A Century Ago: Laundry Practices in the 1920s

Around the 1920s, laundry practices were quite different from today. From washing methods to drying clothes, every step of the laundry process required significant time and effort. This article provides an overview of how people washed their clothes during that time.

Washing Methods

Most households washed clothes by hand during the 1920s. This involved soaking clothes in water, scrubbing them with soap, and rinsing them. Many used washboards to scrub clothes, which helped to agitate the fabric and remove dirt. Families would place clothes in large buckets or tubs, and for particularly dirty items, water would often be boiled on the stove to help disinfect and clean the clothes.

Tools and Equipment

Buckets and Tubs: Clothes were soaked in large buckets or tubs. Some families had dedicated wash tubs. Boiling Water: For particularly dirty items, water was often boiled on the stove or in a large pot to help disinfect and clean the clothes.

Agitators: Some households used manual agitators or hand-cranked washing machines, which were becoming more common but were not yet widespread. Today, washing machines have drastically changed the landscape of laundry. While these machines were not widespread in the 1920s, they would significantly reduce the time and effort required for laundry.

Detergents and Soaps

People used soap made from lye and fats during the 1920s. Commercial detergents were just beginning to emerge in the early part of the decade. Starch was often used for stiffening clothes and bleach for whitening whites.

Drying Clothes

After washing clothes, people typically hung them outside on clotheslines to dry in the sun and wind. In colder climates, clothes might be dried indoors near a heat source. Wooden or metal clothespins were used to secure clothes to the lines.

Ironing and Finishing

Once dry, clothes were often ironed with heavy cast-iron irons heated on the stove or over a fire. After ironing, clothes were folded and stored, often in drawers or on shelves.

Laundry Services

Some people used commercial laundries, which washed and pressed clothes for a fee. These services were more common in urban areas. Today, we have numerous laundromats to choose from, making laundry more convenient and accessible.

Overall, laundry was a labor-intensive process that required significant time and effort, often involving the entire family in the washing, drying, and ironing tasks. While the process has undergone incredible changes over the past century, it's fascinating to look back at the conventional laundry practices of the 1920s.