ca. 1800 |
The washboard was invented |
1831 |
The Cataract washer, with hand crank to rotate clothes, was marketed |
1875 |
About 2000 patents issued in U.S. for mechanical washers by this date |
ca. 1900 |
Electric motors were sold for use with the hand cranks of washers |
ca. 1907 |
The first mass production of electrically-powered washers |
Late 1930s |
The introduction of automatic washing machines |
1941-1945 |
Production halted for most appliances due to the need to manufacture products for World War II defense |
1960 |
55% of U.S. households had washing machines |
2015 |
83% of U.S. households had washing machines |