"The Wash Day"

"Laundry day," everyone is familiar with this term and usually cringes at the mere thought of it. Throw the clothes in the machine, add the detergent and select a setting, after about an hour throw them into the dryer and have everything done in a jiffy. How simple is that? The only thing we need to remember today is that different colors have different settings! Today we have it easy, at the turn-of-the-century, there was no such thing as an easy laundry day. This article originated from the 2nd Quarter Focus in 2005 and was written by Barbra Fairchild Gramm (from the book ...And You Think You've Got it Bad). "Wash day" was the original term of "laundry day" and was a more complicated process than what we do today.

Tools needed: boiler, wringer, wash-board, three or four tubs (depending on the amount of clothes), two or three pails, clothes (the essential reason for having a "wash day") and stick and dipper. A wringer was typically around five dollars, but will last a long time, which is important when making that large of a purchase. Pure rubber roles are preferred, for they last the longest. Wooden tubs and pails are most common, but the ones made of paper or wood-pulp are much lighter and don't fall to pieces if they have time to properly dry. Now that the tools are in place, it's time to begin the morning.

Typically on an early Monday morning, the first step is to build a fire in the backyard to heat the wash water, set the tubs in a way that doesn't blow smoke into your eyes if the wind is strong (that tends to hurt your eyes after awhile). Make sure the wash water isn't too warm, just warm enough not to burn your hand. Throw a handful of borax (a home cleaning product) in the first tub, in about ten gallons of water. Also used by the Germans, it makes whites even whiter! A handful of tansy should go in the second boiler, it'll turn water green but will also get clothes white. Using a corn cob to scrub the dirt out of clothes and only use the wash-board when necessary! Rinse in two waters when bluing last and re-starching is used when necessary, like for shirtbosoms, wristbands and collars. Remember, use a broomstick to move clothes from one tub to another to prevent getting them dirty.

Now drying time, different rules for different types of clothing. Clothing should be on the line by ten o'clock in the morning, no earlier or later. White clothing should be hung in the sun and colors in the shade (to avoid bleaching out). Make sure starched clothing is kept out of the wind. Also make sure to turn clothing right side out and shake thoroughly before they are hung, which will speed up dry time. Do not hang clothing by corners! Be proud of your clothing when it is hung neatly pinned in categories with the estethic color patterns on the line. Stockings are to be hung in pairs (make sure they stay together, so one is not lost) and men's underwear should not mix with ladies' underwear. Put towels on the lawn and old rags on the fence, make sure the yard is spotless for dirt!

With all of these rules in mind, make sure to remember how easy you have it the next time you go to complain about throwing a load in the washing machine. "Laundry day" now should be called "easy day," because we have much less to remember and can finish doing it in much less time than what had to be done at the turn-of-the-century.