Some clothingA Closer LookMary’s boiled laundry likely consisted of things made of white cotton, like the long “drawers,” or underwear, people wore at the time. Clothes were made so that parts that were most likely to get dirty, like collars and sleeves, could be removed and washed separately.
Big or heavy clothing, or clothing made of fabrics such as wool, (like dresses, pants or jackets), would be aired and brushed, but rarely washed in water. Women were expected to know how to do laundry and how to use a variety of substances to remove stains. For more information on the clothing worn by men, women and children in about 1860, visit the Memorial Hall Museum of Deerfield, Massachussetts online (http://www.memorialhall.mass.edu/activities/dressup/index.html). |
