History.com: 6 Inventions That Transformed Housework

Electric appliances large and small promised reduced drudgery. Most people take washers and refrigerators for granted today, a century ago, these machines revolutionized people's daily lives. The introduction of running water and electricity set the stage for sweeping social and cultural changes by making possible labor-saving devices to tackle routine household chores. Electric home appliances eliminated the need for cooking over a fireplace or a coal-fired stove or devoting a full day every week cleaning garments. Such machines gave women, in particular, more time for endeavors outside the home -- from paying work to higher education to leisure activities. In doing so, they helped bolster a growing middle class.