Washing machine is a machine used to clean clothes, linens, and other items. Modern washing machines work automatically. A person simply puts laundry and detergent into the machine and sets the controls. The machine then fills with water. Once it is filled, the machine uses an electric motor to stir or tumble the soaked laundry, removing dirt. Finally, a spin cycle removes excess water from the laundry, which is then ready to dry. Washing machines can be set to wash at a variety of speeds and water temperatures.
Types.
There are two chief types of modern washing machine: (1) agitator machines and (2) tumbler machines. Both types consist of an inner tub and an outer tub. The inner tub, called the basket, holds the laundry. During spin cycles, the basket spins at high speed, forcing water into the outer tub, where it drains.
Most agitator machines are loaded from the top. A large screw-shaped device called an agitator rises from the basket’s center. The agitator stirs the wet laundry.
Most tumbler machines are loaded from a door in the front. The basket spins around on its side, like a rolling barrel. The spinning motion forcefully throws the wet laundry up and down, with much the same effect as an agitator. Tumbler machines usually take longer to wash clothes and tend to be more expensive to purchase. But they often use less water and detergent.
History.
Before the washing machine, people had to wash wet clothes by beating them or using a scrubbing board and a brush, methods still used by some people. Early washing machines consisted of a washtub topped by two rollers, turned by hand, that squeezed the water out of wet clothes. Washing clothes in this way took much time and physical labor, and the rollers could cause injury.
A number of washing machines invented in the 1800’s featured rotating tubs. The first engine-powered washing machine, Maytag’s Hired Girl Washer, was developed in the early 1900’s. It used a gasoline engine to drive an agitator. In 1911, an electric-powered version became available. Later versions added water pumps and drains, spin cycles, timers, and water temperature controls. In the 1990’s, people developed tumbler machines to help conserve water and protect the environment.
