Short answers, pulled from the story.
A home appliance, also called a domestic, electric or household appliance, is a machine that assists with household functions such as cooking, cleaning and food preservation. The Collins English Dictionary defines it as devices or machines, usually electrical, used at home for jobs like cleaning or cooking. The broad usage covers stoves, refrigerators, toasters, air conditioners and consumer electronics.
Self-contained electric and gas-powered home appliances were a uniquely American innovation that emerged in the early twentieth century. Earl Richardson's small electric clothes iron, introduced in 1903, gave the young industry a small initial boost. Early appliances included washing machines, water heaters, refrigerators, kettles and sewing machines.
White goods are major household appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, named because they were typically painted or enameled white. Brown goods are consumer electronics like TVs and computers, a British term derived from the genuine or imitation wood that once finished such devices.
By the 1990s the home appliance industry was very consolidated, with over 90% of products sold by just five companies. In the 1991 dishwasher market, General Electric held 40% market share, Whirlpool 31%, Electrolux 20%, Maytag 7% and Thermador 2%.
The National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 required manufacturers to reduce the energy consumption of appliances by 25% every five years. The United States Department of Energy reviews compliance with the act.
A 2020 UK survey of more than thirteen thousand people found wide ranges in appliance lifespans. A washing machine lasts 13 to 21 years, a dishwasher 13 to 22 years, a fridge freezer 14 to 24 years, and a built-in oven 23 to 29 years.
Appliance recycling dismantles waste home appliances and scraps their parts for reuse. The process involves disassembly, removal of hazardous components and destruction of the equipment to recover materials, generally by shredding, sorting and grading. The main types recycled are TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines and computers.