[Bruce Wang]

people owned a few "everyday outfits". Washing was done by hand a few times/week and was very laborious - buckets of water/soap, scrubbing boards, rinsing, hanging to dry. Clothes were thicker and made to last. When the electric washing machine was introduced, not everyone could

This makes more sense than my prior supposition which was that people put up with smellier clothes. 

I learned the hard way once that the washing machine is the most valuable appliance in the house.  Everything else has a decent short term substitute.

[Bruce Wang]

people owned a few "everyday outfits". Washing was done by hand a few times/week and was very laborious - buckets of water/soap, scrubbing boards, rinsing, hanging to dry. Clothes were thicker and made to last. When the electric washing machine was introduced, not everyone could

This makes more sense than my prior supposition which was that people put up with smellier clothes. 

I learned the hard way once that the washing machine is the most valuable appliance in the house.  Everything else has a decent short term substitute.