Had this little beauty sent over from France.
Boil Washing a la Francais
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French housewives, launderesses and everyone else who did laundry have been using "lessiveuses" for over one hundred years.
Boiling in a lessiveuse was part of the long French process for doing laundry before modern automatic washing machines came along.
Basically the lessiveuse replaced a process known as "bucking" linen, where laundry that had been previously soaked, and rinsed, would be placed into large pots, over which a clean cloth would be placed, then lots of wood ashes. Then one would pour hot water continously over the wood ashes and the released chemicals would seep down onto and through the laundry. A hole at the bottom of the tub allowed water to drain, where it would be reused for the process all over again.
Using a lessiveuse is much easier. Previously soaked and rinsed laundry is put into the pot filled with enough water and soap to cover, then allowed to gently come to a boil. As the water starts to boil the water and soap mixture percolates up through the center tube. This process goes on for as long as one leaves the pot on the stove.
Basically the lessiveuse replaced a process known as "bucking" linen, where laundry that had been previously soaked, and rinsed, would be placed into large pots, over which a clean cloth would be placed, then lots of wood ashes. Then one would pour hot water continously over the wood ashes and the released chemicals would seep down onto and through the laundry. A hole at the bottom of the tub allowed water to drain, where it would be reused for the process all over again.
Using a lessiveuse is much easier. Previously soaked and rinsed laundry is put into the pot filled with enough water and soap to cover, then allowed to gently come to a boil. As the water starts to boil the water and soap mixture percolates up through the center tube. This process goes on for as long as one leaves the pot on the stove.
Interesting . . .
Thanks for posting this, and do let us know if you think it's gonna give the Miele any competition!
Thanks for posting this, and do let us know if you think it's gonna give the Miele any competition!
Have never heard of this before; Thanks for the info, Launderess!
Je suis-
si hereux that I don't have to use such a thing!
Fascinating, Laundress. Thank you for posting it.
Lawrence/L'ourse de Maytag.
si hereux that I don't have to use such a thing!
Fascinating, Laundress. Thank you for posting it.
Lawrence/L'ourse de Maytag.
autowasherfreak
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2008
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Hmmmm
Very interesting indeed. I think I will stick with my Frigidaire, LOL.
Jim
Very interesting indeed. I think I will stick with my Frigidaire, LOL.
Jim
Lessiveuse vs Miele
Actually wanted a boiling pot for laundry for those certian times one needs to "boil" really badly stained linen. With electric rates going through the roof, it makes more sense to use the small amount of gas on the stove, rather than all the power to heat and maintain water at 200F in the Miele.
There is another reason as well.
Linen was the chief textile in France (besides wool), for ages until cotton came along. While kings, the nobility and anyone else could get cotton say before the 1800's, it was expensive and thus rare. It wouldn't be until the industrial revolution and huge production of rather inexpensive cotton from the United States, that caused French, like German and many other housewives in Europe to switch from pure linen and or linen/cotton blends to all cotton for their bed, personal and much other uses that once were pure linen.
This change is important as while linen is a strong fiber, it is rather brittle, and subjected to constant beating, as say with a wash beater or beaten against a rock, will cause the stuff to degrade.
French women/launderesses understood this and rather than beat linen/laundry to death, as was common before automatic washing machines came along, linen was simply "boiled" clean. The French also invented a method of steam cleaning laundry as well. Both methods to their credit involve laundering methods that do not involve beating laundry about for long periods of time.
Indeed when the first washing machines were imported to France from the United States, they were not a great sucess. French housewives refused to consider the machines for several reasons, chief amoung them was because they did not involve the periods of long hot soaking, but rather used very aggressive washing action. Eventually French machine makers retooled and redesigned the washing machine to suit.
IIRC early front loading washing machines had programs that kept tub movement to a minimum during the heating phase of the cycle, but today that is long over.
The lessiveuse was invented in 1883,and was in general use for laundering in France until the 1950s. Even today you will still find many homes still have and use a lessiveuse. Like copper wash tubs here in the states, items are highly collectable, but often for use for other purposes than laundry. Garden planters, holding cold drinks and such.
Oh yes, to show how well thought out the lessiveuse design was for it's day; notice the wire ring suspended around the inside of the wash tub. That is to prevent the common problem of boiling laundry, namely laundry rising with the hot soapy water (as heat causes the water to expand),and boiling over the top of the pot. This way while the water and suds may boil over, the laundry stays down. First few times one tried boiling laundry on a range using a large stock pot, was that damn well ticked off at having to keep watch over the thing with a large wooden stick, poking laundry back down.
L.
