So, do you use store-bought or homemade laundry detergent?
I'm addicted to the homemade, and have been using it exclusively for about 2 years now. I have been having mixed feelings about the companies who make Fels-Naptha and Zote soap tho. I remember when I first started making my homemade soap, the cost of a bar was $0.97. I went to buy it the other day and the cost is now $1.97!! Really??? Inflation has went up a whole DOLLAR?!? I think not!! I know it's a supply & demand issue, with so many people now purchasing it to make homemade. So... my cheap frugal self went in search of my grandmother's old school lye & lard laundry soap recipe.....
and I found it!!
I found this darlin’ Wash Day instruction on the internet and thought it gave a great perspective on what the homemaker in the early 1900’s had to go through just to do a load of laundry! Now I understand the meaning of “Wash Day”. It took the whole day!
ADVICE TO A 1912 BRIDE
Years ago a Kentucky grandmother gave a bride the following recipe for washing clothes (misspelled words and all) :
Bild fire in back yard to heet kettle of rainwater.
Set tubs so smoke won’t blow in eyes if wind is pert.
Shave one hole cake lie soap in boilin water.
Sort things, make three piles. 1 pile white. 1 pile cullord. 1 pile work britches and rags.
To make starch stur flour in cold water to smooth then thin down with boilin water.
Rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, then boil. Rub cullord but don’t boil — just rench and starch.
Take white things out of kettle with broom stick handle then rench, blew and starch.
Spred tee towels on grass.
Hang old rags on fence.
Pour rench water in flower bed.
Scrub porch with hot soapy water.
Turn tubs upside down.
Go put on cleen dress, smooth hair with side combs, brew cup of tee — set and rest a spell and count your blessins.
I just just love the 1951 Whirlpool ad!! It's even more neat for me as I WORK at Whirlpool now building dryers. LOL
