Why you haven't seen a video from me in awhile - sorry for the unexplained absence, I am actually in Europe right now. I have some people I care about from, and currently still in Ukraine, and have been pretty involved with what's been going on since the invasion happened 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find space to make videos these last few weeks. I wrote about it all here on the website: amishamerica.com/praying-for-ukraine/ If you can offer prayers or other support for the people being killed and losing their homes, it is all appreciated. I plan to get back on schedule here with regular Amish videos again, barring any unexpected developments. I was in Ukraine a few weeks before it started, but currently in Poland (safe). Sorry to be writing this kind of message, this is an Amish channel and want to keep the focus on that, but sometimes larger events intervene and I wanted to explain to you. Thanks very much for your support and kind thoughts 🙏👍👍
@@AmishAmerica I've been thinking about you! Was just wondering last night if you're ok. Prayed for you, of course. I remember from someone else's video series a while back that there are Amish in Russia, Ukraine, and around that region. He (the video guy) had connected with an Amish family in Ohio, I think, and one of the men was married to a woman from one of the Eastern European Amish communities, whom he had met while traveling there. I didn't know you have friends in the region -- Amish? Anyway, you're all in my prayers for safekeeping. The Lord of All works all for our eternal good.
My Grandmother had one of those hand cranked ringer washers. No, she wasn't Amish. When she upgraded, Grandpa turned the ringer washer into and ice tub for ... his beer.
I hang my clothes up in my house in the Winter. It adds much needed humidity to the air while not using any electricity . It's an old Swiss German Mennonite trick. It really WORKS!!
My chore as a little girl was to hang the laundry. I loved doing it. I sorted by type and size. Nothing smells better than fresh laundry that smells like the fresh air and sunshine. Had to run many times to get the laundry off of the line when rain moved in.
When I was a little girl (not Amish), I don't know how many times we got our fingers caught in those washer wringers. We also froze our fingers hanging out blue jeans and towels on the clotheslines - that was the real "freeze dried". Good memories.
When I was small I got my hand caught in a wringer and it went most of the way up my arm. I was OK. My mother was there and opened the cylinders to get me out.
I am not Amish, but I hang my clothes, outside, to dry. Nothing better than your bedding that has been hung, on the line. I remember helping my grandma, wring her clothes, with one of these washers. I loved laundry day, at my grandma's house.
I grew up helping my Mother wash clothes this way. BTW not Amish, lived in rural Ohio, didn't have excess water to waste. First we washed & rinsed the delicate clothes, then the whites, lighter colors, medium colors, dark colors, then dirty work clothes, and lastly rags & rugs. This was done with one washer and one tub of water. We only added water as needed. Of course the clothes were hung up immediately after rinsing.
Those ringer washers are so familiar! I'm a baby boomer, but my parents struggled financially. So I grew up with an old ringer washer and clotheslines. I and my sisters helped my mom on laundry day. I know that the old fashioned way to launder and dry clothes is a lot of work!
I'm a boomer too, and am familiar with wringer washers. I have fed many an item through the wringer. It's a little more work, but not terrible. We get used to doing the method we are used to. I hang my clothes on the line on hangers, and take them off with the hanger and put them in the closet. Less work than using a dryer. Mine threw a belt and I just donated it.
Boy, I remember the days when my mother hung clothes out on the line. We definitely were not to play around the clothes line that day or we’d be in big trouble. Thanks for sharing and bringing those memories to mind.
Ringer washers sound like the perfect eco-friendly solution to washing. Shame I'm too young to remember them, but I'll look around and see if I can get one. Saves money on a washing machine!
I remember my grandpa having the old wringer washer. He stored it in a room off the kitchen, and wheeled it to the stove when he did laundry. He didn't hook up the hose to the kitchen sink faucet, he boiled big pots of water on the stove and poured it into the washer tub. If I recall, he may have plugged the washer into the outlet that was on his old electric stove. Things were very different in the early days. Grandpa was a stubborn holdover from the early 1900s. My other set of grandparents had modernized to indoor plumbing and modern washer and dryer by the time I was a kid. But I admit, it was fun going to my old-fashioned Grandpa's to watch him wash clothes. For some reason, though, my baby brother didn't see The old wringer washer at Grandpa's. He was four years old and playing next door with the neighbor boy while the neighbor lady did her laundry in the kitchen. My brother came home all excited, telling our mom, "You gotta git this brand new kind of washing machine! You hook up the hose to the kitchen faucet, fill it up, and you can watch the clothes being washed because it doesn't have a lid. And then you pull the clothes through between a couple of rolling pins to wring out the water! It's so neat! We need one of those!"
