5 uses of washing machine

Machine that washes clothes

For other uses, see Washing machine (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Dishwasher.

A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, washer, or simply wash) is a machine designed to launder clothing.

The term is mostly applied to machines that use water. Other ways of doing laundry include dry cleaning (which uses alternative cleaning fluids and is performed by specialist businesses) and ultrasonic cleaning.

Modern-day home appliances use electric power to automatically clean clothes.

James king washing machine

The user adds laundry detergent, which is sold in liquid, powder, or dehydrated sheet form, to the wash water. The machines are also found in commercial laundromats where customers pay-per-use.

History

Washing by hand

Main article: Laundry § History

Laundering by hand involves soaking, beating, scrubbing, and rinsing dirty textiles.

Before indoor plumbing, it was necessary to carry all the water used for washing, b