Doing Things The Old-Fashioned Way...
09-16-2024, 11:41 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 773
Doing Things The Old-Fashioned Way...
We've had a dishwasher for ages, yet I never use it. Last time I used the dishwasher was at Christmas time last year, otherwise I love washing and drying dishes by-hand. Tea towel drapped over my shoulder, house quiet, and just little old me in the kitchen washing and drying.
I find it incredibly relaxing, soothing, almost meditative washing and drying dishes by-hand. I always think of it as my time to reflect on the day. Been washing and drying dishes by-hand forever and a day.
Next on the list, washing floors by-hand. Sure, if I had arthritic knees, a bum back, or just couldn't see my way clear to get down on all fours and up again, hello Swiffer or floor mop, but filling a bucket of water with cleaner and grabbing a cloth and going to town on the floors, nothing beats the cleanliness. I can tackle both floors and baseboards at the same time and everything feels and smells so fresh and clean when I'm done.
Moving on to back in the day when I had babies in the home, I could have opted to use Pampers, but instead chose to diaper the old-fashioned way like my own mom did. I was a fulltime stay-at-home mom, and so for me nothing seemed more befitting than diapering the true honest-to-goodness old-fashioned way. Cloth diapers, diaper pins, rubber pants, and plastic diaper pail.
Nothing used to give me more of a sense of self-satisfaction than when I'd sit and fold a stack of diapers at the end of the day, or folding a diaper from scratch, then bringing the back corners of the diaper over the front and fastening each side with a safety pin! A throwback to my old babysitting days when cloth diapers were the norm.
Diaper folding happened often late into the evening when everyone was in bed and the house quiet. I'd dump the basket of diapers out on the living room floor, and with cigarette off to the side in the ashtray, I'd sit crossed-legged on the floor and fold diapers while watching television,
Having all those diapers at my disposal was such a blessing, for when change-time would arise, I'd pluck a freshly folded diaper from the stack, a pair of rubber pants from the dresser drawer, drop the railing on the crib, and change my kids bottoms. On laundry day nothing beat pinning up all those diapers and rubber pants on the clothesline and sending them out to dry naturally. Such a traditional, classic, and warm homey sight.
Ironing. Yes, I still revel in seeing my husband in fresh neatly pressed sports shirts from spring until early fall. Something about the crispness and smartness of such, such a pulled-together look, and yes, I iron things I own, too. Love breaking out the iron on a quiet morning or afternoon, window opened with a light breeze casting it's coolness through the window screen, ironing board set up, iron hot and ready, and when all is said and done, freshly pressed things to wear, all neatly hung and ready.
I find it incredibly relaxing, soothing, almost meditative washing and drying dishes by-hand. I always think of it as my time to reflect on the day. Been washing and drying dishes by-hand forever and a day.
Next on the list, washing floors by-hand. Sure, if I had arthritic knees, a bum back, or just couldn't see my way clear to get down on all fours and up again, hello Swiffer or floor mop, but filling a bucket of water with cleaner and grabbing a cloth and going to town on the floors, nothing beats the cleanliness. I can tackle both floors and baseboards at the same time and everything feels and smells so fresh and clean when I'm done.
Moving on to back in the day when I had babies in the home, I could have opted to use Pampers, but instead chose to diaper the old-fashioned way like my own mom did. I was a fulltime stay-at-home mom, and so for me nothing seemed more befitting than diapering the true honest-to-goodness old-fashioned way. Cloth diapers, diaper pins, rubber pants, and plastic diaper pail.
Nothing used to give me more of a sense of self-satisfaction than when I'd sit and fold a stack of diapers at the end of the day, or folding a diaper from scratch, then bringing the back corners of the diaper over the front and fastening each side with a safety pin! A throwback to my old babysitting days when cloth diapers were the norm.
Diaper folding happened often late into the evening when everyone was in bed and the house quiet. I'd dump the basket of diapers out on the living room floor, and with cigarette off to the side in the ashtray, I'd sit crossed-legged on the floor and fold diapers while watching television,
Having all those diapers at my disposal was such a blessing, for when change-time would arise, I'd pluck a freshly folded diaper from the stack, a pair of rubber pants from the dresser drawer, drop the railing on the crib, and change my kids bottoms. On laundry day nothing beat pinning up all those diapers and rubber pants on the clothesline and sending them out to dry naturally. Such a traditional, classic, and warm homey sight.
Ironing. Yes, I still revel in seeing my husband in fresh neatly pressed sports shirts from spring until early fall. Something about the crispness and smartness of such, such a pulled-together look, and yes, I iron things I own, too. Love breaking out the iron on a quiet morning or afternoon, window opened with a light breeze casting it's coolness through the window screen, ironing board set up, iron hot and ready, and when all is said and done, freshly pressed things to wear, all neatly hung and ready.
