I wrote about dear Ruth Drew (as I call her) and her 1950’s hints on how to deal with stains. These days we have laundry products which can tackle most normal accidents with getting stuff on clothes which shouldn’t be. Nearly all of us have washing machines, or access to launderettes (washeretttes, washeterias, laundriamas etc) but seventy years ago most people tackled this task at home with hot water, soap, dolly tubs and mangles.
Here’s an edited selection from Ruth’s hints on washing:
- Some time ago I broadcast a recipe for (washing blankets and woollens) a solution based on eucalyptus oil and soap flakes, for washing blankets and other woollens… The ingredients consist of eight ounces of best quality soap flakes, one large breakfast cupful of methylated spirit and three dessertspoons of eucalyptus.
- The actual washing process – squeeze and kneed the blankets in the warm lather (from above) – the bath is the best place to do the job… there is no need to rinse the blanket – you simply get rid of teh shampoo by squeezing it out…
- If you want to keep the crease resistance you have to be careful not to let the material get well and truly dirty before you wash it.
- I wonder if you have ever been in the same pickle as one of my correspondents who wrote to me saying ‘My skirts are made of felt – plenty of it – and they are of teh circular type. I have five, which proves how much I adore them, but however do you wash the wretched things?
- Lather: I speak as an unscintific washerwoman, if you are washing with soapless detergent and the water looks dirty, the best thing to do is to throw it away
- If you are an industrial knitter, you may have wondered how to get rid of those tiresome little bobbles which gather all over your handiwork… the best way of dealing with it is… sellotape…
There are several more practical hints, and although we from Ruth’s future might find them hilarious, they were a tried, tested and trusted way of dealing with problems which no longer trouble us in the 2020’s. My featured image is of the sort of day launderers love!
Lois Elsden 