Washing Machines: They Used To Be and They Are Now

Yes, that's what washing machines were like. We've always done laundry. Although washing clothes seems simple now, it wasn't always that way. Just over a century ago, it was hard work, as clothes were washed in rivers by stepping on them or beating them against rocks to remove dirt. Washboards were also used, which had a raised surface against which the clothes were rubbed to remove dirt.

Fortunately, those days are gone, and now doing laundry is as simple as pressing a button and letting the washing machine do everything for us, even dispensing the detergent . But washing machines evolved over all these years? Let's tell you the fascinating story of washing machines .

Article index

• The first washing machines in history
• Major technological advances in the history of washing machines
• Electronics takes center stage in the history of washing machines

The first washing machines in history

The first machines used for washing clothes were ships' paddles . It wasn't until the 15th century that the first prototypes appeared, designed by the inventor Jacopo Strada. In 1691, the first English patent was issued , for 'Washing and Wringing Machines'. In reality, it was a motor with various uses, including washing clothes.

The first washing machine wasn't built until 1766. Its inventor was the German Jacob C. Schäffer. It was a bathtub that used lye and fuel to heat the water, employing a simple system of rollers.

In 1797, the first 'steam washing machine' , invented by the American Nathaniel Briggs. This machine, called 'Clothes Washing', wrung out and ironed clothes using several rollers. It could be said that this was the first washer-dryer in history.

The 19th century marked a revolution for washing machines, with tens of thousands of patents registered. In 1850, the American James King created the first model with a rotating drum , which facilitated drying. Five years later, Joseph Johnson created a machine that could perform a short wash cycle , for about 20 shirts.

The first modern washing machine was invented on July 1, 1874, when William Blackstone managed to significantly reduce its size. This led to its becoming an essential appliance in many homes.

Major technological advances in the history of washing machines

Perhaps today we're quite accustomed to major advancements like washing machines with i-DOS technology , which feature an intelligent automatic dosing system for detergent and fabric softener that adjusts based on the load and how dirty the laundry is, EcoSilence quiet motors , or the ability to control our washing machine remotely thanks to Home Connect . But it wasn't always like this; we haven't always been able to enjoy Bosch's smart washing machines.

electric washing machine was created at the beginning of the 20th century . It was patented by Alva J. Fisher in 1901. This washing machine already incorporated a door with two hinges that prevented water from escaping as the drum rotated. It also had a gearbox that rotated automatically, changing the drum's direction of rotation. This prevented clothes from clumping together.

In 1937, the first washing machine capable of washing, rinsing, and extracting water from clothes in a single cycle was created. A year later, the first automatic drying , thus giving rise to modern clothes dryers

first top-loading automatic washing machine was distributed in 1947. In the following years, machines with specific spin programs, programmed cycles, and automatic fabric softener dispensers appeared. Now we even have washing machines that automatically regulate the use of detergent and fabric softener.

Electronics takes center stage in the history of washing machines

Since the last third of the 20th century, the major advances in washing machines have been in electronics the first microprocessor chip was incorporated , optimizing cycle times and usage. In 1980, RAM memory . And in 1994, the first machine with an Energy Star rating was introduced.

Since then, promoting energy efficiency has been one of the main areas of innovation in the history of washing machines. In 2008, for example, the University of Leeds designed a washing machine that only needed 250 ml of water per wash. And since 2012, energy efficiency criteria have been incorporated into manufacturing, with washing machines classified by their energy efficiency level through their labeling. Specifically, at Bosch, we offer the highest energy efficiency rating on the market, A+++, in our wide range of dryers, promoting efficient consumption and better care for your clothes.

Furthermore, in recent years there has been a strong emphasis on connectivity . Thanks to Home Connect technology , we can connect our washing machine to our mobile phone and modify settings, turn our washing machine on or off, etc.

In short, that's how washing machines were... and that's how they are. This is their short but significant story. What will 2020 bring? What technological advances will we see?

Source: https://innovacionparatuvida.bosch-home.es/historia-de-las-lavadoras/