The last time I heard about an exploding washing machine came from the time when they were still running on gasoline. . . back when my father’s very first job was as the “Loneliest Man In Town”, the county Maytag Repairman, before he got trained as an aircraft repairman in the mid-1930s. He told stories of exploding washing machines. . .
I’ve read about those gasoline-powered washing machines, but never saw one in my old career as an appliance repairman. Plenty of old wringer washers, though...the kind gradma got her tit caught in and whitewashed the basement. Ow!
GE spent a bundle on trying to develop a ultrasonic clothes washing machine. I wonder if they found some combination of temperature, detergents, clothing materials that caused problems?