University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Historical Circulars of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station Extension 4-1934 Laundry Equipment Methods E. Carse H. Jeffryes Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/hcnaes Part of the Home Economics Commons Carse, E. and Jeffryes, H., "Laundry Equipment Methods" (1934). Historical Circulars of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. 50. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/hcnaes/50 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Circulars of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. APR LAUNDRYEQUIPM ANDMET DS CONTENTS Selecti on of Equipmen t..... ........................................... ........... ........... .... 3 Mending ba sket ...... ......................... ...... ........ ...... ......... ..... ............... 3 Sorting equipment ........ .......... .......... ....... .... ..... ........... ............ .... ... 3 Stain-removal equipmen t.... .... ...................... .................................. 4 Tubs .................................. ......... ................... .................... ..... ..... .... 4 Washing machine ..... ...... .............................. ..... ............ ....... ........... 4 Laundry stove ..................... ....... ..... ..... ......... ...... ......... ....... ............. 5 Acces sory washing equipment .......................... ..... ..... ........... ..... ... 5 Ironing board ...... ......... ......... ........ ................... .............. .... ............. 6 Hand iron .. ... ..... ..... .. ..... ...... ..... ............ .................... .. ..... ........... ..... 6 Ironing machine ........ ...... ...... .............. .... ..... ...... ......... ..... .... .......... 7 Ac cessory ironing equipment ........................ ...... .... .... ............ ........ 8 Arr angement of Equipment.... ........... .... ............... ................... ........ ....... 9 Supplie s ...... .. ............................ ........ .... .... .... ..... ....... .... ........ .... ...... .... .... 1 O Stain remo vers ..... .................... .... .... ........ ............... ............. ....... .... 10 Water softe ner s .... .......... ....... ................ ........ ................................. 10 Soap ... .. ..... ... ...... ... .. .. .. ........ .. .... .... .. ... ..... ... .............. ... 11 Method s ....... ............... ...... ........ ...... ..... ...... .......... ........... ·...... ...... ............ 12 White clothe s ........ ................. .... ... ................ ..... .... ........................ 12 Color ed clothe s............................................... ..... ........................ .... 14 Article s of silk or synthetic fabrics ....... ...... ................................... 14 Wo olen s ........................... .... ............. ........ ..... .... ...... .............. ......... 15 Cur t ain s, draper ies, and slip cover s ...... ....... ...... .... .... ........ ...... ...... 16 Laundry Equipment and Methods EDITH CARSE AND HELEN JEFFR YES Department of Home Economics Washing can be made one of the pleasant tasks of home­ making if the laundry room is a cheerful and convenient place in which to work, if the equipment is well selected and arranged, if the work is carefu lly planned, and if the wash­ ing methods used give satisfying result s. The purpos e of this circular is to give information whi ch will make it possible for homemakers to solve their laundry problems more suc­ cessfully.1 SELECTION OF EQ UI PMENT Mend ing bask e t.--Since small holes and r ips grow larger when clothes are washed, a few stitches before washing mean fewer stitches afterwards. A mending box with thread, needles, and scissors kept in the laundr y room will save many steps. Sortin g equipm ent. -A container for soiled clothes is a necessary part of the laundry equipm ent. In some home s a clothes chute which empties into a clothes bin takes care of the soiled clothes. In other homes, a large hamper or basket is used , and the clothe s are sorted into smaller ba skets or on papers spread on the floor. A tab le which is both a contain er and a sorting device, such as the one designed and built for our laboratory, has man y advantage s. See Figure 1. ,,,,..0 FIG. 1.- A sorting ta ble. 1 This stu dy of hom e laundry problems was sponsored by McCall 's Magazi n e and carrie d on under t h e supe rvi sio n of the Home Econom ics D epar t m ent of t he Uni ver ­ s ity of Nebraska . The reports of all work which was done are on file in the H ome Economics Department of t he University of Nebra s ka . 