Mum never had a washing machine, even when they became reasonable to buy one. She did get a spin dryer though. That took out most of the moisture before hanging outside. My grandmother had a huge table in her conservatory with a mangle on one end. Everything went through the mangle and came out semi dry so that they too could hang outside on the line. Her conservatory was glass, so in winter or wet days the clothes hung in there......unlike my house where mum had to put them on the clothes horse in front of the fire.
The only trouble with mum hanging out the clothes on the line, was when the cement works chimney smoke blew our way. The clothes would get cement dust on them.
Well then when the birds sat on the line and pooped on the clothes, then they had to be redone. Often in the Fall it would freeze. Getting the stuff off the line, stiff as a board and hung in front of the fire to thaw......then dry. That was fun.
Monday was laundry day. At least for the stay at home ladies. Then Tuesday was the ironing. My grandmother used a flat iron that was heated on the stove. Later on we were lucky to get an electric iron. We would use a tea towel (linen) and a bottle of water with a hole in the cap to sprinkle on the clothes.
When I think of it, my childhood coincided with the end of the Victorian way of life and the beginning of the newer things, the conveniences that have come to us over the years. What a difference it all is now.I dont know about you but we have stacks upon stacks of washing each week. I hardly iron much at all anymore. I only just gave up ironing sheets as a matter of routine. I like to startch and iron them. However, no one really notices and so why bother. Most clothes do not need to be ironed. When I was working I ironed everything because I wore dresses and skirts ETC. At one time I even ironed undies. Now I prefer to spend my time doing other things.
Linking up with Rose Chintz cottage
Also linking with Brambleberry Cottage
