Story: Washing, cleaning and personal hygiene

A woman and her washing machine, 1940

A woman and her washing machine, 1940

In the 1930s cheaper electricity made electric appliances like washing machines more economical to use, and they became more common. This smiling young woman is demonstrating the 'Easy' brand of washing machine. Wringers could be dangerous to use, so no sensible person would put items through the wringer and look elsewhere as this woman (a model) is doing.

Using this item

Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference: 34-BON-19
Photograph by Clifton Firth

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Washing, cleaning and personal hygiene - Washing clothes', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/40783/a-woman-and-her-washing-machine-1940 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 Sep 2013