A Short History of Washing Machines and the Kenmore Brand - Updated

Mechanized washing goes back centuries, but electric and automatic machines became widespread in the 20th century. Kenmore grew into a major household brand sold by Sears and traditionally produced by outside manufacturers under license. Today washers are available as top- or front-load designs, with high-efficiency cycles, smart features, and varying OEM origins for branded models.

Early machines and patents

Attempts to mechanize clothes washing date back centuries. The first recorded British patent in a "washing and wringing" category is often cited from the 17th century, and a U.S. patent for a clothes-washing device appears in the late 18th century. Records from those early years are incomplete, so precise attribution is uncertain.

Electric and automatic innovations

By the early 20th century electric washers began to appear. Mass-produced electric washers were available by the first decade of the 1900s, and inventors and manufacturers refined motors, drums and agitators over the following decades. An early U.S. credited inventor is A. J. Fisher, though patent histories from that era are fragmented. ¹

Kenmore emerged as a household name in the 20th century. Sears introduced the Kenmore brand for home appliances in the first decades of the 1900s and expanded the line through the century. Iconic Kenmore models introduced innovations such as centralized controls and agitator-driven automatic washing in the mid-1900s. Specific model names and dates (for example the 1930s "Toperator" or postwar automatic models) are noted in appliance histories but should be checked against primary sources for precise details. ²

Design: top-load vs front-load

Modern washers fall into two broad categories: top-loading and front-loading. Front-loaders use a horizontal drum and rely on tumbling action; they generally use less water and energy and tend to clean gently and efficiently. Top-loaders can be faster to load and unload, and models with central agitators still survive in markets that prefer quick cycles.

High-efficiency (HE) machines - both front and some newer top loaders - use less water and require low-sudsing HE detergents. Many manufacturers now rate models by water and energy use; look for Energy Star labels when efficiency is a priority.

Brand manufacturing and recent trends

Kenmore historically sold appliances through Sears (and later Kmart) and did not build its own factories. Instead, Sears contracted established appliance makers to manufacture Kenmore-branded washers. Over the past two decades those manufacturing arrangements have changed several times, and multiple OEMs have produced Kenmore models under license. For current models and origin details check the model's data plate or seller information. ³

Since the 2000s appliance technology has continued to evolve: high-efficiency cycles, specialized wash motions, steam options, and smart connectivity (Wi-Fi control, remote diagnostics and app-based monitoring) are now common across brands. Marketing names for proprietary wash motions and cleaning technologies vary by manufacturer; confirm specific claims on a model's spec sheet. ⁴

Choosing a washer today

Decide based on capacity, cycle options, energy/water ratings and whether you prefer a top- or front-loading design. If brand history matters, verify who manufactured a specific Kenmore model and consult up-to-date consumer reviews and energy ratings before buying.

1. Confirm earliest British patent date and details for washing & wringing machines (cited 1691).
2. Verify the 1797 U.S. clothes-washing patent and the status of its records.
3. Confirm A. J. Fisher's attribution and the date for early mass-produced U.S. electric washers (circa 1906).
4. Verify Kenmore brand registration and the dates of early Kenmore model introductions (e.g., first appearance, 1930s 'Toperator', 1947 agitator automatic, 1957 'Wash-and-Wear' cycle).
5. Confirm historical and current OEM manufacturers for Kenmore, including the role of Whirlpool and other partners.
6. Verify claims about specific Kenmore model ratings (for example the HE3t in 2001) and the proprietary wash-motion names mentioned.