As long as people have covered their naked bodies, in the name of common decency, style or utility, there has been the need for the occasional laundering. How do you approach this task on your to-do’s? Does it have a scheduled slot in your week, or do you wait till the pile overflows the basket? When did you first learn how to perform this chore?
After years making clothing, selling clothing, dressing other people, and also myself, I have strong opinions on laundry. There is a difference between just getting it done and taking the necessary steps to ensure that your clothes come out looking better than they went in. I found my mind wandering in the midst of my bi-weekly laundry meditation about this chore, how far it has come through the history of humanity, and the real impact our clothes washing choices make on our wardrobes and our planet.
Until recent history, the chore of cleaning and maintaining clothing was a very physical and labor intensive activity involving hauling water and manual scrubbing, more water, wringing and rinsing. For reference the “earliest washing machine”, the scrub board, was invented in 1797 , the first drum rotary machines came about in the mid 1800’s but were still powered manually. It wasn’t until 1908 when Thor, the first electric powered washing machine was introduced by Alva J. Fisher in Chicago, Illinois. In our current era of convenience it has been distilled down to sorting, tossing in, and pushing a button.
This dude, Alva John Fisher, is to thank for saving our hands, backs and time with his invention of the first electric washing machine.
Clothing was made at homes or by local dressmakers and tailors for most of human existence, unless you were a member of upper class society. People owned far less in general and there were not as many options for fabrics. They were familiar with the fiber the clothing was made out of which removed the guesswork in how to take the best care for it. If someone constructed a garment themselves, or had it custom made then they would be much more comfortable with altering or repairing it. The dirt and sweat, food stains and minor rips or tears can give a glimpse into the day that garment performed the work of covering and protecting loved ones. Those that washed and restored the clothes could bring on a fresh new day of possibility.
These days most people are miles away from the construction and care of our clothing. We buy clothes, we wear clothes we throw them in the laundry or drop them by the cleaners. We have lost the intimacy that was once woven into what we wear. Doing laundry is as easy as a load and a pour and a press of a button. Do you bother to really care if your clothes are treated right as they slosh and whirl in those big metal boxes?