Washing Machines and Women’s Liberation

When you think of women’s liberation, what comes to mind? The right to vote? Equal pay for equal work? Or maybe… washing machines ?

You read that right. Some historians believe that the washing machine (and other similar modern conveniences that we take for granted today) were actually greatly responsible for women fighting for and claiming equality with men.

Washing machines have been hailed as one of the greatest time-saving inventions of all time, leading to more freedom and independence for women than they’d ever had before.

The Evolution of Washing Machines

For thousands of years, before indoor plumbing became common, women washed their families’ clothes in one of two ways. They carried the wash to a river or stream and used flat rocks to agitate the clothing and beat out the dirt, and the moving water to wash it away.

Or they carried water from a stream, well, or pump to their yards, where they heated it over fires and washed clothing in a washtub.

In this case, a woman would add soap to the warm water. She would use a stick to stir the clothing in the tub to agitate it. Then she’d wring out the clothing by hand or with a mangler–a hand-cranked device that smashed the clothing flat and pushed the water out.

Because carrying water and heating it was labor- and time-intensive, the water would be reused. She would wash the least-soiled clothing first, saving the dirtiest for last when the water was also the dirtiest.

The whole process could take a full day or more, plus the time needed for the clothing to dry, and the process of ironing. 

While innovations in washing technology did occur throughout the years, they all still required the constant involvement of a person, stirring, wringing, rinsing, and washing each item of clothing. 

In many developing countries washing clothes is still done this way.

The Invention of the Washing Machine

In 1904, the first electric washing machine was mentioned in the newspapers. It had a tank for washing and an attached hand-cranked mangle for drying. Although still not a common feature in homes, sales of these machines did rise until the Great Depression, when they became a luxury most people could not afford.

But also during the Great Depression, washer design greatly improved, with more safety features. Spin dryers also came on the scene, a welcome relief from the labor-intensive and dangerous mangle. By the 1940s, over half of American homes had a washer (60%). Rather than the designated hookups we have today, washers were connected to taps with temporary slip-on connectors. 

During the war, a lot of washing machine manufacturing was suspended so that American factories could produce items needed to support and equip our troops.

During this time, people began inventing better washers, including ones that offered different wash cycles.

In the 1960s, a washing machine was invented that had two drums so that water could be reused–not to save on water or even on soap, but because it was so expensive to heat water that it made sense to reuse it once it was hot.

And progress boomed from there. Before long, almost every American home had a washing machine, and life for women was never the same.

Timesaving Miracle Machine

According to the University of Montreal’s Professor Cardia, the advent of the washing machine (along with other home appliances like the electric stove and the refrigerator), meant that women were able to reclaim hours of their lives–many, many hours.

In 1900, the average Western woman spent 51 hours per week on household chores–more than a modern workweek. But by 1975, it was down to 18 hours per week. This means that over four entire work days were saved per week. The time it took to do one load of laundry was reduced from four hours to 41 minutes. 

What did many women do with these newfound hours–days–of their lives? Many entered the workforce for the first time. And others who had been employed as maids ended up finding better–higher-paying–jobs. As a result, women began to have financial security and freedom and those who were mistreated by their husbands were able to leave or threaten to leave, resulting in better domestic treatment as well.

Life changed forever, for women, their families, and the world. It’s amazing what a whole population of people can do when they’re given time to do it.

Today, the average American woman spends a little over 16 hours a week on household chores. Men spend about 10 hours. While women still do the majority of the housework, the fact that men chip in far more than they used to shows that society continues to change.

Washing Machines Today

While society keeps evolving, so does technology. Today’s washing machines save even more time and give many more options than machines of the past. 

• Smart washers and dryers are connected to an app on your phone via the internet. This allows you to remotely control your machines. 
• Washers with removable agitators allow you to run larger loads with ease, customizing your machine to your needs.
• Some washers have sensors that sense the size of the load and adapt the water level and wash cycle accordingly.
• Washing machines with automatic detergent dispensers hold enough soap for 20-40 loads and dispense as needed, saving you the hassle of measuring and pouring soap into the machine every time.
• Machines with a sanitize setting use extra-hot water to kill bacteria on your laundry. This can be especially useful for towels, bedding, and sports clothing.
• Some front-loading machines have a self-cleaning setting and will even remind you when it’s time to run it.

We’ve come a long way from doing laundry at the river. Today’s modern conveniences save us more time than ever, giving us the freedom to pursue our dreams.

If one of your dreams is a perfect, remodeled home to give you and your family a place to relax, we’re here for you.

Serving Midtown, Betton Hills, and other Tallahassee neighborhoods, McManus Kitchen and Bath is ready to help. Contact us today and let’s get started.