Funny Holidays - Washing Machine Birthday

Laundry is one of the most time-consuming and thankless household chores. If you don't take any measures, dirty things will accumulate faster than they can be washed. Therefore, the invention of a special machine, which (at least partially) took over this difficult and not the most pleasant job, became a real salvation for housewives. The automatic device has made washing a completely effortless task. It is enough to load the laundry, add powder, set the required mode, and the miracle of technology will wash, rinse, wring out and even lightly iron the textiles. Of course, the tireless assistant deserves a special holiday. March 28 is considered the birthday of the washing machine. On March 28, 1797, an invention was patented - a washing board with a relief surface. And already in 1851, J. King invented a prototype of a modern “washing machine”, equipped with a rotating drum. The only difference from well-known models is not an electric drive, but a manual drive. There was no doubt about the usefulness of the unit, and the inventors tried to improve it. In 1856, a mechanically driven design was introduced. For better washing quality, wooden balls were used. And W. Blackstone in 1874 invented a device for his wife that was launched by the muscular power of an animal. This device was the first washing machine for domestic use. Gradually, the unit was improved and became more complex due to additional equipment: devices for draining water, rinsing, spinning, etc. 1. Oddly enough, the first prototype of a washing machine was an ordinary ship's rope. Sailors on ships tied things to a rope and threw them overboard. Ocean water perfectly cleaned clothes from dirt. Of course, after drying, sea salt remained on the clothes, but there was simply nowhere to get fresh water for washing and rinsing. 2. In addition to the usual washing machines, there are highly specialized units. For example, for cleaning glasses, both regular and sunglasses. Spanish craftsmen invented a washing machine for pets (not to be confused with a drum unit, which pets strive to love). This is a compact shower stall that allows you to wash cats and dogs with minimal stress. 3. In addition to automatic models, which have already become familiar, there are robotic units that not only wash clothes, but also dry, iron and even carefully hang them on shelves. True, the cost of such “smart” assistants is very high. 4. A washing machine is a rarity in an American apartment. Americans prefer laundries. This is the merit of the famous gangster Al Capone. He opened a huge number of inexpensive laundries for money laundering (of course, in a figurative sense). This did not help him; the gangster still ended up in prison. But the habit of using public laundries remains to this day. 5. Many housewives use vinegar or citric acid crystals to combat scale. This is a truly effective method, but it should not be abused. The acid “eats” the rubber seals, which reduces the life of the unit as a whole. 6. The first units did not have a housing that hid moving parts. Only after an accident was miraculously avoided did washing machines begin to be produced with a closed housing.