Podcast Summary: The Curious History of Your Home
Episode: Laundry
Host: Ruth Goodman
Release Date: October 14, 2024

Introduction

In this captivating episode of The Curious History of Your Home, domestic historian Ruth Goodman delves into the intricate and often surprising history of laundry. From ancient civilizations to modern advancements, Ruth explores how the simple act of washing clothes has shaped societies, economies, and women's liberation. This comprehensive journey uncovers the evolution of laundry practices, the development of cleaning agents, the social implications of laundering, and the transformative invention of the washing machine.

Ancient Laundry Practices

Early Civilizations and Their Techniques

Ruth begins her exploration in ancient Mesopotamia, highlighting the Sumerians' innovative laundry methods. An Akkadian cuneiform text from Ur describes a process where clothes were submerged in water and slapped against rocks to remove dirt—a combination of friction and water proved effective ([02:15]).

Transitioning to ancient China, Ruth shares the folk legend of Chi, one of China's four great Beauties, who washed clothes with such grace that it allegedly made fish hide in shame. She explains that Chi likely utilized plant ash, an early detergent form that produced potassium carbonate when mixed with water, enhancing cleaning power ([03:45]).

Egyptian Rituals and Innovations

Ruth emphasizes the significance of laundry in ancient Egypt, not just for cleanliness but also for religious and magical practices. She narrates the story of a midwife performing a dawn spell to aid a first-time mother during labor, necessitating clean laundry as a critical component ([05:10]). Archaeological evidence, including tomb depictions, shows that laundry was integral to daily life, with men washing linen in the Nile or large vats, highlighting its societal importance ([06:25]).

Roman Laundry Enterprises

Ruth illustrates how the Romans transformed laundry into a profitable venture. The introduction of large wash houses, staffed by fullones (launderers), revolutionized the process. Romans employed plant ash, lime ash, and even urine as detergents—the ammonia in urine acting as a powerful cleaning agent ([07:50]). Despite the essential role of fullones in Roman cities, their status remained low, as evidenced by political rumors targeting influential figures like Cicero by associating them with the unglamorous laundry profession ([08:30]).

Medieval Period: A Return to Domestic Labor

With the decline of the Roman Empire, Ruth explains that industrial wash houses fell out of favor, and laundry reverted to a predominantly female responsibility. Women, whether housewives or servants, managed the arduous task of washing clothes by hand. Ruth recounts her personal experience working in period laundries, describing the meticulous process of sorting, soaking, washing, and drying garments ([10:50]).

Cleaning Agents and Techniques

Ruth details the range of cleaning agents developed during the Middle Ages, such as milk and salt for wine stains, lemon juice for ink spills, and honey for gold thread stains. She references Leonard Maskell's Profitable Book of 1583 as a source cataloging these ingredients and advising on methods to achieve fresh-smelling laundry ([12:30]). However, she also points out the use of questionable substances like animal dung and hemlock, which, while effective for removing grease and bleaching, left clothes with unpleasant odors and potential health risks ([14:15]).

Victorian Era: Industrialization and Chemical Innovation

The Victorian period marked significant advancements and challenges in laundry practices. Ruth describes how laundresses, such as Anne Harris at Hampton Court, employed a variety of chemicals like chloroform, gasoline, and turpentine to tackle tough stains. These substances, while effective, often caused severe skin irritation and posed health hazards ([16:40]).

Social Dynamics and Power of Laundresses

Laundresses occupied a unique social position, especially in large households and royal courts. They were privy to intimate details of their employers' lives, including personal health issues and private matters, granting them a form of informal power and influence. Ruth highlights the story of Sarah Breedlove, who transitioned from a laundress to becoming Madam C.J. Walker, America's first female self-made millionaire, demonstrating the potential for upward mobility within this profession ([20:05]).

Evolution of Ironing: From Manual to Mechanical

Ancient and Medieval Techniques

Ironing, often perceived as a modern convenience, has ancient origins. Ruth traces its evolution from Chinese open metal pans filled with hot coals to Greek pleating irons and medieval Europeans' use of mangle boards and flat irons heated over fires ([22:50]).

Victorian Innovations and Beyond

The Victorian era introduced iron designs resembling modern counterparts, though they required frequent reheating. The invention of the electric iron by Henry W. Seely in the late 19th century and the subsequent development of steam irons revolutionized the process, making ironing more efficient and less labor-intensive ([25:30]).

Global Disparities in Ironing Practices

Ruth notes that not all regions adopted electric ironing simultaneously. For instance, in parts of Japan and rural China, traditional methods persisted well into the 20th century, highlighting global disparities in technological adoption ([27:10]).

The Washing Machine Revolution

Invention and Early Developments

Ruth narrates the story of William Blackstone, who invented the world's first home washing machine in 1874. His innovation not only simplified the laundry process but also set the stage for future technological advancements ([28:45]).

Technological Advancements and Adoption

The washing machine underwent significant improvements, including the addition of electric motors by Tesla in 1894 and the introduction of automatic washing machines in the 1930s. By the mid-20th century, electric and steam-powered washers became widespread in Western households, drastically reducing the time and labor required for laundry ([30:20]).

Global Adoption and Traditional Practices

Despite technological progress in the West, many cultures continued traditional laundry methods. Ruth cites the Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai as an example of an enormous open-air laundry where thousands of men still wash clothes by hand, demonstrating the enduring nature of manual labor in certain regions ([31:50]).

Social Impact: Women's Liberation Through Laundry Innovation

Ruth passionately argues that the washing machine was a pivotal invention for women's liberation. By alleviating the time-consuming and physically demanding task of laundry, women gained the opportunity to pursue education, work outside the home, and participate in political activities. She posits that the washing machine deserves recognition alongside other major advancements like contraception and voting rights for its role in transforming women's societal roles ([33:10]).

Conclusion

Ruth Goodman masterfully illustrates that the history of laundry is not merely about cleaning clothes but is deeply intertwined with technological innovation, social change, and gender dynamics. From ancient riverbanks to modern washing machines, the evolution of laundry practices reflects broader societal transformations. This episode underscores the profound impact that seemingly mundane domestic tasks can have on shaping human history and advancing social progress.

Looking Forward

In the next episode, Ruth promises to explore the fascinating history of garden sheds, from prehistoric storage built from woolly mammoth remains to modern outbuildings tested by natural disasters and inventive young minds.

For those intrigued by the extraordinary history of everyday items, subscribing to Noiser+ offers ad-free listening, exclusive content, and early access to new episodes. Visit noizer.com/subscriptions to join.