Did you ever wonder who invented the dishwasher?
Did you ever hear of Josephine Cochrane?
No, but I’m sure you are grateful to her after any big dinner party. In 1886, Cochrane was frustrated by waiting for her servants to wash many dishes after hosting an event. She wanted a machine that could do it for her. When she couldn’t find one, she built it herself.
She created a wheel with a motor and wire compartments to fit plates, cups, or saucers. A motor turned the wheel so hot soapy water squirted and rained down on the dishes. At the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, she showed off her dishwasher. The restaurant and hotel industry loved it.
Cochrane founded a company to manufacture her dishwashers; you know that company as KitchenAid. The dishwasher did not become a standard household kitchen appliance until the 1950s – and now some homes have two.
So, as you load your dishwasher after every meal, you can thank a smart, determined woman entrepreneur.
