launderess
Well-known member
Cannot imagine women with such posh accents having to do their own laundry, but never the less:
Doing The Laundry 1940's England
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launderess
Well-known member
Now Twenty Years Later With A Hoover Keymatic
Again cannot imagine persons with such posh accents doing their washing, I mean wouldn't they have had a "woman what does"?
Again cannot imagine persons with such posh accents doing their washing, I mean wouldn't they have had a "woman what does"?
launderess
Well-known member
Meanwhile Across The Pond
An American housewife wishes, wishes, and wishes she could fit the "new" way of washing with a Westinghouse front loader in her kitchen.
Introducing the Westinghouse Laundromat "25"!
An American housewife wishes, wishes, and wishes she could fit the "new" way of washing with a Westinghouse front loader in her kitchen.
Introducing the Westinghouse Laundromat "25"!
I agree. The narrator, with an accent worthy of the upper classes, wouldn't be caught dead doing her own laundry. But I'll bet the working class women who watched this instructional film enjoyed the subliminal message at work.
;-)
;-)
launderess
Well-known member
It Was Like Watchng Noel Coward Film or Play
Like Brief Encounter or something!
Like Brief Encounter or something!
I think such women were doing their own washing in the '40s but probably not in the '30s. One of the reasons that labour saving devices became popular was because middle class households could no longer find or afford "char" ladies. In the war such women had jobs in factories or on farms, so were not available.
Interesting film anyway! I have seen one or two of those drying cabinets but that tumble dryer in the block of flats is an impressive beast!
Interesting film anyway! I have seen one or two of those drying cabinets but that tumble dryer in the block of flats is an impressive beast!
Before WW II both my grandmothers had maids for the laundry. I remember them telling about it. Don't know how they did it after the war.
Before my mother bought her first automatic washer, she used a laundry service for larger items. Once a week sheets etc. were picked up by the laundryman. I guess a maid had become too expensive and the laundry service was a good alternative.
Before my mother bought her first automatic washer, she used a laundry service for larger items. Once a week sheets etc. were picked up by the laundryman. I guess a maid had become too expensive and the laundry service was a good alternative.
launderess
Well-known member
Laundry Service For Flatwork
Until easy care fabrics came along and or standards were lowered in regards to the only proper finish for linens was ironing, yes it was often easier and better to send things out to a commercial laundry.
Large *steam* or otherwise laundry services had the advantages of huge mangles that could make easy work of large flatwork items such as sheets and table linen, and even better often could do so without ironing in creases.
In many northern European areas there was also the option of an ironing or cold mangling service. These could be part of a laundry or a small shop that was sometimes located in a person's home.
Either way one brought freshly laundered flatwork that would be "ironed" or mangled, folded then returned.
Until easy care fabrics came along and or standards were lowered in regards to the only proper finish for linens was ironing, yes it was often easier and better to send things out to a commercial laundry.
Large *steam* or otherwise laundry services had the advantages of huge mangles that could make easy work of large flatwork items such as sheets and table linen, and even better often could do so without ironing in creases.
In many northern European areas there was also the option of an ironing or cold mangling service. These could be part of a laundry or a small shop that was sometimes located in a person's home.
Either way one brought freshly laundered flatwork that would be "ironed" or mangled, folded then returned.
launderess
Well-known member
Am Wondering Why They Saddled That Poor Housewife
With that flat plate press instead of an ironer?
A press is probably easier to do clothing upon, but anything besides small flatwork (twin sheets, pillow slips, napkins, etc...) quickly becomes a major bother IMHO. The things have too small a working surface to get things done.
With that flat plate press instead of an ironer?
A press is probably easier to do clothing upon, but anything besides small flatwork (twin sheets, pillow slips, napkins, etc...) quickly becomes a major bother IMHO. The things have too small a working surface to get things done.
launderess
Well-known member
Diaper Services Were Big
Right though the 1970's or so in many area's of the USA, especially during the post war baby boom of the 1950's and 1960's.
What killed them was what killed cloth diapers in general, the introduction and widespread acceptance of Pampers and other disposables.
Diaper services are making a come back though as many mothers/families with newborns are moving away from Pampers type diapers for various reasons. Many diaper services also do adult sizes as well.
Right though the 1970's or so in many area's of the USA, especially during the post war baby boom of the 1950's and 1960's.
What killed them was what killed cloth diapers in general, the introduction and widespread acceptance of Pampers and other disposables.
Diaper services are making a come back though as many mothers/families with newborns are moving away from Pampers type diapers for various reasons. Many diaper services also do adult sizes as well.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Davey:
You're not far wrong. The one my mom used when my sister was born was called Tydee Dydee.
I was five years old and even then it stuck with me.
You're not far wrong. The one my mom used when my sister was born was called Tydee Dydee.
I was five years old and even then it stuck with me.
launderess
Well-known member
Would you settle for Dy-Dee?
