I remember when keeping your
clothes washed was a very difficult task.
A fire would be built under a large old-
fashioned wash pot filled with soap and
water. After it came to boil, the clothes
were put in and stirred. Next, they were
laid on a table and beaten with a stick to
loosen the dirt. After rinsing, they were
hung on a line to dry. This was all right
in the summer, but winter posed other
problems. Everyone had a fireplace or
coal heater and smoke and soot from the
chimney would float in the air and get on
your clothes. In very cold weather, when
clothing was washed and hung out to dry,
it would freeze.

I remember that there were some
black ladies who would come to your
house, pick'up your clothes, and wash
them for you. For a family of five, the
price to wash and iron sheets and
clothing came to about $1.50.  I also
remember how fascinated I got with the
way the dirty clothing was bundled up
when carried to be washed. Clothes were
tied in a sheet, balanced on the ladies'
heads, and off they'd go.

I also remember that we thought that
any person who could afford a washing
machine with a manual ringer was real
lucky.

I also remember that some people
made their own soap using the grease left
from cooking meat. This grease would
be mixed with potash and water.   It
would be boiled until thick.  After it
cooled and hardened, it could be sliced
into bars.

I remember when water was drawn
from a well using a bucket. Some would
put a large barrel under the eaves of the
house and catch rain water. Rain water
was good for washing clothes because it
would "soap up" real good.

page 1
;omes home                 oaae 2