August 31, 1982
When I was growing up, Mondays were “Wash Day” and Tuesdays were the day to iron. My mother used psychology and said I was the “Best ironer around.” So my Tuesdays were pretty busy. Once school started, this activity occupied every afternoon when I returned home. Those were the days of wash and wear fabric. The only way you could wear them after washing was if you didn’t mind looking like you wore them to bed!
The items were washed, rinsed, put through the wringer and then hung out. Before ironing they had to be “sprinkled” with water. Once wettened they had to be ironed right away or else put into the refrigerator. If time ran out and you didn’t want the clothes getting an odor, we’d pack them in plastic and freeze them. I was sure I was the only girl in my class who had to defrost her favorite blouse before school!
We kids could always tell when company was coming. The ironing board would be missing from its usual place. These days, thanks to permanent press, my boys don’t even recognize what that skinny, long-legged table is for! Cotton clothes are coming back in style. I just hope the ironing board doesn’t.