Laundry is still a repetitive and mind-numbing task - how are software engineers going to improve it further? Currently it's mostly outsourcing (commercially or to a spouse or parent)

And regarding the time savings of the washing machine - yes, and no. The washing machine has allowed us to use much more and much cleaner clothing. See https://genevahistoricalsociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/...

"Most ordinary people had only a few clothes: an everyday outfit or two—a dress for women/girls and a suit or coat and trousers for boys and men—and a Sunday “best” outfit. Wealthy people might have a few more outfits, but not as many as most people today.  Washing clothes was very hard work and dresses and coats would not be washed very often. Instead, undergarments would be washed regularly. Collars and cuffs for both shirts and dresses were removable, so they could be changed for fashion or for cleanliness. Girls and little children wore large aprons or pinafores that covered their dresses to keep them clean. Men’s shirts and women’s chemises or shifts were washed regularly." Even the pieces that were washed "regularly" were not washed "daily" - much less multiple sets of clothing per day (e.g., gym clothes, work clothes, evening wear, pajamas, ...)