Monday, Wash day how it has evolved in my years

Now the old line is that Monday is wash day. But around here nearly any day of the week is, except Sunday. We even wash towels always on Wednesday, and sheets on Thursday. As I re posted the gardening history posts below, memories came back and I started to think about how washing has evolved in my life time. Now I'm not that old, but times have changed. But as I did Internet research, I noticed more and more, the old style washers are coming back in style and use because of the economy.

I first learned how to do laundry on a wringer washer. Now according to the Internet, Maytag was one of the major producers of wringer washers and the last ones rolled off their assembly lines in 1983. We had the wringer washer set up down the cellar. The washer was next to 2 metal 'rinse' tubs set on cinder blocks.

For photos see: http://www.maytagclub.com/page-16.htm

For explanation of how to use it: http://countrylife.lehmans.com/2009/05/14/wringer-washer/

In the second article when they link to show you a picture of rinse tubs...my how far they have come! Those they linked to are Amish made, and plastic. Oh my! We used the old style metal 'tub's you could find in most any hardware store. Once the clothes went through the wringer the last time they were hung up outside. Or if in winter, downstairs in the cellar on clothes lines.

One thing with wringer washers, you had to be very careful about using the wringers, and the placement of your hands!!!!!!!!

Eventually we did get a washer upstairs in the kitchen. It was the type with a unique feature. Again we had the rinse tubs nearby. We recycled the wash and rinse water. The machine would drain the wash water out and we'd collect it in a tub. Then it would do the same for the rinse water, and we'd collect that in another tub.

Now for the following load(s)...we'd turn the dial to where the machine would suck up the water through a long hose that went from the machine and to the tubs. We would have to place the hose in the right tub, and as the water level dwindled, even tilt the tub so it could suck up all the water. Eventually, when it couldn't suck it up anymore, we'd lift the tub and dump the little remaining water into the machine.

Yup, that was wash days as I was growing up. We had well water so water conversation was important.

That was the house with the huge gardens I wrote about below. When we moved out of that house, I think we had a 'regular' washer and that didn't use the hose/recycling water feature.

Oh the days of washing with a wringer washer, and the hose/recycle washer. I do think that more of those machines may make a comeback in today's economy.