Anyone who has ever washed clothes by hand understands this. That shit is difficult af.
And to think, back in those days people also often had 5-10 children. Imagine the amount of laundry 💀
Been there. A freshening up wash isn’t bad, but if you have a stain, forget it you will be cursing.
I remember watching some BBC documentary and they said that whenever a household for enough money that they started to buy appliances, the first one they bought was almost always a clothes washer.
If only they’d invent a “put laundry away” machine.
Did Washing Machines Change The Global Economy More Than The Internet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gvsz_vc7B0
Economists have pointed out the washing machine had an arguably larger improvement on productivity than the Internet.
Some consider it the greatest invention of the industrial revolution. Others have considered it a key driver of women’s liberation.
…hmmm.
Back when he was alive Hans Rossling gave a great TED talk about it: https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_the_magic_washing_machine
Others have considered it a key driver of women’s liberation
Makes sense. My wife makes me do all the laundry.
The spinning wheel did more to give women time than the washing machine, but it predates the industrial revolution. At one time the typical women had to work 14 hour per day making clothing just to keep their family warm in winter. (Men had it no better having to spend similar hours in the field)
There is good reason for this sex difference in history, acoup.blog goes into great detail about it if your care.
There’s this amazing TED talk by Hans Rosling about this. Worth it to check it out! https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_the_magic_washing_machine
Edit: sorry, someone posted this earlier. Lemmy not showing comments…
I first read “the vending machine”. I was really looking forward to getting to know the rest of why it’s such an invaluable invention!
Don’t some communities that reject most modern technology still use washing machines?
