This week’s post is about remembering laundry the way it used to be. It’s a dirty job and few of us like to do it, but maybe with a little retrospection we’ll grow an appreciation for how it’s done today! Long ago, after beating clothes on a rock, but before steam cleaning, laundry was done thusly…
Women rose early and made a fire to boil the water to wash. The tub was made of tin and the soap was probably homemade lye soap. Soap was a precious commodity, so even the smallest slivers would be caught up in a soap saver to be melted down and reused.
The clothes were rubbed by hand on a rub board also made of tin or sometimes glass for a lady’s delicates.
After being washed and then rinsed in a separate tub to which “bluing” was added to make whites extra bright, the clothes were wrung dry by either twisting to squeeze the water out, or by using a wringer just like this circa 1910 Horseshoe Brand clothes wringer Paula displays in her bathroom.
Hers was manufactured by The American Wringer Company of New York and was patented in 1888. As she does laundry in the 21st century she thinks about our sisters who clamped a ringer like this one to an iron tub with their wash board and a bar of lye soap near by just 100 years ago.
Special pins used to clip the clothes were carried in big apron pockets or a designated laundry bag.
While the laundry dried there was plenty of time to take the carpets outside and give them a good cleaning with the rug beater.
After hours of warm sunshine and fresh air, the clothes were brought in to be starched and ironed. EVERY thing was ironed!!! Sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, and handkerchiefs… you name it, it was ironed. If clothes became stiff from the starch, you just grabbed your sprinkle bottle and doused them as you ironed with an extremely heavy iron that was heated in the coals. Yikes!!
Now our biggest dilemma is top loader or front loader! Yes, laundry has come a mighty long way. So the next time you want to grumble about the wash, (before you push the button), think about what wash day used to be like, and smile. Now if they could just figure out a way for them to fold themselves…
Patti & Paula
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