The story starts in 1893 in Newton, Iowa. F.L. Maytag and three partners founded the company to manufacture farm equipment. By 1907, they built their first clothes washer. The design worked so well that in 1919, Maytag discontinued farm equipment entirely and focused on washing machines.
By the late 1950s, Maytag expanded into commercial laundry. They began manufacturing washers and dryers for self-service laundromats and commercial operators. That commercial experience — knowing how machines fail under heavy daily use — shaped decades of product improvements. Maytag understood wear patterns that domestic machines never face.
In 1949, Maytag opened a dedicated factory to build automatic washers. By the 1950s, the brand had captured a significant market share. Over the decades, Maytag added dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges — but laundry remained the core business. The company's tagline became "One Dependability Square," referring to their Newton, Iowa headquarters.
Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool in 2006. Today, Whirlpool manufactures Maytag washing machines and dryers across several U.S. facilities including Louisville, Kentucky. The brand remains available in Australia through appliance retailers and specialist commercial laundry suppliers.
