The Washing Machine Revolution Throughout Photos: How It Changed Women’s Lives Forever

The washing machine brought a transformative change to the lives of women in the 20th century by dramatically reducing the time and physical labor required for laundry. This innovation freed up countless hours that women could then dedicate to other pursuits.

This shift in domestic labor arguably had a more immediate and widespread impact on women’s daily lives than other societal advancements like birth control, the right to work, or even the right to vote.

The evolution of laundry technology, from communal washhouses to the invention of modern washing machines, represents a significant leap in household convenience and labor-saving innovations.

Early laundry methods

Washhouse in Sanremo, Italy, at about the turn of the 20th century

Before the advent of washing machines, laundry was a communal activity. In Europe, villages that could afford it built washhouses, known as lavoirs, where water from a stream or spring flowed into basins for washing and rinsing.

These spaces became important social hubs for women, who gathered not only to do laundry but also to share stories and support one another.

Laundry before washing machines was a labor-intensive process. Women used large metal cauldrons filled with hot water, as hot water was more effective at removing dirt.

A tool called a posser was used to move the clothes around in the water. Early forms of mechanized washing included fulling, where cloth was beaten with wooden hammers in mills, marking the beginning of laundry technology.

The birth of washing machines

A 1766 illustration of Schäffer’s washing machine.

The development of washing machines began in the 17th century, with the first English patent granted in 1691.

Over the years, inventors like Jacob Christian Schäffer in 1767 and Henry Sidgier in 1782 made significant contributions to washing machine design.

These early machines featured rotating drums and textured surfaces to assist in scrubbing clothes, making the laundry process more efficient.

Model Steam Laundry, Colfax, Washington, circa 1900

The Industrial Revolution was a pivotal moment in the advancement of laundry technology. The invention of the mangle, or wringer, in the 19th century revolutionized the way people removed excess water from clothes.

This innovation, along with the development of hand-operated washing machines, laid the groundwork for the electric washers that would follow in the 20th century.

The rise of electric washing machines

Southern Ohio family in front of new washing machine, 1911

The 20th century marked the rise of electric washing machines, with the 1907 Thor, manufactured by the Hurley Electric Laundry Equipment Company, being the first commercially sold electric washer in the United States.

Engineered by Alva J. Fisher, the Thor set the standard for modern washers, and by the 1940s, these machines had become a common fixture in American homes.

Wife of miner on washday. Southern Coal Corporation, Bradshaw Mine, Bradshaw, McDowell County, West Virginia. 1946

The late 1940s and 1950s saw a surge in the production of automatic washing machines, with companies like General Electric and Hoover leading the way.

These machines introduced features that closely resemble those found in modern washers.

In Europe, the economic impact of World War II delayed the popularity of electric washers until the 1950s, with early models being single-tub machines with wringers.