The White Goods Revolution: How Machines Found a Place in our Homes

Few of us can truly say that we enjoy housework, despite the plethora of ‘labour-saving devices’ now found in most homes. Imagine then, a time when almost all domestic tasks relied on muscle power and elbow grease alone. The lucky few employed domestic servants to do this work. (Of course, the servants weren’t so lucky!) But from 1900 fewer women wanted work as servants and increasingly, the housewife was left to her own devices. Enter ‘electric servants’— machinery designed to make cooking, washing and cleaning easier. Although it would take many decades for most households to acquire these machines, the ‘white goods revolution’ eventually reshaped domestic interiors, while machines embedded themselves in our lives. Join Margaret Anderson as she reflects on the history of domestic work and considers the rise and rise of domestic appliances.

Presented as part of the 'Belongings: Objects and Family Life' exhibition on display at the Old Treasury Building until September 2025.