Actually wanted a boiling pot for laundry for those certian times one needs to "boil" really badly stained linen. With electric rates going through the roof, it makes more sense to use the small amount of gas on the stove, rather than all the power to heat and maintain water at 200F in the Miele.
There is another reason as well.
Linen was the chief textile in France (besides wool), for ages until cotton came along. While kings, the nobility and anyone else could get cotton say before the 1800's, it was expensive and thus rare. It wouldn't be until the industrial revolution and huge production of rather inexpensive cotton from the United States, that caused French, like German and many other housewives in Europe to switch from pure linen and or linen/cotton blends to all cotton for their bed, personal and much other uses that once were pure linen.
This change is important as while linen is a strong fiber, it is rather brittle, and subjected to constant beating, as say with a wash beater or beaten against a rock, will cause the stuff to degrade.
French women/launderesses understood this and rather than beat linen/laundry to death, as was common before automatic washing machines came along, linen was simply "boiled" clean. The French also invented a method of steam cleaning laundry as well. Both methods to their credit involve laundering methods that do not involve beating laundry about for long periods of time.
Indeed when the first washing machines were imported to France from the United States, they were not a great sucess. French housewives refused to consider the machines for several reasons, chief amoung them was because they did not involve the periods of long hot soaking, but rather used very aggressive washing action. Eventually French machine makers retooled and redesigned the washing machine to suit.
IIRC early front loading washing machines had programs that kept tub movement to a minimum during the heating phase of the cycle, but today that is long over.
The lessiveuse was invented in 1883,and was in general use for laundering in France until the 1950s. Even today you will still find many homes still have and use a lessiveuse. Like copper wash tubs here in the states, items are highly collectable, but often for use for other purposes than laundry. Garden planters, holding cold drinks and such.
Oh yes, to show how well thought out the lessiveuse design was for it's day; notice the wire ring suspended around the inside of the wash tub. That is to prevent the common problem of boiling laundry, namely laundry rising with the hot soapy water (as heat causes the water to expand),and boiling over the top of the pot. This way while the water and suds may boil over, the laundry stays down. First few times one tried boiling laundry on a range using a large stock pot, was that damn well ticked off at having to keep watch over the thing with a large wooden stick, poking laundry back down.
L.
For You Technical People
Taken from a French website
Taken from a French website
Here Is What Things Look Like
When one has the boil set just right. A nice steady stream of water, like a hot water fountain.
If the correct temp is not set, you get a percolation much like when one perks coffee.
When one has the boil set just right. A nice steady stream of water, like a hot water fountain.
If the correct temp is not set, you get a percolation much like when one perks coffee.
autowasherfreak
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- Jul 28, 2008
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Cool!
That's neat. I learn something new everyday from this group.
That's neat. I learn something new everyday from this group.
toggleswitch2
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- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 5,000
J'ai besoin de la chose la!
Utterly fascinating.
Thank you Lady L.
Utterly fascinating.
Thank you Lady L.
The berlin' pot!
I don't know. What would Mammy think about all of this?
I don't know. What would Mammy think about all of this?
hot water!
One of the great tragedies of modern USA is that no one seems to use HOT WATER any more!
"Save energy, wash in cold water!"
Sorry, folks, but especially with front loading washing machines, tankless water heaters and such -- HOT WATER gets clothes cleaner!
When we had our euro sized Asko, the wife often did the bed linens (which were cotton) at 95C - 203F I believe. It was great.
Instead, they say, wash in cold water and use lots of laundry products.
I suspect there may be more environmental damage from laundry products than a few more ounces of coal or a fractions of therms of natural gas to heater the water so you can use soap/detergent and HOT water on fabrics that take heat...
Thanks for posting this it was fascinating.
One of the great tragedies of modern USA is that no one seems to use HOT WATER any more!
"Save energy, wash in cold water!"
Sorry, folks, but especially with front loading washing machines, tankless water heaters and such -- HOT WATER gets clothes cleaner!
When we had our euro sized Asko, the wife often did the bed linens (which were cotton) at 95C - 203F I believe. It was great.
Instead, they say, wash in cold water and use lots of laundry products.
I suspect there may be more environmental damage from laundry products than a few more ounces of coal or a fractions of therms of natural gas to heater the water so you can use soap/detergent and HOT water on fabrics that take heat...
Thanks for posting this it was fascinating.
rayjay
Well-known member
Hot Water
Nathan, I agree with you. Wash the whites and towels (lightly colored and some white), in hot, Light clothes and some lighter dark clothes in warm. Black, Navy, Red and other dark clothes in cold. I have a second washer, an AEG lavamat, at at times use the BOIL wash for the whites. I also have an LG which heats the water extra hot but not boiling.
