Tuesday, May 19, 1925
The washing came home and shattered the hope of sending it from now on. Two dollars! 34 lbs. for a washing – not so big as usual in lots of ways. I starched them and hung out and ironed until 5:30. Ned is great on telling secrets now, whispers in your ear and just laughs like it was a big joke.
(I used an online calculator to determine that the $2 Grandma spent in 1925 to have their clothes sent out to be washed is equivalent to $23.03 in today's dollars. I think I understand her disappointment in the cost. Plus she still had to do her own starching (does anyone still do that today?), drying and ironing.
Ned certainly seemed to amuse and delight his mother. Perhaps because Grandma didn't mention Albert in her diary on this day, he was doing better at this point?)
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Why did they starch them? To get the wrinkles out easier? Makes me appreciate my new front load washer and dryer.
ReplyDeleteThat was very expensive indeed. In 1958 I worked a laundry. We charged 10 cents per pound, $3.40 in her case. That included ironing the sheets and pillow cases, with everything else dried, folded and wrapped in plastic. And that was 33 years later!
ReplyDeleteThis was the run-up to the big crash. Everything had gotten expensive in the 20s. Money was being made. But, 34 pounds of laundry? And that's just one day's worth? Of course, she had diapers to be washed.
ReplyDeletePeople starched because not only did they need it with the fibers to remain crisp and clean (like linen and cotton), but they also use starch to help keep the fabric cleaner, since starch collects the oil and grime instead of the fabric fibers, also making a garment last longer too.
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