🙂I bet that was a thrill when you think about what they were used to. Interesting to wonder how people of the future will look at what we today consider modern and cutting-edge.
Years ago, living in a tiny studio apartment, I hand washed clothes in a big plastic tub & hung them on a pulley line between 2 trees. I then rinsed out the soap by spraying the clothes with a garden hose. Very quick & easy step to do in a pinch.
I live in the Uk and we use a charming spinner they are called spin driers here and they get water out by centrifugal force at 2,800 rpm compared to washing machine spinner at 1,400. They'll take out at least 2 litres of water after going through a washing machine. Great for towels,fleece jackets, in fact anything. Just make sure you even the load in the spin drier or it will dance around the floor. As with everything that is good to use, it's getting hard to find descent ones.
I have some Amish friends who run their washing machines with horse power. The horses walk on a sort of treadmill that attaches to a belt on the washer to run it. It is very cool 😎
@@OilHist A domestic mangle we had in the kitchen got as much water out as possible. You folded sheets \ clothes and ran them through so it would somewhat get rid of creases but there was no heat involved just muscle power of the person doing the mangling. The clothes still needed hanging out but dried quicker as the majority of the water was out especially if you ran the clothes through the mangle a couple of times. As it was so in Uk anyway. Not sure if there were industrial ones that ironed or the USA used better ones that would iron. . They all got the job done ✅ you had to make sure you didn’t have dangling apron strings or a tie hanging loose otherwise you would find yourself getting rolled in too !
An Amish couple rented my house before we bought it. So it has a pulley clothes line attached to an old telephone pole off the back deck. My neighbors have at least 3 lines. I've got 2 of the circular hook ups too.
My Mom grew up with a wringer washer and having to do the laundry for 4 brothers. They would apply starch and put clothes in the ice box too. When I was a kid we would hang our clothes on a clothesline to save money on gas and electricity in the Summer.
For many years my grandparents lived in a traveling trailer due to my grandfather’s job. They didn’t have a washer/ dryer. When they were offered a washer/ dryer they didn’t understand the fuss being made. They said it wasn’t important. I didn’t understand the importance of simplicity then. I only understood “convenience”. Im very respectful of their lifestyle now but I wish I had understood then. 💗💗
Thanks Erik for another informative video, with the crazy world that we live in I would not be surprised that we will need to learn how to survive from the Amish. 🙏👍
Gosh laundry for the Amish, that sure is a days work, I'm happy to have the modern conveniences of a real electric or gas washer/dryer combo. Growing up we had a washer but no dryer, my mom grew up in the 30' s and 40's where everything was hung outside, our back yard have the "T" clothes lines, everything smelled wonderful when we pulled it in after drying. Sending lots of prayers for the people you care about in the Ukraine, hoping for peace sooner than later. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us.
I am not Amish and I wash my clothes with a wringer washer and line dry! I really enjoy the slow down time that comes with the process. Thank you for these videos.
I've seen old wringer machines, my grandma told me she always used one. I grew up in the 60s and 70s, we never had a dryer in my home, even up to my mom's passing in the late 90s. We always hung our clothes outside. I remember my mom on our back porch, and the line went out to the end of our lawn. We had a pulley wheel. And a little contraption that about halfway through, mom would hang on the line so the two lines would stay closer and the bottom wouldn't be so low the clothes would touch the ground. In the winter clothes got hung up in our basement boiler room. The clothes always smelled so good being dried out in the sun. Another great video, thanks for posting ☺
I used this when I was a kid and hung the clothes on the line. I also took a bath in a metal tub, washed dishes by had, and used an outhouse. I was born in 1960 and I don't regret one bit of my experience from back then. I am grateful for the experience should we ever have to live without modern conveniences.
The charming spinner is essentially a centrifuge. It forces more water out of the clothes to reduce drying times. I remember going to the laundromat as a young child and mom using something like that there because the machines were not like our new machines that can spin faster. I love drying my clothes outside. Natural sun light is the best disinfectant and whitener available. I' d love to have a good pulley clothesline where I live. It is on the list. Nothing beats a set of sheets dried in the sun on a clothesline. 😃
@@kurtm.7494 I know. Its ridiculous. Most hoa are designed so busybodies with nothing better to do can tattletale on others. It's not about ensuring home values stay stable.
