Six months postpartum, overwhelmed with baby laundry and exhaustion, I was ready to lose it when our washing machine broke. I thought my husband, Billy, would help, but instead, he shrugged and suggested I wash everything by hand, as people did for centuries.

I had just given birth, and between feeding, cleaning, cooking, and laundry, my life felt like an endless cycle. Babies go through clothes non-stop, and without a washing machine, I was in trouble. When I told Billy,