Core77

Samsung Invents Washing Machine with a Built-In Sink

Also, we need to discuss bras and panties

By Rain Noe - August 6, 2015

in Object Culture | Consumer Electronics | Homeware

I'm a guy who grew up without sisters, so I was surprised when I started seeing what was going on inside of all-female-occupied apartments in my 20s. In Brooklyn and Manhattan at least, where space is tight, the bathrooms were often transformed into chaotically-crowded underwear drying stations; and I came to believe that how hastily your host cleaned them up—or didn't—after unexpectedly inviting you over, was an indication of potential romantic interest:

Hastily tidied up, embarrassed excuses made: You've got a shot.

Alexander-Calder-esque underwear mobiles left intact, deal-with-it-or-get-out attitude: You're in the Friend Zone.

As a female friend of mine explained, your average women's unmentionables were too delicate to be thrown into the Kenmore with a half-cup of Tide, and wouldn't survive the dryer. Thus they had to be hand-washed in the bathroom sink and hung up to dry. I found this incredible because it seemed it would add at least an hour to every female's weekly chore list, and wondered why no one had designed a washing machine delicate enough to handle the problem.

Apparently no one yet has, but Samsung has developed something rather interesting that eases the task somewhat: A washing machine with a built-in sink, sexily named the WA52J8700AP. Pop the top open and you're greeted by a plastic basin that has a corrugated texture molded into it, so you can use it as a washboard like you're Nellie down by the river circa 1865.

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You can either pre-treat garments that you can then dump directly into the basin for final washing, or use it like a sink for the delicate stuff. Take a look:

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Now I know none of you come to Core77 to read about women's underwear, but I have to ask our female readership: Do you in fact have to hand-wash most of your undergarments, or was that just the people I was meeting back then? If you do, how much time does it take? A present-day gym-going female friend of mine mentioned she has to wash a lot of her workout gear by hand; is she the anomaly, or is this considered an acceptable trade-off? I ask because few guys I know would be willing to put up with garments that required that level of care.

And lastly: Why hasn't anyone invented a lingerie-washing and -drying contraption?

o

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Robyn Fraser

9 years ago

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I do not hand wash anything. I have never owned a machine (I am 46, for context) that doesn't have a gentle/delicate cycle.

*But* I never tumble dry bras (it's really bad for the elastic and they last much longer if they are hung to dry) and they go into a lingerie bag. And I don't tumble dry my 'good' clothes, i.e. the stuff I wear for client meetings. Again, they last longer and tend to cost me more money.

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Richard Burton

9 years ago

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I generally love Samsung products but we purchased washer/dryer set 2 years ago and the washer was a total lemon. Repaired 4 times in 2 years, calls to customer service no help whatsoever, parts have to be special ordered from Samsung. Never again

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Marc Vivant

9 years ago

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This is one of the weirdest advertised add-ons to a classic product I have ever seen.

- You can't use the sink (or at least I assume you can't) while the machine is running. So if you want to wash up that big night out sexy silk garment along with the Sunday BF jeans, tough luck!
- I thought washing machines were all about water efficiency (or does this one recycle sink water internally...).
- If you have a washing machine in NY, there is pretty darn good chance it is a few feet away from your sink. And if you have space for a top opening washing machine that means you've definitely made it.

The commercial message also weird with Dax and Shepard really using as a sink? Is this all that modern development of washing machines can bring? Nice to see something new... I guess.

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- Toby B
  
  Marc Vivant
  
  9 years ago
  
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  Yes, I believe the sink drains into the drum, so it's a sort of mini-graywater system.
  
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