Although clothing styles vary from country to country and even from region to region, the fact remains that keeping our clothing clean is an important necessity. Throughout human history, the methods of washing clothes have changed drastically. In some remote areas, such as the Amazon, Indigenous people may still use creeks or rivers and pound their clothing on rocks although this is not the norm for most people.

Patents and ideas for washing machines date back as far as 1691. However, what we have come to know as the washing machine in the United States came about post World War II. In the years after the war, many washing machines were semi-automatic. This meant that users would have to tend to the load periodically and make adjustments to the cleaning cycles. But one large leap forward in the technology was made in 1957 when Winston L. Shelton and Gresham N. Jennings, who were working as Engineers for GE at the time, created an automatic washing machine. No more tending to your laundry mid-cycle, you could now start your load and go about your other daily tasks.

In the last 65 years, the basic concept of the automatic washing machine hasn’t changed much. What has changed is the manufacturing methods. Even though washing machines cost in the hundreds of dollars or even over $1000 manufacturers have looked for ways to lessen the costs of making a washing machine while still providing a product that would appeal to the consumer.

With energy costs ever-increasing more and more consumers are looking at superior energy-efficient models from brands like LG, Samsung, and GE. These manufacturers offer models that are the traditional top load style and models that are front load. Some models even connect to your home WiFi so that you can download additional washing settings from the manufacturer. Now we have more options than our grandparents could fathom. So to make sense of it all we are continually looking at all the options so that you can easily choose your next washing machine.

Love or hate your washing machine? We want to hear about your experiences. Tell us about it by filling out the form at the bottom of the page.