If you’ve visited an Amish community, you’ve most likely seen the graceful clotheslines, sometimes stretching up into the trees. I find Amish laundry drying in the breeze a beautiful sight.
The women of the house have their hands full keeping up with the mounting soiled sheets, towels, and clothes. Amish men maintain their farms, do carpentry-type work or manual trades, and Amish households average 6 to 7 children-many 8 to 10 or more. Yet Amish housewives manage beautifully without being connected to the grid of electricity.
Amish homemakers sometimes have a scheduled laundry day, often on Monday. Never Sundays. Amish don’t do housework or chores other than crucial ones such as milking and feeding livestock on Sundays. Saturdays are often spent getting ready for church: washing buggies, preparing food, or cleaning a home.
Many Amish housewives use classic Maytag-brand wringer washers, once popular decades ago with non-Amish. Most Amish power their washing machines with a diesel generator or a pneumatic (air) motor. An innovative example of how Amish compromise without electricity. I’m not sure I’d want to use one of these types of washers, personally. I’d also be concerned if it stopped working! I know if my washing machine breaks that I can find a company to come and fix it (search online for “appliance repair san francisco” or wherever you live to find a local company who offers these services), furthermore it’s easy for me at home because this repair service comes automatically due to me having home warranty plan with a company like First American (https://homewarranty.firstam.com/homeowner/home-warranty/california), but I doubt they’d know how to fix a wringer washer!
Adding to the Amish housewife’s workload is the lack of mechanical dryers, although some Amish use spinners to spin water out of the clothes to make the drying process go faster. The Amish use the traditional method of hanging clothes out to dry, even in the winter.
Nearly all Amish yards have a clothesline. Some are typical “T” clotheslines that hang clothes at eye-level. Another Amish innovation is the spool that allows a long line of laundry to be strung from one spot near the home to a second point high up in a tree or on the side of a barn. The Amish housewife turns the crank to bring the double-lined clothesline in and out. This way, many clothes can be hung without tying up precious space on the lawn.
Rainy days prevent hanging clothes outside. Some Amish hang small batches of clothes underneath overhangs, in enclosed porches, or basements during inclement weather. I thought about this often last winter when the frigid winter dragged on. They hang their wash year-round, although occasionally Amish have been spotted in Laundromats. If someone in the Amish community did want to try and introduce some new appliances that can be found at laundromats into their communities, they could always try rental washers and dryers to see if they like them without having to commit to buying new appliances without trying them first.
Did your mother or grandmother use a wringer washing machine? Mine in CT hung onto hers many years and gave me demonstrations, cautioning me to watch my fingers. Using a modern washing machine with a spin cycle is a breeze in comparison. My friend told me the best washing machines in India are usually front loading which is pretty interesting. I prefer my wringer washer though, it’s really simple to use!
When I see laundry hanging, I often think of my dearly departed aunt. She and my uncle lived in a NYC suburb where fences were not permitted. My aunt erected a clothesline in their backyard, where it stood for decades. When new neighbors moved into the home behind theirs, they were appalled to see laundry hanging out in the fresh air to dry. And they made their opinions be known; they put up quite a ruckus. But my aunt, petite and feisty, would not be daunted.
How about you? Do you enjoy seeing laundry on the line? Do you think you could manage the task? Excluding chocolate-chip cookies fresh from the oven, is there a sweeter aroma than sun-dried sheets?
Leave a comment and enter to win one novel from the Legacy of Lancaster Trilogy: Leaving Lancaster, Pennsylvania Patchwork, or Forever Amish! THREE winners will receive the novel of their choice! I’ll announce the winners here next week, and I’ll email them. Winners have one week to respond. USA and Canada.
Congratulations to Jackie M., winner of a Vannetta Chapman book! Thank you to everyone who visited my blog and entered the book giveaway!
Also congratulations to Elizabeth D., a second-drawing winner due to a non-response from my last drawing for a copy of one of my 3 Amish books.
Kate, when we were in Pa. I thought the clothes hanging on the lines made the best photos…still do. I tried my best to get husband to build me one of those lines!!!!! I’d love the books, too. need a book, LOL
The clothes hanging on the lines do make delightful photos, Virginia! Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I laughed when I read this question on facebook. Yes, I like looking at Amish laundry hanging out side too – maybe even more than you. I thought I was the only one. While others are taking pictures at other things, I’m taking pictures and looking closely at the clothes. Amazing. Thanks for this blog on explaining the wash cycle, although that doesn’t sound fun to me. Lots of work! They amaze me!
susanlulu@yahoo.com
I so love hanging my clothes, curtains and linens out in the sunshine. The smell when they come indoors makes my life seem so peaceful and simple as though I were part of the Amish community.
