Evolution of laundry
There’s no doubt that the 20thcentury featured the appearance of all sorts of devices designed to save timeand perform tough tasks significantly faster.
The microwave is one easy example, since theappliance was and still is considered downright revolutionary in terms of beingable to cook things in minutes instead of hours.
But fewer people think of another amazingtime-saving appliance: the washing machine, which allowed housewives orservants to put soiled items in the appliance, turn it on, and move onto othertasks, rather than spending all day washing and wringing out the clothes byhand.
Washing and drying machines didn’t just appearout of the blue though – the history oflaundry tells us that several generations of curious and innovativetinkerers looked for more efficient methods for cleaning clothes better andfaster.
Essentially these ideas built upon each otheruntil late 19th and early 20th century laundry engineersbegan combining the concepts into functional – and patentable – devices.
Of course, the washers and driers of todaystand heads and shoulders above the appliances of even a century ago, so it’sexciting to think about what’s coming next, and how far we’ve come through the history of laundry machines.
Ancient Roman laundry
Although it’s easy to imagine proud ancientRomans always rocking bright white togas, it’s more likely that they wanderedaround in dingy, discolored and smelly robes.
Surprisingly, the Romans encouraged personalcleanliness and created an extensive series of public baths. They also createdpublic Laundromats called fullonicas, which cleaned clothes using a secretcleansing ingredient: urine!
Actually it was the ammonia in urine that canbreak up dirt and grit.
Smithsonian reported that theprocess started with people stopping to use the bathroom in a certain vesseloutside the laundry area. When it was full an employee would dilute it with waterand then pour the mixture over customer clothes, then another employee in abarrel of urine would stomp on everything.
Urine also was used in lye-based soaps.
Ancient Europe laundry
A public laundry area called the washhouse wasan important part of every city or village. Many areas also continued the use of human waste– called night soil or chamber lye -- on clothes because of the ammonia.
Clothing and linens were often boiled in bigpots, walked on, and then stretched and laid flat to dry out. Regular fires inthe washrooms also help speed up the drying process.
Washing clothes: Early laundry methods
While the washroom model was common in larger cities, some communities did their washing near bodies of water. This involved putting them in a stream and soaking them and using a soap that includes animal fat and lye. A paddle also helped agitate the mass of clothes and squeeze out water.
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Washing clothes: early tools
Various tools made the process relativelyeasier, such as:
- A paddle whichhelped agitate the mass of clothes and squeeze out water (or other fluids.)
- Sand which madethe mixture more abrasive
- Soap, which was created using fur fromsacrified animals plus ammonia and lye.
The first washing machines
Early versions of washing machines as we knowthem started showing up in around the 1700s. Some of these 18thcentury laundry options including a patent for a spinning wooden drum filed in1782 and a hand-powered scrubboard in 1792.
The first public viewing a laundry drum wasseen in 1851, and primitive versions of wringers also began appearing aroundthe 1860s, and then there was a horse powered drum that got people excited.Motors were added around the 1880s.
The first official patent for a full electric powered spinning and wringing machine was issued in 1908 for the Mighty Thor,
FAQs
1. How long did it take to wash clothes before washing machines?
Depending on the population of an area, it could take hours or days for everyone to get cleaned up.
2. How did pioneers wash clothes?
They used a variety of tools and techniques to keep clothing safe and unsoiled. Often they were by a lake or stream which provided more water.
3. Do people still use washboards?
Yes! Outside of a unique tone for musical get-together, a washboard can still be utilized. The process is simple and some people like the slower pace. There could also be limited power or a social opportunity.