*LOL*
http://beulahsbaby1959.blogspot.com/2013/07/diaper-service-in-1950s.html
*LOL*
http://beulahsbaby1959.blogspot.com/2013/07/diaper-service-in-1950s.html
launderess
Well-known member
Some of Today's Offerings
In case anyone is getting broody! *LOL*
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles...6.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#articleTabs=article
In case anyone is getting broody! *LOL*
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles...6.html?mod=googlenews_wsj#articleTabs=article
kenmoreguy89
Well-known member
Diaper services????
Wow, this is new to me!
I do not really know what to think...well it sounds really weird to me...
I mean a service specialized in diapers washing? Ok.... I could understand that in certain situations a family would have enjoyed having laundry sent out, and have diapers washed by others, like if you've 3 babies at once and you lived in a small apt with no dryer no space to wash and hang clothes ( personally I would never do that for my baby, i mean to use common diapers and washed by , stangers absolutely NOT!)....I cannot really think of people making a business of it, I mean this large and spreaded out...
I think of an era where washers were pretty much present in every home, so i cannot really think why so many people should have sent the diapers out to wash when they could have done it easily and quickly at home, well these service should have been cost effective, able to cover the cost of purchase of diapers cloth etc at least..... But cannot help but think indeed why they also had to wash them...could not they just rent diapers and let the washing to the mother?
We're also speaking of an era when mothers and women generally were housewives and cared of the household, kids as their primar job....
As far as I know where I live these services were not common.....nor are of course now that disposables are mostly used since decades of course, even in the past everyone washed their own diapers and this even when washers were not common in every household...nor I think they would have relied in these services...
Really, I am astonished by this.... I find it almost absurd..LOL
[this post was last edited: 2/25/2014-18:22]
Wow, this is new to me!
I do not really know what to think...well it sounds really weird to me...
I mean a service specialized in diapers washing? Ok.... I could understand that in certain situations a family would have enjoyed having laundry sent out, and have diapers washed by others, like if you've 3 babies at once and you lived in a small apt with no dryer no space to wash and hang clothes ( personally I would never do that for my baby, i mean to use common diapers and washed by , stangers absolutely NOT!)....I cannot really think of people making a business of it, I mean this large and spreaded out...
I think of an era where washers were pretty much present in every home, so i cannot really think why so many people should have sent the diapers out to wash when they could have done it easily and quickly at home, well these service should have been cost effective, able to cover the cost of purchase of diapers cloth etc at least..... But cannot help but think indeed why they also had to wash them...could not they just rent diapers and let the washing to the mother?
We're also speaking of an era when mothers and women generally were housewives and cared of the household, kids as their primar job....
As far as I know where I live these services were not common.....nor are of course now that disposables are mostly used since decades of course, even in the past everyone washed their own diapers and this even when washers were not common in every household...nor I think they would have relied in these services...
Really, I am astonished by this.... I find it almost absurd..LOL
[this post was last edited: 2/25/2014-18:22]
launderess
Well-known member
Diaper Services
Came about during mainly the period starting with WWII then on through the post war baby boom years. Some managed to hold on into the 1960's but really once disposables took hold it really killed off the natural market.
First and foremost, babies and not potty trained infants go through *LOTS* of diapers. Well during WWII many women began working outside the home so they didn't have time for the daily chore of laundering loads of diapers. Then remember washing machines both semi and fully automatic were not something every home had. So women had to deal with diapers on top of their family wash the same way, either by hand (if done at home), hire a laundress or whatever. Diapers were a pain to launder because if done well meant hours of soaking, boiling and so forth, which we know many mothers (the more slovenly sorts) didn't bother about.
Commercial laundries had long existed for family laundry and during the 1940's many homes still used such services, therefore it was not a huge leap to see persons getting into the diaper service game.
A commercial laundry doing diapers had access to modern laundry equipment, hotter water, and so forth than most homes at the time. It also allowed mothers to get the whole stinky business of dirty diapers out of their homes.
In areas where homes had their own laundry equipment and stay at home moms, a diaper service was more a luxury than necessity. Even with just a wringer washer or twin tub you can plow through a load of diapers quickly. Homes with automatic dryers solved the second bother of doing diapers at home; that stuff of sitcom/film jokes of homes with babies having wet diapers hung up to dry all over the place.
Of course those who hang around here probably are well aware of laundering diapers at home if nothing for those old adverts for Ivory Snow!
Came about during mainly the period starting with WWII then on through the post war baby boom years. Some managed to hold on into the 1960's but really once disposables took hold it really killed off the natural market.
First and foremost, babies and not potty trained infants go through *LOTS* of diapers. Well during WWII many women began working outside the home so they didn't have time for the daily chore of laundering loads of diapers. Then remember washing machines both semi and fully automatic were not something every home had. So women had to deal with diapers on top of their family wash the same way, either by hand (if done at home), hire a laundress or whatever. Diapers were a pain to launder because if done well meant hours of soaking, boiling and so forth, which we know many mothers (the more slovenly sorts) didn't bother about.
