And if bathing was difficult for ordinary Victorians…
Laundry was even worse.
Because in an age before electric washing machines…
Before dryers…
Before modern detergents…
Cleaning clothing was a grueling physical ordeal.
Wash day could consume an entire day—
Sometimes more.
Water had to be drawn by hand…
Carried in heavy buckets…
Heated over fires…
Then poured into large tubs.
Clothes were soaked…
Beaten…
Scrubbed against boards…
Wrung out by hand…
And finally hung to dry.
It wa