My Swiss grandmother Rosalie never owned a washing machine. She and my grandfather were simple hill farmers in the Emmental, the mountainous region where the famous Swiss cheese is produced. I don’t recall ever seeing Rosalie in a dirty outfit, except during the potato harvest, when the two of them spent days digging up tubers out of the fertile soil.
My sister and I were lucky enough to spend a few weeks every summer with our grandparents in the countryside. Not only did we learn how to be frugal, but also how to reuse everything that can be reused.
Buying toilet paper? What a waste of money! Old newspapers were cut up and stacked in the outhouse.
Throwing out used coffee grounds? Never! It was collected and worked into the soil for the vegetable garden as a fertilizer.
Used eggshells in the trash? Nope! They were crumpled up and mixed into chicken feed and given to the plump hens, who had free range around the farm.
Purchasing tea? Absolutely not! There was plenty of mint, chamomile, and linden flowers growing on the land, which after drying in the sun, provided many pots of excellent tea.
When it was laundry day, Rosalie would put her heavy copper pot on the wood-burning stove, mix in a handful of soapy flakes to the boiling water and carefully add the soiled clothes. With a huge wooden spoon, grandma would turn the laundry over and over again while feeding the fire with more wood. Once the boiling process was finished, we kids had to carry the steaming laundry in a gigantic wicker basket to the freshwater fountain for rinsing. Afterward, what fun to hang the clean clothes on a long laundry line in front of the house. “Chinder!” Rosalie would then say, “don’t forget to be grateful for the sun and the wind. The sun sterilizes everything and the wind gives the laundry a fresh smell.”
Today not too many people on Earth “cook” their laundry anymore. Modern technology provides us with high-efficiency washing machines. We also have many choices in buying eco-friendly laundry detergents. But what about the dryer? That noisy, energy-consuming, clothes shredding monster. According to my electric company, a dryer in an average household makes up 5% of the monthly electricity bill.
Is there an alternative? Yes, my friend, - it’s the wind.
Want to experience mindfulness? Go buy yourself a drying rack (I love the STEWI sold by clotheslines.com) or stretch a rope. Purchase some colorful clothespins. Start small by hanging only towels, dishcloths, or sheets. To avoid wrinkles, snap your clothes in the air before hanging. Watch the winds restless game as your laundry moves back and forth. While folding your towels and blankets, be proud that you just saved some electricity. Then bury your nose in the fluffy items. Take a deep breath. The best things in life are free!
Great article!! Loved this. I'd love to hear more stories about your grandparents.
Great piece. I think all the other tips deserve a separate piece and more information.