1909–
“Plan for Wash Day – Get up at daylight and get the washing out of the way as early as possible. It is surprising how much can be accomplished early in the morning before the regular routine of the day begins.”
“Like the sewing machine, this instrument has a very important bearing upon the welfare of the family by lessening the physical labor devolving upon the wife and mother, and thus saving much of her energy for the higher and more elevated duties of the household.”
• Do not let clothes freeze as it damages the fibers and fades colors.
• Add salt to rinse water to help keep clothes from freezing.
• Hang whites in the sun and colored articles in the shade.
• Make an apron with a large, baglike pocket to hold clothespins for convenience while working.
• To keep hands warm in freezing weather, boil the clothespin bag and dry the pins by the fire before heading outdoors.
• Every few weeks, immerse the clothespin bag in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Spread out the pins to dry quickly by the fire or in the sun. This keeps them from becoming brittle and cracking.
• Dip the heads of part of the clothespins in dark paint, some in light paint and leave the rest unpainted. Use the dark ones for colored clothes, the white for miscellaneous towels and the unpainted for sheer whites.
• Hang tablecloths, sheets and blankets by the corners, not draped from the middle, to keep them from being damaged in the wind.
• When taking down clothes, put the clothes basket in a wagon to move along with you. Shake the wrinkles from each article, fold and lay them orderly in the basket rather than a disorderly mess.
From Household Discoveries and Mrs. Curtis’s Cookbook
Photo by Linda Seccaspina
Buy Linda Secaspina’s Books— Flashbacks of Little Miss Flash Cadilac– Tilting the Kilt-Vintage Whispers of Carleton Place and 4 others on Amazon or Amazon Canada or Wisteria at 62 Bridge Street in Carleton Place
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