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I feel like I am so blessed to have a washing machine and dryer.
It’s not that I love to do washing, but just think how much more work there would be if I didn’t have one.
I remember back when I was a young single mother. The house I rented did not have a washing machine. I had to walk to the laundry with my bags of clothes and little son in tow so we could have clean clothes.
There were a few times when I had spent the money on other things, like food, and I didn’t have any change left over to pay the washing machine and dryer at the corner laundry mat.
Clean clothes were a must. So I put some music on the stereo, threw the clothes in the bathtub and added soap and warm water. I got in and just like stomping on the grapes, I tromped around on the clothes, agitating them to the beat of the music.
Dancing around in the bathtub on a bunch of dirty clothes does have it merits, but probably only for those young enough and poor enough to see it. After adding clean water and stomping some more it was time to wring and hang the whole bunch.
There was no clothes line outside so I had to string lines through my tiny house and then turn the heater on so the clothes would dry.
Wow, those were the days, and I’m not talking cowboy days! It was much more difficult to wash the clothes back then, without the advantage of having hot running water (see earlier blog note on that one) However, I’m glad to have had that experience, and know that I could do it again if I had to (but hope I never have to).
So for today, I feel very blessed to have a washing machine and dryer, even if it’s not used as often as it should be….
Thanks for listening ~
6 comments:
Gosh, I didn't think of just dancing around with my dirty clothes. I bought a toilet plunger and used that to agitate my clothes. I remember how my hands blistered trying to wring out all the jeans, and there were lots of them. So I went looking around and found an old wringer type washer that someone had thrown out. I put together this wire and replaced that wire and it agitated, for awhile anyways. Even when I could no longer make the motor work and I was back to plunging the clothes in the bathtub, I could still turn that wringer handle, guiding the clothes through those two rollers, squishing out most of the water without getting as many blisters on my hands.
Amazing we take these household appliances for granted. That is until they break. I remember having LIvvy with her severe reflux and the constant changing of bedding, clothes and then my washer breaking. It was a nightmare, i was lucky as my mom helped out but the carrying of the bags to and fro was awlful.
Today i give thanks.
you can come stomp some clothes here!!!! Waiting for washing machine repairman to come tomorrow!
But I do get your post an am also grateful for the gadgets that make our life a little eassier....for me the dishwasher is more important than the drier...I only resort to the dryer if all else fails...I love the smell of line dried clothes.
hugs
SOOOO true, Michelle! Thanks for the perspective! I think I'll go wash some clothes!
Whoa!!
That's all I've got to say...
I was doing something similar yesterday with my hand wash clothes and my old bath water. I so glad to have a dryer in my new flat. Now I can wash and dry my own sheets in the winter.
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