My grandmother was a Hungarian immigrant who came here during the depression. She taught me everything I needed to know about baking and lots else, always with thrift in mind. She did her laundry in a wringer washer, using shaved bar soap. I have had super electric washers but prefer my 1954 Maytag wringer. One load of wash water can be used multiple times, starting with the most delicate or white fabrics, and ending with towels or rugs. Then I empty the washer, refill with clean water and rinse in the same order. Plugs into a regular outlet, very little electricity, and a 56 ounce bottle of Dawn dish detergent used only for laundry lasts over a year. I use white vinegar in the rinse water and have racks for drying. If I'm really ambitious the rinse water can be used for my houseplants or outside (non-edible) flowers. This washer does a far better job than the $1500 front loader, in part because you can let things wash as long as you want, not just to the manufacturers preset wash cycles. Well worth the $300 it initially cost me. Off baking topic I know, but of all the things I do to try to reduce my impact on the planet this may be the most consequential.

• Reply