The Washing Machine Problem

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Have you ever thought about the moment in historical time right before the washing machine was invented? I imagine the hard-working, hard-washing folks were sold slick stories that went something like this: life will be so much easier for you after you stop wasting all that time hand-washing your clothes! You'll have so much extra time on your hands you won't know what to do with yourself! Trust us. Happiness is right around the corner... after three easy payments of $$$$$.

So my question is: how's that working out for us?

Coming from the sustainability mindset as I do, I'm interested in both the natural resources gobbled up in every one of our modern lifestyle choices (including laundry)... but I'm also interested in the sustainability of our modern lifestyle. As in: why are we always in a hurry? Is that how we want to live every day, morning till night, until the day we die? If that's not how we want to live... then why do we continue to live that way?

Anyway, I do use a washing machine. (That feels like a confession.) The machine uses electricity, which is not my favorite thing. So! I also hang my clothes to dry, which uses no electricity. Maybe tomorrow I'll learn how to hand-crank my clothes... but today, here's a 3-minute video short about how to use laundry as an opportunity to practice gratitude.