Excellent video..I admire the research you do information wise and visually..I've seen the Amish cloths hanging out on the "pulley" system which is most common here in my area in western Pa in February ! All months of the year..I have no idea how they get dry in the winter months but they must..cold but clear and sunny days they still hang thier cloths outside..oh and I was at the local Amish general store today and purchased some of that F.R.O.G. jam..will try it out for breakfast in the morning..thanks for sharing your video I always look forward to watching them..
Thanks much Ron and how was the F.R.O.G. jam? After that one you might try Amish T.O.E. jam (Tangerine, Orange, Elderberry). I'm not sure which name sounds better/worse 😄
@@AmishAmerica the F.R.O.G jam was great.. something different..I'll check and see if they have the T.O.E. jam in the next week or so..lol..I like the sense of humor involved here..🤗😁
We used this system in the 1960s and yes, (frozen) clothes would dry outside in winter. If it was raining on washday (Monday in my family) then the clothes were hung in the basement--lines were permanently suspended from the ceiling. I think clothes ended up being hung in the basement frequently in winter, but not always.
God I remember my grandmother using rollers to roll the clothes through to help dry then put them outside she did use conventional washing machine she was definitely English from Wakefield West Yorkshire
I've used the pully system for my clotheslines in NM where we have lots of sunshine. Clothes smell so fresh & sun helps whites stay that way. I always forget my pulleys when I've moved. I think Walmart & Walgreen's still sell those.
We used to do this as Mormons/Latter Day saints….well, hang drying but we used conventional washers. But, there is nothing like sun and wind dried fresh, clean clothing. It always smells so good.
My mother user her wringer washer into the 1970's. Hung her wash outside when it was warm and sunny. Basement was criss-crossed with clothes lines for winter wash. Still have her wringer washer in the basement.
My mom always hung our clothes outside. I hated when my little boyfriend came over and my flowered panties were on the line. Also did not like towels hung outside as the became stiff
I remember helping my mother wash clothes in a wringer washing machine in the 1970's and hanging the clothes on a clothes line to dry on nice days. We did have an electric clothes dryer during not so nice days.
I worked at a Country Club (golf course) in high school and we used that kind of wishing machine for washing towels for golf carts and for washing the range balls.
I lived in South Korea from 1996 to 2020. Before 2010, there were almost no clothes dryers in Korea. They were only for the very very rich. I got accustomed to hanging my clothes on the racks provided in each apartment. I am SURE that the reason my clothes have lasted as long as they have (some for more than 30 years!) and look as new as they do, is because they've rarely been in the dryer. Now, I live in an apartment in the US and I still hang my clothes on a drying rack most of the time.
We're not Amish and that is exactly how my mother did laundry when I was growing up. I used a wringer washer myself when I moved out of my childhood home.
I live in Elkhart County Indiana. I've seen several rolling drying racks that can be wheeled into a garage. They kind of look like a giant metal hammock frame with drying lines, and they are on wheels to move them in-and-out of the garage. It's actually a really cool concept, and I wish I had room for one of them myself.
Question for a future video/ discussion… I know the Amish pay their taxes but how do they deal with the programs inside the tax system that gives additional credits/ money above and beyond normal tax refunds. Im thinking like earned income credits, child tax credits, etc. Also, what about the previous 3 Stimulus Payments during Covid. How do they regard those monies? Thanks!
This would help my clothing to stay looking new and also I like the idea of slowing down and making this more of an interesting ritual than a chore. I like the hand operated machine but even Amz doesn’t sell these.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Argentina, and almost everyone (if not everyone) I know has clothes spinners. They are not Amish, so the spinners are electrically operated. Clothes dryers are not a thing in Argentina, and the spinners help get more water out so hanging time is a considerably shorter.
I live in Mexico and clothes dryers are very rare here. I'm living in luxury since I have a washing machine....but no clothes dryer. I have a line up on my roof terrace for that.
My great Aunt had a ringer washer. Hers would be put under the shade tree out back. I remember one time seeing her get her fingers cought in the rollers. What I would give to have one now.
@@darlaballenger2357 I bought a bright yellow Home Depot mop basin and wringer. It was $49. Haven't used it yet. But, when the electricity cuts out, it'll come in handy.
Thanks for that Erik. I know of other communities who live off grid who say they can run a washing machines off one small solar panel. On the cold programme, as heating water takes more electricity. They look out for old machines from the 70 s as these are more easily repairable if something goes wrong. I notice in your video of How Amish keep Food Cold you say that some have solar panels. So I imagine thete are probably some who run à washing machine off a solar panel too.
