You’ve come a long way, baby, was a slogan from a tobacco company several years ago. That slogan could apply to how wash day has changed from the way it used to be. We probably don’t even have a “wash day” any more. Any time we have a load of clothes that need to be laundered, we toss them in the washer, turn it on, add detergent and forget them until they finish, then we empty them into the dryer.
My mother told me of how her mother did wash day. It was hard!! First, Ma Latty heated water either on the wood-burning cook stove or, in the summer, in the yard or by the spring over a wood fire. Then, she washed each load of clothes in hot, sudsy water, rubbing them over a rub board, rinsing them in a a couple of tubs of clean, cool water, wringing the water out by hand, carrying them to the clothes line, and hanging them up to dry. It was back-breaking work and it happened once a week. There was a certain way to do it: white things, dish towels, etc. went first, then dresses and shirts, and last, overalls and work clothes. Before dresses and shirts were hung up, they must be starched, then everything was clothes-pinned to a line. (The line must be wiped down first to be sure it was clean.)
Of course, that wasn’t all there was to it. When the clothes were dry, “wearing clothes” had to be ironed (that was another story altogether.) When line-dried sheets were put back on beds, they smelled fresh and clean from being in the sunshine and outside air. I actually think they made it nicer to go to sleep.
Next, came the wringer-washers, and now, the automatic electric servants that do the back-breaking work for us. I’m thankful for the convenience of washers and dryers. Used to be, I’d hang sheets on the line, even though I had the washer and dryer. I simply liked the way they smelled. Yes, laundry day has changed completely. It certainly has come a long way and I am very glad it has.
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