In 1907, the first Maytag washer was built. Named the Pastime, the machine was made of the finest cypress, an extremely hard wood with natural water resistance. When turned by the handle on the tub lid an internal dolly rotated the clothes, rubbing the fabric against a grooved interior. The pastime was an immediate success with housewives, who were free from the drudgeries of using a washboard or their own hands to clean clothes.

Following the Pastime, Maytag introduced the Hired Girl, a washer that took the best elements of its predecessor and added the capability of using power from any common farm engine, including the tractor.