Josephine Cochran: The Dishwasher
In 1872 Josephine Cochran cracked the mechanism that would ultimately revolutionize the dishwashing machine. Although there were prototypes of dishwashers before Cochran’s, hers was the first that actually cleaned the dishes by using water pressure to remove dirt rather than scrubbers, making dishwashing more efficient and effective.
Thanks to Cochran’s invention, people could spend less time washing dishes and more time enjoying their meals. These days it’s one of the most useful appliances in the kitchen.