The fragrance does make life seem more peaceful and simple, Bobbe! Thanks for writing and entering the book giveaway!
When I was about 5 or 6 my mother had one of these washers. And we would hang the clothes on the line. Right after that we got a regular washer. I’ve never done that since I’ve been grown. But it does make pretty pictures!
I agree, Brenda, the way the Amish hang their laundry makes pretty pictures. Thanks for entering the giveaway!
We had a wringer washer while growing up. There were 6 of us kids. On wash day we helped with the laundry, not only washing but hanging the clothes out on the clothesline. There were days during the winter that we would take the laundry into town to the laundromat to dry. Mom didn’t drive at that time so we always had to wait until dad came home from work and ate supper to go to town. Mom finally did get a good set of washer and dryer after all of us kids were grown.
Thanks for sharing your story, Donna! I’m envisioning two parents, six kids, a mountain of laundry, and all your mother went through to make sure you had clean clothing and linens. Fun that she got a washer and dryer when the kids were grown. Good luck in the giveaway!
Probably my maternal grandmother probably had 1. I know my older sister used one for a couple of years.
Thanks for visiting my blog and entering the book giveaway, Debbie! Good luck!
I grew up in an apartment building in the Bronx, so hanging clothes out to dry was not really doable although some people did hang them out in the fire escape (A fire escape is a special kind of emergency exit, mounted on the outside of a building). While in Europe this spring I noticed how many balconies had clothes lines hanging and all sorts of female and male undies, interesting. Thanks for the give away would love to win.
How wonderful that you traveled to Europe this spring, Lourdes. I have also seen some rather intimate garments hanging on balconies. Thank you for entering the giveaway. Bonne chance & Buona fortuna!
My mother and still my sister hang their sheets and other clothing outside or at least in their basement. I remember helping mom put up and take down the laundry line in the back yard. Dad had put anchors in the side of the garage, 2 metal poles in the far side of the back yard and then the tie off was on the carport that was attached to the garage. I was so proud when I finally learned to string up the line taunt enough to hang the clothes. It was always the children’s job to help bring the clothing back in. Mom had a large picture window in the dining room that we could watch the clothing blowing in the breeze. OH the sheets would smell SO Good. What wonderful memories.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful memories, Lois! What a splendid view out your picture window and what a clever father. Good luck in the book giveaway!
I hung my clothes out on the clothesline for many years. I thought it was good for the environment and better for my clothes. The only thing I dried in the dryer were the towels. Nothing like the smell of sheets dried outside. Of course, this was a challenge living in Settle area, and I would use the drier during rainy days.
Thanks for writing, Judy! I agree, nothing compares to the aroma of sheets dried outside. In the Seattle area, a woman could hang sheets outside and by the time she got home from the grocery store it could be raining!
When in Berlin, OH….I took many pictures of laundry lines full of clothes, all the while remembering as a young girl….I too hung up laundry out to dry. Gosh I hope I never have to do that task again. I must say after my son was born and my daughter 4 years later….I did hang out diapers! I loved hanging those for some crazy reason…lol. I am too much of a modern woman and I like my electricity. I do admire the Amish women! They are hard workers!!!
They certainly are hard workers, Linda, but it sounds as though you were too! I imagine diapers dried in the sun would be much fresher and also cleaner. Thanks for writing an entering the give away!
Hello Kate. I remember the days of my childhood when the laundry was done outside. We had a large wash pot of iron that was hanging over a fire. Mom used two washtubs to do the laundry after taking it out of the wash pot with a stick, that was after me stomping the dirty clothes in a washtub to loosen the dirt. Then she would have soapy washtub and one to rinse the clothes. She used blueing in next water for helping whiten the clothes. Then the dress clothes were put in a tub with starch. Then we hang the clothes to dry while more were in the Pot over the fire. We had a large family too. Parents and 8 siblings. Later had to iron the clothes and iron with a iron heavy, flat iron heated on a wood stove. We also had the gardening and canning to do. Usually had chickens and milk cows. Then when cotton was ready, the kids and daddy picked cotton. We had oil filled lamps also to do whatever was done after dark. Would hate to have to get my lessons and reading that way now. And, had an outhouse. And, had to used a wash tub to take a bath. No indoor water. Had to get it from a well. yes, we had a very simple life too, but wasn’t an easy life. Think I was about 10 before seeing my first electric light. Had to walk 2 miles to school. I have had a clothes line most of my life. loved airing the winter clothes when warmer time and every summer would air my quilts and pillows several times through the year. At some point in time we had one of the wringer tub. Had a little 3 year old nephew get his arm in the wringer and went clear up yo armpit and tore the skin by the time we could get it apart. When I married I washed our clothes many times with a scrub board in my bathtub. We were young with very little money. But we made it and raised four children. And things were much more simple and more time spent with family. I would love to win a book of this series Kate. Still missing one. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com <
Thanks for writing, Maxie! What a delightful letter you’ve written. Fascinating! Good luck In the book giveaway!
