Wash Day When You Grew Up
#41
Oh what wonderful memories...momma had a wringer washer and two tubs for rinsing and when the washing was done ..she used the rinse water for mopping the floors..before she got the wringer..she had to build a fire around the wash pot..bless her heart she lived to be 93 ..lost her 9 years ago Valentines Day..she proved that hard work never killed anybody...I was 15 before we had sliced bread..inside bathroom..tv..and a set of encyclopedias.and a piano...that's when momma married my stepfather...Lord we thought we were rich when we moved into his house..He bought her a featherweight sewing machine and I have it now...We made all our school clothes on it..she finally got her a washer and dryer after I graduated..in 1960...but she would still hang out some clothes on the line...I have the sprinkling bottle, mine is a pepsi..and I have a bottle of the bluing, and a set of the wire pant stretchers all on the wall in my laundry room..love antiques...thanks for all the memories...
#42
I, too, remember all those events and days of washing and ironing. It was fun because I was helping Mama and she taught me well. Not just washing, ironing, cleaning, cooking, etc., but canning as well. Mama worked hard and was always cleaning or washing something everyday. I don't miss the frozen clothes on the line, though. However, I love the modern conveniences we have today and think I will keep them. Thanks for all the memories and a walk through the past with Mama...
#43
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Saratoga, Arkansas
Posts: 1,909
I remember Mother having and ice box and washing in the wash pot and rub board after we moved back to rural Arkansas after WWII. When we moved to town in 1950 Daddy bought her a wringer washer and tubs and a vacuum cleaner and a Gibson refrigerator (which still works) . I guess it was about 1957 when she got the automatic Maytag washer. I think she got her first dryer in 1965 or so. She is 91 now and still pretty alert and lives independently. So as someone else mentioned, that hard work made them strong. They dang sure didn't have to go to the gem or think about a diet. Thanks for the memories :>)
#44
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,502
I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my cheeks! What wonderful memories you have all stirred up! I still have a wringer washer, and bluing in my basement....and no....I don't use either anymore. I do hang out my laundry as soon as weather permits. I grew up helping do laundry, using the new "suds saver" helping to hang laundry...handing mom the clothespins, folding clothes as they came off the line...sprinkling, steaming, ironing...I even have vague memories of a "mangle" I think it was called...it was used for ironing I think....
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,018
I still sprinkle, yes, with that metal sprinkler atop a 7 up bottle, fabric,backs of quilts (customers), roll up, put into plastic bag overnite in fridge and the wrinkles just disappear. The pieced tops are easy to just quick steam iron, because they have been ironed as worked on, but the backs are usually just rolled into a bag upon delivery to me.........
#47
When I was a new mom (16 yrs old) I would go to my moms house to use her automatic washer. She didn't have a dryer so I hung out the clothes. On very cold days I would put on a pair of long johns under my dress and head for the clothes line. The diapers would be frozen before I could hardly get them pinned up. I do remember going to the laundry with my mom tho. The laundry only had wringer washers. We would go once a week. I remember her going to the little store next door and buying me my first piece of bubble gum. I think I was 5 and I had never seen bubble gum. My brother would show me how to blow bubbles, by taking my gum I was chewing, and show me how to blow a bubble and then I would take the same piece of gum and try blowing bubbles. Then it went on the bed post for the night and back in the mouth next day. I think gum must have lasted much longer in the old days!
#48
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 142
Knowing how to use a wringer washer sure helped me out when my husband was stationed in Ocean Side CA when we first married. We lived in an apt. and the landlady was so nice to all the young Marine wives. We each had an assigned wash day, and we could use the wringer washer at no extra cost. None of the other young wives knew how to use the washer, and nor were they interested in learning how, so....I had my pick of the wash day I wanted. Plus, not having to have pay at a laundromat in town. This was in 1965. It's ironic the things we think are old fashioned when we are young come back to be beneficial. Happy Quilting
#49
I can remember one time when I was in kindergarten mommy & I came home from germany for my grandpas funeral.
Grandma had a wringer washer & I was helping mommy do laundry well I was pushing the clothes through & ouch !
yep my fingers went right along with the towel.
Grandma had a wringer washer & I was helping mommy do laundry well I was pushing the clothes through & ouch !
yep my fingers went right along with the towel.
#50
What I REALLY remember are my frozen fingers!!!! BRRRRRRRRR!!!!!
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