This article is the conclusion to our short series, “Laundry through the ages.” Last time, we looked at the washing practices of our medieval ancestors and traced their progress through the innovations of the 19th century. This time, we’ll look at the transformations of the 20th century and take a peek at the technology shaping the future of laundry. As always, happy reading!
The 20th century
With the arrival of electricity, the laundry process gradually became less time- and labor-intensive than in ages past. The first electric-powered washing machine, called “Thor,” was patented in 1907 by the Hurley Machine Company, featuring the famous rotating drum invented by the American James King in 1851. While bulky and rather dangerous to use, it paved the way for the first domestic automatic models featuring spin dryers instead of hand wringers, which appeared on the market in the 1930s.
Few households had the means necessary to acquire one of these machines, but it would not be long before mass production would spark its democratization, putting this feat of technology within wider reach. Following World War II, automatic washing machines swiftly grew in popularity, adding numerous innovations such as timers, varied load sizes, and multiple wash cycles. The first electric spin dryers appeared mid-century, as did commercial laundromats. Detergents also underwent a transformation that saw the animal fat and wood ash of the past replaced by synthetic detergents and fabric softeners.
The 21st century
With the rise of smart technology and artificial intelligence, the way we do laundry continues to evolve. Rising environmental awareness has already led to improvements in energy efficiency and the development of biodegradable detergents, while increasingly intelligent washing machines are now able to automatically adjust water levels, cycle selection, and product quantities.
Today, the washing machine has become ubiquitous in wealthy countries, with even the most modest households benefitting from its time-saving benefits—whether at home or at the local laundromat. And yet, it should be kept in mind that on a global scale, most people do not have access to a washing machine; roughly 60% of the world’s population still does laundry by hand.
The future of laundry will therefore likely revolve around two objectives:
1) leverage the latest technological progress to make the task of washing clothing ever more efficient, convenient, and sustainable
2) extend the revolutionary power of the washing machine to more households around the world, liberating them from the burden of manual washing.
We hope that you have enjoyed this brief look at laundry through the ages. If you missed any of the previous articles in this series, you can find them here and here.