History of the Washing Machine Sand, Streams and No Fabric Softener
In 1797 the first washing machine – the washboard - was invented, changing laundry as we knew it. No longer did people have to rely on abrasive sands, rudimentary homemade soaps and natural streams. 1797 hailed the dawn of the “wash board era” which, while a huge innovation at the time, was still remarkably time consuming and incredibly hard work.