But of course anyone born after the invention of the dryer would be less likely to know that a wringer is a thing that existed, or what it did, or why “putting something through the wringer” would be harrowing for the thing being wrung.

My favourite is "toe/tow the line". I was in Scouts as a kid and for parade we had to stand with our toes right on a line painted on the floor, like soldiers. People who've never done that often think it's "tow the line", which is something you could do in a boat so it kinda makes sense too

*pictures a medieval torture chamber just under the bell cupola of a major cathedral* "Confess the heinous sin of heresy, or we'll leave you here DURING EASTER!!!!"

Unrelated, but "wrought" should be the past tense of wring. It's a shame that it isn't.

I also often see people say that something is being “reigned in,” and that’s not right. “To reign” is what kings and queens do. “Reining in” is what you do when you need to stop a horse by pulling on the reins. But so few of us now have ever reined in a horse, why would that be intuitive?

Spin cycle is what replaced wringers, but yes, same concept.

This goes into my regular suggestion that people watch the British TV show Back in Time for Dinner where the mom has to prepare meals with an icebox and larder (and war rations) as well as use a wringer for laundry.

And fewer people use the vulgar “caught your tit in a wringer” phrase that would bring the mechanism more clearly to mind

All my visits to historic houses have paid off!