BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Polish Culture Poles and Americans are doing laundry.... very differently

I do not mean that Poles are still doing laundry ... in the river or under a current water.

But Americans are using softeners for their sheets whereas Poles just the opposite. My mom was always boiling starch and soaked the sheets in the starch so that they would be stiff.

this is probably because Poles do not fit their sheets to the materac they just lay in on the beds.

Nobody was interested in this detail of Polish tradition? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Jaga,

I just did not want to think about starch and ironing sheets ....lol

As a child I had to iron my father's handkerchiefs, plus the pillow cases, etc., but we did not use starch.

Strangely enough, now I do a lot of textile projects, and I own (and use) 5 irons (still no starch!).

thanks anyway,
Nancy M.

Jaga,

I don't really remember if my mother starched her sheets. All I can say is that they were clean smelling and real soft when you crawled under them.

As for starch. Your observation hits a tender spot on my bottom since it reminds me of the time, when I was in the service, my skivies came back from the laundry starched and pressed. I had a full inspection that morning and I sort of walked funny.

Hi Jaga

I can remember my Babci starching everything. Letting it soak in starch. When I first gotmarried grandmom had us bring our laundry over(which she insisted doing) and she starched my husbands undershorts. Needless to say that did not go over well but he never complained to her because he loved her.
Well to make a long story short we saved up real fast to buy our wringer washer machine.
Basia

Nancy,

do you work on some art of handwork projects?

John, Basia,

thanks for the memories.

I still remember how my neck was stiff after laying on the pillow which was starched a bit too much! But Poles do not use fitted bedsheets therefore they starch a lot to keep bedsheet from having wrinkles.
Poles still do not have drying machines to such extend as Americans. Partly ... because of not enough room in the bathrooms!

Jaga,

My aunts taught me to sew and knit when I was a child, so for many years I made clothes and also I knit Irish cable sweaters. Now I make quilts, some traditional geometric patterns and some that are a bit different - for example, I am finishing up an applique portrait of my mother. I am interested in many asapects of textile art, just wish I had more time to pursue all my ideas!

Nancy M.

Jaga,

My aunts taught me to sew and knit when I was a child, so for many years I made clothes and also I knit Irish cable sweaters. Now I make quilts, some traditional geometric patterns and some that are a bit different - for example, I am finishing up an applique portrait of my mother. I am interested in many aspects of textile art, just wish I had more time to pursue all my ideas!

Nancy M.

Jaga, et al, remember hanging the household curtains on the curtain frame after washing? Remember Fels-Naptha and bluing? I think my hands are still sore from helping with that chore. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Jaga, et al. Try cross-stitching; it is relaxing, exercises the eyes and is addictive. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />