Peace reigns supreme once again here but only for a short time as Tom has another wedding this weekend.
Thanks for all the comments and I'm sure Celeste probably didn't notice my appearance but I'll be prepared next time. lol
Thanks for all the comments and I'm sure Celeste probably didn't notice my appearance but I'll be prepared next time. lol
Today was the day for doing the laundry, not that we keep to any special day, just when we have enough to bother. We take it to the local launderette and go next door to Smallbatch and have a coffee while it is washing.
This got me thinking about how times have changed since we were married in 1964.
We have never owned a washing machine and still don't to this day.
This may surprise most people as it is standard now to own one.
As we live in a Maisonette we have a flat underneath us and leaks etc would be a worry, also we would have to take out some kind of Insurance and that is against my beliefs. lol
Years ago in the sixties I had one of these for boiling my nappies and used to put it on the cooker top to boil them white.
Not quite on an open fire in the garden, lol
This was very effective and I hung out a lovely line of nappies on the line to dry, something you rarely see now.
Other washing including bedding was done in the sink by hand.
Other washing including bedding was done in the sink by hand.
I must have had muscles like popeye then as it was a hard job lifting that bucket full of water and nappies and wringing out sheets etc.
I did have one concession though, a thing called a spinarinse, machine.
Something like this one in the picture. You could add water to this to rinse the clothes and I thought I was quite modern with this.
There were five of us to wash for but I took it all in my stride and got on with it.
Not sure how some young Mums would cope now without disposable nappies.
There were five of us to wash for but I took it all in my stride and got on with it.
Not sure how some young Mums would cope now without disposable nappies.
we had a washer for all my life, one of those round ones that swished, and a wringer to wring out those sheets, we shared for the first 9 years of my life, one of those with my aunt and grandmother and us. I can't even imagine life without one. I did live for 3 years without one when I got divorced, but I went the laundromat like you do. I bet you were strong. I can se clothes but sheets boggles my mind. cute little spinner. I had to wash diapers to for my boys, they are in their 50's so were before disposable. I have taken frozen diapers/nappies off the line so cold they would not bend.
ReplyDeleteFunny you mentioning the frozen diapers, bought back memories of my Mum coming in from the garden with a huge frozen sheet. lol
DeleteI've only had to go a short time witjout my own washer and dryer. I hated having to lug my laundry out and then sit atounf and wait for it to be done
ReplyDeleteFor years, I had a washer/spinner thing similar to your rinse spinner. I'd fill it (didn't hold much) and wash, then drain the wash water and refill with clean to rinse the stuff. It did about 1/3 regular load at a time. Yes, it took hours to wash the laundry for my 6 member family, but I did love it. I have done laundry just about every way there is, from a glass scrub board in a tub to my front loaders.
ReplyDeleteMemories of frozen diapers, too. Ha Ha
I just can't imagine. This may be one reason more people seem to be sick now. No regular hard work like this, everything is done for us. I bet you would not be near as healthy if it were not for your laundry chores!
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed your previous comment so had to go back to find out why Tom was going to another wedding (and not you). I see it is grandson Tom.
ReplyDeleteI am sure I would miss my machine, had to buy a new one a couple of months ago, previous one lasted 13 years. I also had a spin dryer which had been Mum` so useful but unfortunately gave it to the ex husband as he did not have a washer, must check if he uses it as will have it back if he does not, I often wash by hand and it was so useful mind you the new machine has a just spin cycle on it. As you say nappies are rarely used today by the young Mum`s they argue disposable are cheaper but what rot! Mine did my 2 girls and I passed them on to my sister in law after that.
ReplyDeleteMy Mom tells me that when we were babies, she used a washboard. One of those wooden frames with a corrugated metal insert that you sit in a wash tub and rub the clothing against the metal ridges. Then rinse and wring by hand.
ReplyDeleteWhen I started out I had the round swishy washer with the roller type wringer and the two side-by-side standing metal washtubs. And of course we hung the laundry on the outside washline.
Thank goodness for automatic washers and dryers! And an even bigger thank goodness for Zip because he does the laundry. I've never been able to do it to his satisfaction so he has taken over. (he-he!)
Before I married in 1969 there wasn't a washing machine in our home until just before I left ( you had to run in water from tap and drain it into sink) I had a Hotpoint top loader which lasted over 25 years. I remember a repair man at the door who said "I've come to repair the antique"!
ReplyDeleteSince then we've had a number of front loaders - which never last that long. In emergencies I used a washboard and for big things a huge enamel bowl I used to wash sheeps fleece in before spinning ( I still have both) Don't think I have the strength for such hard work now though! I well remember things frozen on the line and despairing of ever getting nappies dry. I have become lazy and now dry most things in the tumble dryer.
I'm glad I've always had the convenience of a washer and dryer. Doing it like you said, you must have developed a big set of muscles.
ReplyDeleteThe world is going to disappear under a layer of disposable nappies! They should be called undisposable since they don't break down.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine life without a washing machine. You should see the state of me if mine breaks down!
ReplyDeleteHello, I read a comment on Sharon's blog and got curious when I read that you had 'a wall'.
Hi Valerie, yes, I have decided to invent myself a wall and I now throw anything that bothers me over the wall in my mind. I know this sounds ridiculous but it works. I was getting bogged down with problems of all sorts and had to do something. If you ask Tom he will tell you that it works.
DeleteBriony
x
Ah, a bit like my throwing worries over my shoulder. Thanks for your response, Briony. Nice to meet you.
DeleteIt's funny how we make do with what's available. When I was in the Peace Corps in Morocco I did all my laundry by hand in a tub for two years straight. I didn't really mind it, and as you said, it does wonders for the arm muscles! Still, I can't imagine not having a machine now.
ReplyDeleteYou asked about our lobelia -- it's a Lobelia cardinalis, I believe. Maybe that's different from the lobelias that are slug-resistant, as yours apparently are. I need to do more research on that point!
Thanks for the info on the Lobelia. We just buy plants that the slugs and snails do not eat as I can't bear to kill them. These slug killers leave them wreathing for ages before they die. That's just me though, a silly over sensitive woman. lol
DeleteBriony
x
I remember a repair man at the door who said "I've come to repair the antique"!
ReplyDeletepirates of the caribbean 5
We had a diaper service, later did the disposable thing. I preferred the old cloth things, I still have one left I use to clean with, dang thing is 45 years old.
ReplyDelete