4 NEBRASKA EXPERIMENT STATION CIRCULAR 49 The table is 7 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The top to the right is smooth and stationary and can be used as a working area. The top to the left may be used as a flat surface; or when lifted back and hooked to the wall it allows access to the five sort ing bins beneath it. The bins are large enough to hold an average machine load of cloth es-from 6 to 8 pounds. The soiled clothes may be placed in their respec­ tive bins as they are brought into the laundry room during th e week, or they may be sorted into them on wash day from the clothes chute. If the soiled clothes have been carried to the laundry room, the hamper or basket should be placed on a stool or low table so that it will be the same height as the top of the bins and thus enable the worker to drop rather than lift the clothes. Under the bins are storage spaces for buckets, hose, and other sma ll equipment; the drawers to the right hold towels, measuring cups, spoons, and the mending basket; the center shelf holds pans and supp lies, and the baskets may be stored under it when they are not in use. A she lf built over the table for soap, water softeners, starch, and other supplies is convenie nt. Marks A and Bon the diagram indicate venti lating holes. Similar holes should be made between bins 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 5, in the bottom of the bin 3 and the inner side of bin 5. Stain-removal equipment.-The remova l of stains is made more simple if one or two sma ll enameled basins, two or three medicine droppers, and pads of cheese cloth are kept near a clean, flat surface where the spo tt ed artic les can be spread out. Tubs. - Laundry tubs are of two kinds, stationary and portable. The stationary tubs, usually constructed of soap­ stone or enameled iron and having permanent plumbing con­ nections, are very conven ient but are rnore expensive. Gal­ van ized iron tubs with legs may be purchased, and are more convenient to use than tubs which rest on a bench because they can be moved about easily. A second advantage is that these tubs may be drained from the bottom directly into a floor drain, into a pail, or, by means of a hose, into a more distant outlet. Washing machine.-A washing machine is one of the most important labor-saving devices used in the home . Since it is expected to give good service for at least ten years, it should be selected with care. The following questions shou ld be considered : LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT AND METHODS 5 1. Is the dealer reliable? 2. Does the machine operate quietly'! 3. Does the machine drain quickly and completely? 4. Is its working height comfortable, or can it be adjusted? 5. Can the machine be moved about easily? 6. Are the controls easily reached and manipulated? 7. Are the motor and all moving part s well cover ed for the protection of the operator. 8. Is the machine large enough to accommodate the family's needs and not too large for the storage space? 9. Is the machine easy to clean and lubricate? 10. Is the water extractor satisfactory ? The soft and semi-soft ro lls which are now used on many wringers have a more gentle action on clothes and on buttons than the hard-roll wringers. A good wringer has a satisfac­ tory tension control and an easily manipulated safety release, and will lock in four positions. If a centrifugal dr yer is used, the mo isture is evenly re­ moved, there is very little chance of breaking or removing buttons from the clothing , and woolens are left soft and fluffy. Unless the dryer is carefully loaded, however, there may be considerab le vibration, and if the water is extremely hot there is danger of burning the fingers while transferring I the clothes from the machine to the dryer. Machines with a gasoline motor can be purchased if elec­ tricity is not ava ilable . There are a few hand-power wash­ ing machines on the market. Laund ry stove.-Unless the water is heated by a furnace or by a gas, electric, or kerosene water heater, a stove will be a necessity. Even though there may be a water heater, a stove will be an added convenience, as there may be times when part of the white clothes should be boiled, and starch must be made. Acc ess ory wa sh ing eq u ipm e nt .-The fo llowing pieces of equipment are either necessary or very helpfu l : 1. A hose for filling the tubs and the washing machine eliminates the necessity of carrying water. 2. A thermometer for testing the temperature of the water is helpfu l, especially when colored cottons, silks, and w0olens are being washed. 3. A boiler is necessary if the water must be heated on the stove. 6 NEBRASKA EXPERIMENT STATION CIRCULAR 49 4. A large plunger and a hand wringer will help to