RANDOM THOUGHTS ABOUT LAUNDRY

My favorite household chore has always been laundry. There is something about taking a pile of dirty laundry on the floor and turning it into clean, folded clothes and linens that appeals to my inner organizational self. We bought our first washing machine, a shiny, new General Electric machine, when we were 20 years old. We lived in a rented, furnished apartment and didn't own a stick of furniture, but we had a washing machine!

I learned how to do laundry from my mother, grandmother, and great grandmother -- all women who were born in the 19th or early 20th century and were very proud of their laundry skills.

You know the basics like no red shirts washed with the white underwear, etc. But, here are a few so-called rules from the matriarchs of my family:

1. Use hot water, lots of soap and wash the "devil" out of them. Get rid of all evil!

2. The clothes line was where you dried everything. In later years, my mother and grandmother had clothes dryers, but the line was still the method of choice.

3. Clothes lines should always run north & south for optimum sun and wind exposure. The clothes will dry faster, and you can fill the lines twice in one day.

4. The best clothes lines are made from 4" cast iron pipe for maximum sturdiness with the ends closed in to keep the wasps and bees from nesting.

5. Always hang clothes in a logical order -- all socks hung from the toes with the heels facing the same direction, etc.

6. Of course, there were lots of rules about washing cloth diapers. Believe me you haven't lived until you've washed a diaper pail full of dirty diapers every day for years. I have to admit I did enjoy hanging them on the line, especially when there was snow on the ground to whiten them (another hint from grandmother).

7. Here's my favorite: When you are pregnant, never, never hang up clothes on the line. Your baby will be born with the cord wrapped around its neck. I think we can chalk this up to an old-wives tale.

8. Then there is ironing. Sprinkle the ironing with warm water, then roll and wrap in an old, clean sheet overnight. No steam irons for the dedicated. After ironing pillowcases, fold them, and then iron in the fold creases. That way your guests will be assured they have clean bedding. Same thing with cloth napkins.

9. My mother thought that even the cleaning rags should be ironed -- she said that they look better in the drawer and the ironing helps kill germs.


See those creases in the cases at the back of the photo?


Do I pass the test?



These are only a few of the tidbits I was taught. It's a wonder I still love to do laundry.




Thanks for stopping by,

Sally