How do u use a computer wi the no power n why do u notuse electricity? I have always admired the Amish do knot know about their lifestyle
To answer those questions I’d have to write a whole new blog post, Connie! In a nutshell, the Amish do not want to be connected to the grid of electricity because they are trying to keep their community together and not become dispersed or badly influenced. I included a short piece by renown Donald Kraybill as a link in my blog post. I don’t know any Amish who use computers, but they may be allowed in some businesses. Not in the home where fellowship is treasured. Thanks for entering the contest. If you win one of my books you will learn a great deal about the Amish!
When I drive by and see the clothes hanging on the line in Amish communities, I can still smell the freshness of sunshine. It brings back memories of my Grandmother and washday. We used a wringer washer and hung the clothes out to dry. Everything had to be in order on the lines and when afternoon came, we went out to gather and fold the dried clothes. It was a time for laughing and chatting while we worked, which made it not seem like work at all. Every time I see the clothes on the line, it brings back memories of a wonderful childhood spent with family. I sometimes wish we could bring back those simpler times.
It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood, Susan! Laughing and chatting while working does indeed make chores fun. I’m sure you’re not alone; many wish we could bring back simpler times. Thanks for writing!!
I have been married over 45 years and during the first 9 years, i used a wringer washer and clothesline for our laundry. I now have a washer and dryer but I still choose to hang our clothes on the line to dry in all but the most inclement weather. I love to see them blowing in the wind and nothing smells better than line-dried clothes! For many years my clothesline was the only one for several miles but the high cost of electricity has caused several to go up recently. You mentioned that Mondays are usually Sundays for the Amish and for many years I chose Mondays and Thursdays but now, I may end up doing laundry everyday of the week, EXCEPT Sunday. Funny how our habits and routines change over time!
Thank you Kate for the beautiful pictures and for generously sharing your books.
Connie
cps1950@gmail.com
Sorry about that auto correct. I meant to say Mondays are usually WASHDAYS.
Connie
Thanks, Connie! My AutoCorrect has a mind of its own too.
Kate: My grandmother had a wringer washing machine. She taught me how to do laundry whenever I was staying with her (I lived next door). Honestly, I miss hanging my clothes on a clothes line. They always smelled cleaner, the whites were whiter. The sun bleached them better than anything else. I’m proud I have a clothes dryer for towels and etc. Just wish our subdivision allowed us to have clothes lines in the back yard. A neighbor did have but they had to remove it. She lived a simple life. She didn’t have indoor plumbing until the 1960’s nor an indoor bathroom till late 1960’s. She died in the 1970’s. She was born in 1890.
I would have loved to live next door to my grandmother, Pat! We got along so well, I actually lived with her several times as a young adult. Your poor neighbor, being forced to take down her clothesline. An interesting story, and not even fiction! Good luck in the book giveaway!
Kate, I grew up using a wringer washer and when I married I used one for all the laundry for a family of 7. With 5 boys raised in a country environment including animals there was always a lot of wash.
I also had a clothes line for as long as I could until I moved into town where there was no room.
I loved it and miss it as a dryer is convenient but cannot replace the freshness or even the joy of seeing a line of fresh smelling laundry. If I could have one today I would.
I am sure I did not have the huge amount of clothing the Amish have so I admire their dedication and hard work.
Thank you for the memories !!
I would love to read Leaving Lancaster
I would love you to read Leaving Lancaster too, Jackie! I bet five boys could accumulate a good amount of dirty clothes. My husband claims his immune system is excellent because he ate dirt as a child. Who am I to argue? He’s extremely healthy. Thanks for writing your fun comment and entering the book giveaway!
I have many wonderful memories of my grandma hanging wash outside when we visited her in the summer. My grandpa rigged up a pulley system for her so she could easily put lots of laundry out just like many Amish do today! We had a clothesline here that we used from time to time. Nothing like freshly washed sheets hung on the line to dry! It had to come down a while ago but I think it is time to find a place to put it back up! Thanks for the memories and chance to win!
