergent was made from the ashes of animals sacrificed 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 the home until the invention of the washing machine. It was very tiring for women’s arms and the lye often caused burns. The women often hired help with the laundry or took it to a cleaner who used the same process.

Website design By BotEap.comIt took many years for the washing machine to become what most people know today. You can now find machines that steam your clothes, wash on two different fabric cycles within the same load, and those that use just a few gallons of water. Technological advances have undoubtedly caused 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 spell washing machine was invented. It was a scrub board. This allowed the women to stop banging their clothes against a rock. In 1851, James King invented the drum washing machine, but it was still a manual washing machine. This machine used a manual agitator to agitate the water.

Website design By BotEap.comRotary washer/extractor

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 covers. Some were actually made from wooden tubs.

Website design By BotEap.comelThor

Website design By BotEap.comThe first fully electric washing machine was called The Thor. The 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 water leaking into electrical wiring and causing shorts, sparks, or electrical shocks.

Website design By BotEap.comSome interesting facts about famous washing machine companies

Website design By BotEap.comIn 1893, FL Maytag started a farm implement company. When business seemed slow in the winter, he decided to add a wooden tub washer in 1907. Soon, he began making washers full time, and Maytag was born.

Website design By BotEap.comWhirlpool actually started out in 1911 as the Upton Machine Company. Located in St. Joseph, Michigan, it started with the electric powered washer wringer.

Website design By BotEap.comThe Schulthess Group has been in existence for over 150 years. They began production of the first washing machines in 1909. They also supported the inventions of a punch card control for those washing machines in 1949. In 1951, the Schulthess Group began producing automatic washing machines in Europe.

Website design By BotEap.comGeneral Electric was the first company to produce a washing machine that had five different buttons. These were used to control the water temperature, the spin speed, and the stirring speed. This was in 1957. This finally brought the washing machine to something that resembles what the world is used to today.