Nathan, I agree with you. Wash the whites and towels (lightly colored and some white), in hot, Light clothes and some lighter dark clothes in warm. Black, Navy, Red and other dark clothes in cold. I have a second washer, an AEG lavamat, at at times use the BOIL wash for the whites. I also have an LG which heats the water extra hot but not boiling.
Mammy Would Say
"You'd be alot more "indignat" if one of dem lice got on you"!
"I ain't seen anything like it in my entire life, de hole Confederate army is full of lice and dysentery"! *LOL*
"You'd be alot more "indignat" if one of dem lice got on you"!
"I ain't seen anything like it in my entire life, de hole Confederate army is full of lice and dysentery"! *LOL*
Wow - thanks for posting this, it's very interesting! I've seen the "fountain" for sale in catalogs here (early 1900's) and figured this is how it worked. What a good idea, I'll be interested to hear how you like it.
BTW -- I sent and email to the address in your profile - is it no longer a good address?
BTW -- I sent and email to the address in your profile - is it no longer a good address?
Email
Will check my inbox after dinner.
For some reason Yahoo sends all emails one receives from members to the "spam" or trash folder. Have been told off a few times for not responding to emails (from persons claiming to be members of the group), that simply were never received.
Fountains, were for sale here in the States as you mentioned, but they were mostly used in the large oval wash tubs, where they really couldn't do that great a job. Again if one considers the coffee perculator effect, you see why a regular stock or inverse cone pot is a much better choice.
Have some wash cloths that one wishes to whiten and brighten, so after doing a towel wash this weekend (hopefully), will bung them into the lessiveuse and see what develops.
Spent most of yesterday stripping years of soap scum from the inside of the pot and center tube, only to read the directions on the label, which though tattered in places still had enough of the original French to state one was NOT to scour soap scum away. Indeed directions state previous to first use for laundry, one was supposed to fill the thing with water and a good amount of soap, then allow to boil for awhile before emptying out the soapy water. One guesses this palaver was about seasoning the inside of the pot (made of zinc coated metal), so not as to stain any laundry. Directions do state doing the above would "protect" one's wash, so again that must be the reason.
Am going to try boiling with a bit of oxygen bleach, as one has so much vintage Biz, Ecolab Oxygen bleach, Ecover oxygen bleach, and Ecover hydrogen peroxide liquid bleach, and see if any cause damage to the inside surfaces. Next will be a cold to boil wash using Persil.
Will check my inbox after dinner.
For some reason Yahoo sends all emails one receives from members to the "spam" or trash folder. Have been told off a few times for not responding to emails (from persons claiming to be members of the group), that simply were never received.
Fountains, were for sale here in the States as you mentioned, but they were mostly used in the large oval wash tubs, where they really couldn't do that great a job. Again if one considers the coffee perculator effect, you see why a regular stock or inverse cone pot is a much better choice.
Have some wash cloths that one wishes to whiten and brighten, so after doing a towel wash this weekend (hopefully), will bung them into the lessiveuse and see what develops.
Spent most of yesterday stripping years of soap scum from the inside of the pot and center tube, only to read the directions on the label, which though tattered in places still had enough of the original French to state one was NOT to scour soap scum away. Indeed directions state previous to first use for laundry, one was supposed to fill the thing with water and a good amount of soap, then allow to boil for awhile before emptying out the soapy water. One guesses this palaver was about seasoning the inside of the pot (made of zinc coated metal), so not as to stain any laundry. Directions do state doing the above would "protect" one's wash, so again that must be the reason.
Am going to try boiling with a bit of oxygen bleach, as one has so much vintage Biz, Ecolab Oxygen bleach, Ecover oxygen bleach, and Ecover hydrogen peroxide liquid bleach, and see if any cause damage to the inside surfaces. Next will be a cold to boil wash using Persil.
I really enjoyed the photo of the properly boiling lessiveuse.The original "shower of power".
One remaining question: what's the spin speed? That is, how fast can you swing that bucket (or, bouquet) at the end of a rope?
As Dame Sarah might say, thanks, but no thanks. If I need to boil a fabric, I'll use one of the Miele 1065's. But a very interesting glimpse into laundry practices of yesteryear.
One remaining question: what's the spin speed? That is, how fast can you swing that bucket (or, bouquet) at the end of a rope?
As Dame Sarah might say, thanks, but no thanks. If I need to boil a fabric, I'll use one of the Miele 1065's. But a very interesting glimpse into laundry practices of yesteryear.
