They are called 'pants stretchers', and you took wet, freshly laundered slacks and slipped a stretcher into each leg, setting the crease just so, then hung them to dry. I remember many times in my childhood and teen years when there were multiple pairs of my dads slacks on the line, blowing in the breezes.
Of course actually washing the clothes was much different back then, too. In the far left side, in the other room, you'll find an old wringer washing machine which is much like ours. You put the water, clothes and detergent into the bowl to wash the clothes, then you fed each piece of clothing into the wringers on top to squeeze as much water as possible out of them.
Of course then you took the laundry basket out to the clothesline and pinned each piece onto the clothesline. I wonder how many times I had to run outside and help my mom take the clothes off the line when a surprise rain shower arrived???
And when we took them down, we couldn't just leave the clothespins hanging there either . . .
but had to put each one into a clothespin bag much like this one.
And don't forget what happened when the clothes were dry and back inside. They had to be ironed! This first iron is an example of a very early one that was heated up either inside a fire, on the coals, or on a stove.
And then finally the electric ones became available. Here's a cute example of a vintage iron.
And then here is an example of one that you might find today, although they aren't used as much now as they were. I just LOVE no-iron shirts and slacks!!! Do you know where your iron is???
And I can't leave out a true necessity in doing laundry - the sprinkler bottle. This is very much like the old one that we had, and I'm sure my mother still has it. And her bottle of choice was a coke bottle as well! These days when I have to moisten something before I iron it, I use a spray bottle, which works very well.
While I am so glad that things have progressed due to technology and good old ingenuity, I also enjoy looking back at the way things were. So tell me, what modern day convenience are you most thankful for today? TV, computers, food processors, cordless and/or cell phones, modern medicine??? Tell me all about it!
Blessings, Becky
8 comments:
I have one of those irons like the very first one you showed - it was my grandmother's. She liked electric household appliances, so I'm pretty sure she got it from her mother and just kept it around for nostalgia!
It did not seem that long ago that my mother would hang out the clothes to dry in the dead of winter and bring them in frozen. There would be clothes hung everywhere in the kitchen. Remember the flannel sheets smell as they were hung over a chair in front of the heating register. Its funny how simple little things remind us of long ago.
I remember those pant stretchers. It would be nice to have some now for energy savings - dryer and ironing. Wonder whatever happened to my grandmama's?
Oh my gosh, I love the sprinkler bottle! Fun walk down memory lane. :)
I'm thankful for all the conveniences!
As a fifty-something...I remember all the vintage stuff...the time it took to complete the tasks. My job was to iron my father's shirts. He was a pastor, so there were oh, so many white shirts to do! My dad's pants were stretched on those contraptions.
:)
My grandmother used a wringer washer. I can still remember the smell of the basement, where she did the laundry.
Hanging out the clothes? Oh yes...I still do that as well.
Nothing like the scent of line dried sheets!
mmmmm!
Becky, the thought of hanging out clothes with all the rain is rather frightening. I so loved running through the sun dried sheets as they hung on the line...such a wonderful, clean smell. Your post was a path down memory lane. :-)
Oh my! I have spoken so many times about pant stretchers! My brothers and dad had their pants and jeans on them. I remember the liquid starch, then the line. I promise those babies could stand at attention! Then the sprinkle bottle! I never used a ringer or a iron iron, but I am so happy to use my kitchenaid mixer! I could do without it, but I do love it!
I love clothes on the line!!! Charming post.....
Becky stop by my place somtime...so enjoy your thoughtful comments and spirit at the Katillac Shack!
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