8 Surprising Fun Facts About Washing Machines You Never Knew!

1. High-Speed Spin Cycles

Hold on to your socks - we're about to go into warp speed laundry mode: The highest spin speed for washing machines available today is a breakneck 1800 revolutions per minute, perfect for wringing out water from sturdy fabrics like cotton and denim, but not so great for delicate silk that needs a gentle spin at around 400 RPM to avoid turning them into haute couture confetti.
Source => appliance-insurance.co.uk

2. Rockin' Box Mangler

Before the age of spin cycles and delicate settings, the early American laundry room was more like a scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: manual labor, some heavy rocks, and levers to navigate. That's no artifact, folks: the first washing machine patent in the US, granted to Nathaniel Briggs in 1797, was a large contraption called the Box Mangler. It consisted of a massive frame holding a box filled with rocks, set upon wooden rollers. Clothes were wrapped around the rollers, and two people would heave the box back and forth to clean them. The Box Mangler was far from user-friendly, being bulky, expensive, and labor-intensive to operate.
Source => mukundsathe.com

Did you know Josephine Cochrane invented the first practical dishwasher in the 1880s out of necessity and a hatred for doing dishes? Discover how this clever invention changed dishwashing forever! 💧🍽️

=> Fun Facts about Josephine-Cochrane

3. Electrifying Thor Invention

In the early 1900s, Alva Fisher had a shocking revelation: doing laundry could be electrifying! Zap! Alas, although Fisher invented the first electric washing machine, it was Louis Goldenberg, an engineer at Ford Motors, who actually built it and named it "Thor". However, the mighty Thor had an Achilles heel: the motor wasn't protected underneath, leading to short-circuits and shocks when water dripped onto it. Nevertheless, this zappy innovation triggered the evolution of the modern washing machines we all know and love today.
Source => inventions-handbook.com

4. Woody Laundry Limbs

Before washing machines swirled into our lives, people across Britain were basically doing the laundry with woody limbs, getting themselves into a proper dolly-lama of a situation: These wooden contraptions, known as washing dollies, were used to agitate the cloth in a wash-tub and went by various regional monikers like dolly-legs, dolly-pegs, or possing-sticks – even early washing machines hopped onto the trend and incorporated them as paddles, though they definitely weren't spiked like some medieval war club.
Source => oldandinteresting.com

5. Beethoven's Laundry Serenade

When Beethoven's 9th Symphony isn't busy washing away listeners' sorrows with its uplifting "Ode to Joy" movement, it moonlights as the go-to party anthem for West Australian Symphony Orchestra's laundry night: Little known, however, is the shocking absence of washing machines serenading delicate garments with this timeless masterpiece.
Source => isolatednation.com

6. Mayan Dental Bling

Ever heard of a Mayan grill before they became mainstream?: Turns out, the ancient Maya civilization had a remarkably advanced form of dentistry, allowing them to carve and inlay ornate stone designs into their teeth, signifying their social status and accomplishments while ensuring that some serious bling added to their bite.
Source => tourbymexico.com

7. Top-Loader Durability Showdown

The great laundry showdown, where socks go rogue and top-loaders prove their worth: Top-loading washing machines are known to outlive their front-loading counterparts, with durability akin to a favorite pair of jeans. Got your attention? Here's the serious reveal: Top-load washers can last up to 14 years, while front-load washers typically kick the bucket around the 10-year mark. So, roll up your sleeves and consider investing in a top-loader for a long-lasting laundry love affair!
Source => angi.com

8. Washing Machine Cleaning Irony

Feeling a little "vinegar and baking soda can clean a washing machine" irony? We've got the cure: Just combine one cup of each and run a hot cycle in your washer to break down pesky mold and mildew, bidding farewell to any funky smells that linger.
Source => theappliancecarecompany.com