Doing laundry in old-time Phoenix


One of the things that puzzled my grandmother, as I got older and older and remained a bachelor, is who "would do my laundry for me?" Laundry has never been anything that I've given a lot of thought to, it's just a chore that has to be done, but today I'm thinking about it, and how it was done in old-time Phoenix.

Technology has made us forget about the old washerwoman, who relied on the money that she made doing laundry. I suppose when automatic washing machines were invented there would have been much ranting about the new technology putting people out of jobs, but to someone like me it's just beyond my imagination.

Let's see how it worked. Let's go live on Millionaire's Row in the 1890s, which was Monroe east of Central. It's Tuesday morning and I'm going to work. As a wealthy wife, you would of course do very little domestic things, we would have a maid for that, and even a nurse for the baby. Oh yeah, and a cook, of course! Be sure to tell her that I won't be in for the evening meal tonight, I'll be dining with some friends, and we'll be talking about real estate. No, you're not invited, men only. Anyway, be sure to tell the maid that we need to have the laundry done.

The washerwoman (yes, of course women did this) would visit the house, going to the back door, the trade entrance, and collect up the laundry. She might haul it in a wheelbarrow, or she may have a burro.

She would wash the clothes outside, by using a big bucket of water (if she was lucky she would have a big strong man to help her carry the water, but she would probably do it herself), and a washboard. She would take each item of laundry and rub it on the washboard, dipping it in the water. She would use a bar of soap. She would need to rinse the laundry, and then hang it to dry. Then she would fold it, and return it, where she would be paid. It was hard work that required a lot of strength, and it wasn't considered a job that you would brag about.

Speaking for myself, I learned how to use the washing machine at my apartment complex in Phoenix when I was 19. You put coins in it, added detergent (there was an older lady who lived nearby who showed me the process), and the clothes tumbled around in the water and soap, getting clean. Then you took them out and moved them into a dryer. I always kept a bunch of quarters around for laundry day. I found it a simple, if dreary, job to do. The machines were outside, around the back, near the pool, and I would usually sit by the pool, or swim, while I was doing laundry. I don't recall having a laundry basket, so I probably just carried the clean clothes in my arms, or maybe I used a trash bag.

Thank you for thinking about doing laundry with me today!
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