Commercial laundries had long existed for family laundry and during the 1940's many homes still used such services, therefore it was not a huge leap to see persons getting into the diaper service game.
A commercial laundry doing diapers had access to modern laundry equipment, hotter water, and so forth than most homes at the time. It also allowed mothers to get the whole stinky business of dirty diapers out of their homes.
In areas where homes had their own laundry equipment and stay at home moms, a diaper service was more a luxury than necessity. Even with just a wringer washer or twin tub you can plow through a load of diapers quickly. Homes with automatic dryers solved the second bother of doing diapers at home; that stuff of sitcom/film jokes of homes with babies having wet diapers hung up to dry all over the place.
Of course those who hang around here probably are well aware of laundering diapers at home if nothing for those old adverts for Ivory Snow!
launderess
Well-known member
For those housewives that insisted on using detergents, there was always this:
launderess
Well-known member
Of course some people do have it soft!
Check out those Maytags!
The official final last word:
Check out those Maytags!
The official final last word:
kenmoreguy89
Well-known member
Yes of course during WWII womens were busy working in factories, and I can fully understand that in certain cases it would have been "sensible", ie Lack of a washing machine in an household and or impossibility to do this because of space or others reasons...
Of course in the 40s there were family laundry services, wealthy families in lack of a washer either hired a launderess to hand wash items and or relied in these services, so in some cases giving laundry out was a sensible practice, .but as you mentioned as long as you had a wringer washer and enough space to do this, noneless all the equpment needed, it should not have meant that much of job for an housewive, infact that's what happened during the years...would have been shameful to give laundry out if you had a washer and all the "equipments"...
Later with automatic washers and dryers absolutely even more,
Even true that at the same time did born disposables...so washable diapers died progressively during the years..
I could so understand diaper services raising in the 40s and 50s for certain families, but then not in 60s and 70s when most of families did have a washer... Some would still have used these services but probably not the most...
Since I could read above they were also common in the 70s that made me perplexed about how they could keep their business still going well abd still be common, and so how a family even having possibility to do otherwise would prefer this, so when they could do that at home... Such a shame...
Luxury.... I can't really think of it as a luxury...
For how I see things I do not see much of luxurious in this, it surely would have prevented mommies a little further work, but should not have meant that much of a saving of work if a washer was present and that's a thing that I cannot figure out how people would prefer this if they had possibility to do this at home, and this instead of having common diapers shared among thousands babies and laundered by strangers, even more if such thing costed more than having laundered at home.. So the game was not worth the candle. So it comes automatic to wonder who would have paid also more for this like if it was better. From my point of view it is not luxurious or better actually, rather pretty disreputable and not a sign of wealthy living at all...so rather a thing for those who were not lucky enough having this possibility to wash at home, it would have had more sense if so IMO, otherwise would have been kinda dishonorable...
I think it's matter of points of view....
But least now has a little more sense...
Thank you.
[this post was last edited: 2/26/2014-06:10]
Of course in the 40s there were family laundry services, wealthy families in lack of a washer either hired a launderess to hand wash items and or relied in these services, so in some cases giving laundry out was a sensible practice, .but as you mentioned as long as you had a wringer washer and enough space to do this, noneless all the equpment needed, it should not have meant that much of job for an housewive, infact that's what happened during the years...would have been shameful to give laundry out if you had a washer and all the "equipments"...
Later with automatic washers and dryers absolutely even more,
Even true that at the same time did born disposables...so washable diapers died progressively during the years..
I could so understand diaper services raising in the 40s and 50s for certain families, but then not in 60s and 70s when most of families did have a washer... Some would still have used these services but probably not the most...
Since I could read above they were also common in the 70s that made me perplexed about how they could keep their business still going well abd still be common, and so how a family even having possibility to do otherwise would prefer this, so when they could do that at home... Such a shame...
Luxury.... I can't really think of it as a luxury...
For how I see things I do not see much of luxurious in this, it surely would have prevented mommies a little further work, but should not have meant that much of a saving of work if a washer was present and that's a thing that I cannot figure out how people would prefer this if they had possibility to do this at home, and this instead of having common diapers shared among thousands babies and laundered by strangers, even more if such thing costed more than having laundered at home.. So the game was not worth the candle. So it comes automatic to wonder who would have paid also more for this like if it was better. From my point of view it is not luxurious or better actually, rather pretty disreputable and not a sign of wealthy living at all...so rather a thing for those who were not lucky enough having this possibility to wash at home, it would have had more sense if so IMO, otherwise would have been kinda dishonorable...
I think it's matter of points of view....
But least now has a little more sense...
Thank you.
[this post was last edited: 2/26/2014-06:10]
