The mass production of electric washing machines first began in the year 1906. It is still unknown who invented the electric washing machine, but Alva J. Fisher has been incorrectly credited with its invention.

The patent office in the United States of America shows one patent before the United States of America patent number 966677, which was the number of Fisher's patent. This number was the United States of America patent number 921195, which was the number of the patent which was registered under the name of an inventor whose last name was Woodrow.

The first laundromat opened in the city of Fort Worth, which is located in the state of Texas in the United States of America, in the year 1934. It was owned by a gentleman named Andrew Clein. The customers inserted a coin in the slot and rented the washing machines. Laundromats are now a common appliance all over the world.