Sick Of Washing Dishes? So Was Josephine Cochrane And That’s When She Invented Dishwasher – News18

Last Updated:February 24, 2025, 15:42 IST

In 1886, Josephine Cochran revolutionised kitchen cleaning by inventing the first practical dishwasher, forever transforming dishwashing.

Frustrated by the time-consuming task of washing dishes by hand and the frequent breakage of her fine china, Josephine Cochran sought to develop a more effective and damage-free solution in 1886. In doing so, she revolutionised kitchen cleaning with her groundbreaking mechanical dishwasher.

Josephine Garis was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio. In 1858, she married businessman William Cochran and moved to Shelbyville, Illinois. As a prominent socialite, she often hosted elaborate gatherings, during which her valuable heirloom china was repeatedly chipped or broken while being washed. Displeased with her servants’ handling of the dishes and her failed attempts to prevent damage, she resolved to invent a machine that could clean them thoroughly and safely.

Although she had no formal engineering background, Cochran was influenced by her family’s history of innovation. She collaborated with local mechanic George Butters to bring her vision to life. She meticulously measured dishes to design wire compartments that could hold them securely, preventing any movement that might lead to breakage. These compartments were then attached to a rotating wheel inside a copper boiler, where water mixed with detergent was sprayed onto the dishes with force, rather than relying on manual scrubbing. This unique mechanism ensured a deep yet gentle cleaning process.

Cochran patented her invention on 28 December 1885, distinguishing it from earlier, less effective dishwashing devices such as Joel Houghton’s dish soaker from 1850 and L.A. Alexander’s rotating rack model. However, selling the product proved challenging. The dishwasher was priced between $75 and $100—equivalent to approximately Rs 6,497 to Rs 8,662 today—and required a hot water supply, something many homes lacked at the time. Recognising these limitations, she shifted her focus to the commercial market, targeting hotels and restaurants where efficiency in dishwashing was essential.

As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Cochran faced opposition from investors who sought to take control of her business. Despite this, she remained resolute in managing her company independently. Her perseverance paid off in 1893 when she exhibited her dishwasher at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. As the only female-created invention displayed in the Machinery Hall, her machine garnered significant attention from institutions such as hospitals and schools. By this stage, her industrial dishwasher was capable of washing and drying 240 dishes in just two minutes, earning her a prestigious award for innovation.

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Her business, which later became known as Cochran’s Crescent Washing Machine Company, expanded rapidly across North America. By 1898, she had established a factory to meet the growing demand for her product. Even in her seventies, she remained actively involved in promoting and selling her machines. Unfortunately, the relentless demands of her work eventually took a toll on her health, and she passed away in 1913 at the age of 74.

Josephine Cochran was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006. Reflecting on her journey, she reportedly admitted that had she known the obstacles she would face, she might never have begun—but doing so had given her an extraordinary experience she would not have wanted to miss.