In Dominican homes, washing machinesfryers and smart assistants have gone from being status symbols to everyday tools.
Just a few decades ago, having a automatic washing machinea dryer or a air-conditioning was a reserved luxury for few. Large families and the deep-rooted custom of manual housework They made washing by hand, hanging in the sun or cooking part of an exhausting daily cycle.
Today the panorama is different. With parents working outside and children in extended school hours, time for housework has been drastically reduced. Washing machines, dryers, air fryers, voice assistantscoffee makers and cleaning robots are no longer comfort accessories: they are essential allies of modern life. In single-parent homes, their presence is even more necessary.
In one typical family of Saint Dominicwhere both adults work, the time available to wash uniforms or attend to light cleaning is concentrated on weekends or at night. Without washing machine or dryer, that task becomes “another day of work.” With them, the home recovers time for rest, study or coexistence.
He air-conditioning It has also become almost indispensable in the face of the increasing heat of the climate change. It is no longer a luxury or a whim: it represents welfareconcentration, rest and, many times, physical relief after the workday.
The household appliances Current, more efficient and programmable, allow quick cycles, less wrinkled clothes and energy and time savings. The air fryer It stands out for its speed, lower oil consumption and ease of cleaning. The smart assistantslike Alexa, coordinate lights, music, reminders or devices, easing the mental load of a day full of obligations.
When the “suape“parks next to the robot
The robot vacuum cleaners They are already sold as “household helpers” for those who barely have time to sweep or mop. Although their use remains limited, they set a trend: the home automationpreviously exclusive to the upper classes, makes its way into the middle class.
He “suape” —Dominican name for the mop— still does not lose its space, but is modernized with more absorbent materials and designs adapted to each floor. “Complete cleaning with powerful suction and access to every corner,” promises a well-known digital platform. The advertising well summarizes the new mentality: technology is associated with welfare and order.
He “suape“Dominican comes from the English “mop”, through the commercial product Super Mop or Swopper Mop, names of popular brands. In the oral and popular adaptation, Super Mop ended up being pronounced “suape“, and thus it became generalized to designate both the mop and the mopping utensil.
The living with pets Within the home it reinforces that need. The robot vacuum cleaners they become as indispensable as their own four-legged companions.
A expanding market
The stores of household appliances of the country have adjusted to this reality: they offer financinginstallments and packages “modern home“. Platforms like Appliances.com.do promote payment plans that facilitate the acquisition of equipment.
The business of credit responds to a tripartite logic —consumer, commerce and bank. The installment purchases six, twelve or twenty-four months have democratized access to these goods, despite tight family budgets. Added to this is a faster turnover of devices, driven by the perception that “they no longer last as before.”
The financial They soon identified the potential of the market, and today the credit for household appliances and technology is part of the habitual consumption.
Between the past and the present
In the 80s and 90smany Dominican families depended on the domestic labor. Earning a living doing laundry or ironing at home was common, especially on weekends. Many mothers raised their children like this; some still do it, although now with the help of washing machines and electric irons.
The figure of the cleaning lady once a week for a thousand pesos and something more has not disappeared either. For many professionals, it is more profitable work outside of the home than to dedicate that time to housework.