- What about you, what's your story related to?
- Do you have the same old-fashioned bug that I do?
Last edited by Endora; 09-16-2024 at 11:53 AM.
09-16-2024, 12:01 PM
#2
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,384
I'm just the opposite. I'd just as soon toss dirty dishes in the trash than to deal with them. I use disposables 95% of the time. No time to deal with cloth diaper mess so none for me. The floor we walk on is as clean as the dust mop or Swifter wet mop gets it. Old fashioned ways became old because that was the only way to do them then.
09-16-2024, 12:09 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 773
I'm just the opposite. I'd just as soon toss dirty dishes in the trash than to deal with them. I use disposables 95% of the time. No time to deal with cloth diaper mess so none for me. The floor we walk on is as clean as the dust mop or Swifter wet mop gets it. Old fashioned ways became old because that was the only way to do them then.
I grew up with baby siblings in the home and being the oldest I helped my mom with their care all the time, everything from feeding, to changing, and everything in-between, and of course back then it was all cloth diapers, so for me I definitely attribute those early years and having the exposure I did as to one of main reasons I chose to cloth diaper my own children.
As for washing and drying dishes by-hand, growing up we never had a dishwasher in the home, so mom and I did the washing and drying, and what wonderful memories I have of chatting away with mom about this and that as we washed and dried.
As for the rest of the things I touched on, my mom did the same, and having experienced all starting from a young age, it just stuck with me.
It's nice hearing from you, Onebyone.
09-16-2024, 12:28 PM
#4
Power Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southern USA
Posts: 16,384
I was the oldest of 11. Some half siblings, some whole, and some step. My mother about killed herself trying to keep everything done, kids fed, clean clothes, meals cooked. I knew I would never want to have her life. I was worn out all during high school doing what had to be done at home. It was all done manually but we did have washing machine and dryer. Plus we had a big garden and all the canning and that came with it.
Last edited by Onebyone; 09-16-2024 at 12:30 PM.
09-16-2024, 12:30 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 773
I was the oldest of 11. Some half siblings, some whole, and some step. My mother about killed herself trying to keep everything done, kids fed, clean clothes, meals cooked. I knew I would never want to have her life. I was worn out all during high school doing what had to be done at home.
All-in-all, so happy to know your mom had you for help and support.
09-16-2024, 12:31 PM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 773
I was the oldest of 11. Some half siblings, some whole, and some step. My mother about killed herself trying to keep everything done, kids fed, clean clothes, meals cooked. I knew I would never want to have her life. I was worn out all during high school doing what had to be done at home. It was all done manually but we did have washing machine and dryer. Plus we had a big garden and all the canning and that came with it.
09-16-2024, 05:16 PM
#7
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,535
I don’t mind doing dishes by hand but opt for the dishwasher as I think it is better at eliminating germs. I love my steam mop for doing floors and baseboards. I rarely iron clothes as I hang them up right out of the dryer. I don’t line dry outside because the dryer makes things softer. The only thing I iron is usually fabric.
09-16-2024, 06:43 PM
#8
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,313
It's nice that we can pick and choose and wax poetic about things - because we have the choice. I am guessing we all have enough to eat and a roof over our heads. Makes the old ways seem nostalgic and romantic. There are a bunch of YouTubers who live like it is 1940 or 1950. And they use modern technology to produce content and probably make money. I don't think it is a badge of honor one way or the other. If someone's finances, physical limitations and desires all mesh, that is wonderful and carry on. One size does not fit all.
09-16-2024, 08:17 PM
#9
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Lake Elsinore, CA
Posts: 15,240
Dishwashers are truly wonderful inventions. I haven't always had one, but now I wouldn't buy a house without one. My mother died before they were available, but I'm sure she would have had one if she could. Ditto for my grandmothers, and probably their mothers as well.
It's not that I dislike hand washing dishes that much. But I have other things I'd rather do, and the dishwasher does a better job of sanitizing the dishes.
The problem with housework is that it's never finished. So I'll take all the help I can get.
It's not that I dislike hand washing dishes that much. But I have other things I'd rather do, and the dishwasher does a better job of sanitizing the dishes.
The problem with housework is that it's never finished. So I'll take all the help I can get.
09-17-2024, 03:40 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 754
I haven't had a dishwasher since 1988. And I've never wanted one again. Washing dishes by hand is almost meditative for me, like Endora. And I do get on my hands and knees and clean, sometimes. But I have knee pads I bought from Home Depot that I use when I do. I bought the knee pads when a friend of mind was doing work at my house. He had some but they were very worn so I bought him a new pair and one for me!
