The Art Of Laundry Work Practically Demonstrated For Use In Homes And Schools.

by Florence B Jack

The Art Of Laundry Work Practically Demonstrated' covers every conceivable element of the laundering washing, wringing, mangling, "blueing", ironing, starching, folding, and the methods of cleaning every type of garment from a boy's sailor suit to muslin chemise and toilet covers... The author on "When ironing lift the iron as little as possible, and do not thump it down. Ironing should not be a noisy proceeding. Iron quietly, and at the same time press well... Handle the things so as not to crush the parts that have been ironed. There is quite an art in the way clothes are lifted and moved about." Laundering a gentleman's silk "If these have a lining in them, take a needle and thread and tack right down the centre to prevent the lining curling up inside, then wash then in the same way as other silks. Before ironing them, stretch well until the lining lies straight inside, then gently draw out the tacking thread. Ironing over the thread would leave marks on the silk"

132 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 2008

Reviews

[Morticia Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently retrieved this book from a dusty pile of stuff in my cellar. It covers every conceivable element of the laundering process, some of which of course are now mostly obsolete: washing, wringing, mangling, "blueing", ironing, starching, folding, and there seems to have been a separate ritual for every type of garment - a boy’s sailor suit, a muslin chemise, a piquee pelisse, knickerbockers, toilet covers….

I read through this book mainly because I was hoping for a bit of a laugh. Many of these old books of are obviously now quite funny in a way that they were never intended to be, especially those which make assumptions about the role of women. In Miss Jack's world, women were expected to go to an awful lot of trouble to keep their houses, and not to make a big palaver about it either.

Here she is on ironing:

"When ironing lift the iron as little as possible, and do not thump it down. Ironing should not be a noisy proceeding. Iron quietly, and at the same time press well…. Handle the things so as not to crush the parts that have been ironed. There is quite an art in the way clothes are lifted and moved about."

Laundering a gentleman’s silk tie:

“If these have a lining in them, take a needle and thread and tack right down the centre to prevent the lining curling up inside, then wash then in the same way as other silks. Before ironing them, stretch well until the lining lies straight inside, then gently draw out the tacking thread. Ironing over the thread would leave marks on the silk”

As with today’s paperback novels, there is a full page of plaudits that earlier editions of the book had received. This one, from the Bristol Mercury has a surprisingly assertive feminist message for its time (and one which I'm not sure Miss Jack would have agreed with):

“…Her instructions are thoroughly scientific and practical, and so clearly given, that we believe even the inferior being, man, could acquire the art from studying this book. The mystery is a mystery no longer to those who take the trouble to study the careful diagrams which Miss Jack provides to the various steps in the proper folding of a complicated garment.”

I hate to think of my poor great grandmas endlessly struggling with these life-diminishing chores, but as I’m pretty sure they weren’t well off enough to own muslin chemises, or cream lace handkerchiefs, they probably didn’t. And those who could afford them probably had maids to do the laundry.

So yes, I had a good laugh, and this review is primarily tongue in cheek, but I can also recognise that this book,and others of its age and ilk, are valuable pieces of social history too.