My mother thought automatic washers were such a waste of water. I remember helping Mom with the washing each week. Once, my arm went through the wringer. We hung clothes in the house in winter and outside in the good weather. Mom starched everything and I had to help iron as I was the only girl. I had to help iron my stepfather's boxer shorts but I don't think they were starched ! Mom did not get an automatic washer until she was about 75 years old and the dryer only came when she was about 80. She hung clothes till the day she died, she only used the dryer when she had to. She hated these new machines, she never had a dishwasher.