We don’t know for sure how long humans have been wearing clothes. But we can be certain that sometime after clothing was “invented” the need to wash or clean clothes to rid them of dirt, smells, and lice became a concern. After a few thousand years of washing clothes along stream banks and lake shores, inventive humans began to play with the idea of creating machines which would clean clothes.
The idea of the washing machines may have been inspired by sea-going voyages in which some people would put their dirty laundry into a strong cloth bag, tie a rope to it, and then throw it overboard. The bag would then be dragged behind the ship for a few hours during which time water would be forced through the dirty clothes. The principle was simple: forcing water through dirty clothes removes dirt.
By the early 1800s, a number of enterprising people were utilizing this principle in machines which could wash clothes. Sometimes this machine was simply a box which would be filled with dirty clothes and water and then the box would be tumbled with a hand crank.
Many history museums include various kinds of washing machines in their displays. Shown below are some washing machines.
Polson Flathead Lake Museum, Polson, Montana
Shown above is a 1900 washer (1889 patent).
According to the Museum:
“Water and clothes were put into the barrel and the cover put on top. Use the handle to agitate the clothes.”
Shown above Marshall Wells Hardware Co. washer. The agitator on top was cranked by hand and move the wooden plunger inside.
Heritage Museum, Libby, Montana
Shown above Marshall Wells Hardware Co. washer. The agitator on top was cranked by hand and move the wooden plunger inside.
Shown above is an unidentified washing machine.
Shown above a wooden rocker washer by an unknown manufacturer from about 1900.
Shown above is wringer washing made by Marshall Wells Manufacturing Company about 1925.
Shown above is the Double Barrel Electric Washer made by Dexter Manufacturing Co. about 1920.
Shown above is a 1937 Maytag Wringer Washer.
La Center Historical Museum, La Center, Washington
Shown above is a 1910 Easy Washer.
Shown above is the washing mechanism for the Easy Washer.
Shown above is the Easy Washer ringer.
East Benton County Museum, Kennewick, Washington
Shown above is a hand-cranked washing machine.
Swan Valley Historical Museum, Condon, Montana
Franklin County Historical Society and Museum, Pasco, Washington
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, Missoula, Montana
Cowlitz County Historical Museum, Kelso, Washington
Presby House Museum, Goldendale, Washington
Shown above is a hand cranked washing machine.
Shown above a ringer washing machine from 1936.
Fort Dalles Museum, The Dalles, Oregon
Sherman County Historical Museum, Moro, Oregon
Miracle of America Museum, Polson, Montana
Riverside Heritage House, Riverside, California
Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, Tillamook, Oregon
WAAAM West, Vancouver, Washington
More museums
In this series, similar exhibits from several museums are shown.
Museums 401: Gas stations and garages (photo diary)
Museums 401: Locomotives (photo diary)
Museums 401: Dentists (photo diary)
Museums 401: Dinnerware (photo diary)
Museums 401: Wood-fired heating stoves (photo diary)
Museums 401: Quilts (photo diary)
Museums 401: Jails and prisons (photo diary)
Museums 401: Square Pianos (photo diary)
Museums 401: Pump Organs (photo diary)
