The washing machines of today have virtually changed the lives of women for the better. Getting the family’s clothes clean is no longer a daunting and difficult task. 
There was a time when people pounded clothes on rocks and rinsed them in streams to get them clean. Those on long voyages at sea put their clothes into a sturdy bag and threw it overboard, so the ship could drag it along.
Washing clothes up to the 1700’s was seen as a hard chore and the more wealthy women hired others to do the work. In 1797, the scrub board came along, but this did not ease their burden. Women still had to rub, wring and lift heavy, wet clothes and other items.
Then in 1851, the first patent was issued for a hand powered washing machine. This machine operated by use of a lever that rubbed two ribbed plates together to clean the clothes. However, clothes were often shredded rather than just washed. The first rotary washer came on the market in 1858 and F.L. Maytag began making washers with wooden tubs in 1907. The first wringer washing machine to run on electricity was invented in 1906. However, these became infamous for causing accidents, such as a hand or hair caught in the wringer. As well, women were often shocked by a short circuit that was caused by water dripping on the motor.
This was improved in the 1930’s with a covered motor and a fan to eliminate the problem of overheating. The first completely automatic washing machine was unveiled in 1937 at the Louisiana state fair. By 1950, agitating washing machines with a spin dryer, timing devices and push button controls appeared and in the’60s, a machine with twin tubs appeared. Then in 1978, the more advanced machines of today that operate with microchips were first seen.
Today’s machines provide easy washing of clothes with digital controls to set various water levels and temperatures to match the type of clothes you are washing. You can also purchase machines with over-sized tubs for washing bulky items or simply larger loads. Some of today’s machines are also much more energy efficient than their predecessors, which saves you money. There are now both electric and gas operated machines available. For comfort and convenience, there are also a variety of styles to choose from, including top-loading or front-loading machines. Some machines can even be stacked on top or underneath a dryer. Needless to say, women today no longer have to worry about setting aside many long and strenuous hours to get their family’s clothes clean. Owners who are handy can sometimes make repairs themselves or just call a service technician who will come right to the house to fix the machine. As well, getting replacement parts is seldom a problem.
If you live in the Los Angeles County area and want to learn more about the convenience of today’s washers, you will want to go to www.chiefappliance.com. Chief Appliances also has top-notch service technicians to take care of any repairs, as well as new washers that you can purchase.