Thank you for sharing your fond memories, Theresa! And thanks for entering the giveaway!
I loved hanging my clothes on the line. Had one of those umbrella clotheslines and a tree fell on it a couple of years ago and haven’t replaced it.
I think I need an umbrella clothesline, Beverly! !hanks to writing an entry in the book giveaway!
I love seeing Amish laundry hanging outside!!! so colorful! I thank you for this contest and would sure love to win one of your books! Mary Lou K
flowersmarylou85@gmail.com
I love Amish laundry hanging outside! So colorful and fresh! (yes, except for the manure!!!) .
I would so love to win your book! Mary Lou K flowersmarylou85(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for entering the book giveaway, Mary! Good luck!
I love clothes hung outside, they smell really fresh and I love the smell of them at night when I am in bed sleeping. I used to hang out my clothes, too after getting married for many years.
Also without electricity, they use gas lanterns and I believe generators propelled by gas. When I was a kid we used lanterns and burned wood for heat when we did not have any electric in our house.
Thank you for the chance to win and I would like to be in the contest. Thanks again
Thanks for your interesting comment, Rose, and for sharing your experiences! Good luck in the book giveaway!
I have always enjoyed being able to get the laundry hung out on the line. Fresh bedding is the best way to get a goodnights rest. Plus it gives a reason to be out in the fresh air and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Thank you for this giveaway. I did however get an error tag twice. Hopefully this reaches you.
I’m happy to report that this did reach me, Crissy! Fresh bedding is the best; it might cure insomnia. I also love being outside, enjoying nature. Good luck in the giveaway!
There is something nostalgic and homey about clothes drying on a line. My mom never did that, so I’ve only observed it from others. But it does look comforting, in a way.
I agree, Kathryn, it does look comforting. Soothing. Thanks for writing. Good Luck!
Lets try this again it didn’t post the first time.
I love how the Amish women do Monday Wash Day they are so on schedule and routine. When I lived in the country I loved hanging my laundry on the line. I don’t have room for a clothes line but I still hang things out on hangers. I wish I could be on schedule and routine as the Amish women.
That would be fun, Joannah! Not much community spirit where I live; most are rushing off to somewhere. Thanks for entering the giveaway. Good luck!
I love hanging wash..its calming to be outside amongst the birds & blossoms..a beautiful breeze & meditative soul. I can still remember my mother & grandmother hanging wash & using the faithful wringer washer…the good ole days.
What a lovely scene you’ve captured, Mary! Thanks for commenting and entering the book giveaway!
I love the smell of sun dried sheets, too! Sadly, haven’t hung anything outdoors for ages.
Thanks for entering the book giveaway, Kathy! Good luck!
Do not even have a clothesline! I did like the sheets hung out though… I do like to see laundry a flapping in the wind 🙂
You don’t need to own a clothesline to enter the book giveaway, Deanna! Thanks for writing and good luck!
I wish I could hang my laundry out to dry, Kate! But my HOA at my condo here in downtown Seattle frowns upon that kind of thing! I do drip-dry delicate things on a bamboo drying rack I set up in my soaking tub, though. Thank you for this giveaway, and hope I can win! God bless!
Thanks for writing, Mallory. I’m grateful for the two lines in our basement, but the sun is actually out. Hurray! Today would have been perfect. I just saw an ad in the Amish magazine “The Connection” for a large collapsible drying rack. Think I need it.
Can’t remember if I’ve posted on this one or not! But when I was young I watched my Mom hang the laundry outside! I wished I done it that way now! So thankful I won a copy of Forever Amish! Would like to win the rest of the series!
I hope you enjoy Forever Amish, Brenda! Congratulations! I’ll check and see if you’ve already posted. Either way, thanks for writing!
Would love to read your books. I hate doing laundry even with a dryer. Thereadmaster@me.com
Thanks for entering, Virginia!
We had a clothesline in our back yard when I was growing up. To this day I much prefer to hang my clothes outside. It is hard to find a place that allows one unless you own the land. There is nothing like the smell of clothes that dried outside.
I agree, Roberta! I love that fragrance. Thanks for writing!
I love hanging laundry outside!
Thanks for entering the giveaway, Jane!
I would live to win the book!!
But I do love the smell of laundry that has been hung out in the fresh air all day! I used to do it even in the winter, sometimes the clothes would take longer to dry because they would freeze! I didn’t have any other way to do it back then!!!