My mom washed clothes in a Maytag wringer washer. One 9f my aunts washed clothes fir ever in the wringe. Clothes did not get clean in the auto magic. She washed clothes way fir ever when others had an auto matic. My mom dried clothes outside always fir ever smell so good. Washing back in the day w a wringer washer 2 tubs rinse washer was work heating the water carrying water by bucket Fulls to the machine a 2 tubs wash white clothes f it rest it was work. My neighbors I grew up with had the 9 kids the older girls washed clothes in the garage had to get b work done. No auto driers those days hung outside. That's a dying thing of the past I have memories soon no one have the memories of the work big laundry days. Clothes drying out side that great smell and ironing had a better smell. Great memories
One amish family I know of used a wringer washer and did it by hand and they had a front porch or a gazebo that was screened and hung the clothes up in there this way its not inside the house but protected from the elements this way they can hang dry year round
This is what we had when I was a kid growing up. I can remember if you weren’t careful feeding c.others into the wringer, you’d get your hand caught. Also, in the wintertime, clothes on the clothesline froze solid. Amish aren’t that different than other folks.
I agree! I think it' s the norm to dry clothes outside on a line. When did it become the " norm" for Americains to always use a machine to dry clothes? In my opinion since we now all have machines ( eg automatic washing machines) we wash clothes more often than is necessary, eg to freshen.up not because they are dirty.
And don't preach about the climate change when everything is in dryers and people do not walk the length of them self and drive to the gym for a work out 😂
This has nothing to do with them washing clothes but I'm looking for someone that makes quilts. I need a new quilt for my bed. And no one sells handmade quilts. I live near an Amish and Mennonite town in Kentucky but no one here makes quilts for sale. If you could help me find someone that does quilts I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much for your time.
Hey Erik! The pulley wheel is used a lot in Parke County, In. I find that a pretty awesome concept. Also, wringer washers do a much better job than many of the modern washers! It is hard to find a good set now days w/o taking out a loan lol, very expensive!! I also have a question, Who is in charge of cleaning the school house? I am curious about this, if it falls on the teacher, students or parents of the students? Thanks for sharing!
The parents of the children typically do a big cleaning/general prep a bit before the school year starts. As far as regular clean-up, that's a good question, I am pretty sure that would be the responsibility of teacher and scholars to keep things generally tidy. Parke County is a Lancaster-origin community so definitely will see a lot of the same things there, nice area 👍
Being on the grid means they have a physical connection to the English world, by the wires. They want to keep to their Amish community in this regard. That’s also why they put the telephone - if they have one - in a dedicated phone booth or shed or maybe in the garage, but never in their home. Several families often share such a telephone.
@@Alma_Gertrude I think I learned that during the tour at the Amish Farm And House in Lancaster county, PA… it’s a rather touristy place, but I still learned a lot and left with a breadmaking book and homemade jam.
If you're looking for a wringer washer go visit an Amish community they'll get you hooked up if that community doesn't have one their willing to sell they'll know where there is one for sale
Grandma had a wringer washer out in the backyard shed. The water drained into a field of Canna lilies. No dryer, it all went on the clothesline. I admire anyone who successfully lives off the grid. But I wonder, if you're going to use a deisel generator anyway, might as well hook up to the power grid?
What about in the winter? I know many of these Amish communities get below freezing a lot in the winter, and clothes won't dry outside when it's that cold...
I thought that every one hangs their washing, on the Washing line, to dry it. My Grandmother had a washing machine with the Mangle, as you have shown, when we all had automatic Washing machines, in the 70's and 80's. The thought that because they were not using the same things that we use, in the modern world, the Amish would be using The Washing Up Bowl, to wash their clothes in.
I'm thinking people are underestimating the power of clothes pins. Those who prep, might want to stock up on these items, because we know when the SHTF happens, we are most likely going to have to hang our clothes outside.
I get that they hang the clothes out to dry, but when I was living in Ohio sometimes I'd see Amish clothes hanging outside in freezing winter. There's no way they'd dry, just freeze. What's up with that?
How are you doing mister Erik happy Mother’s Day to yours and ours and all mothers we celebrate mother day in Arabic countries as well as England it’s different date around world we on March you in USA and Canada on May thank you for wonderful cultural channel Amish nation must be major university or have special books about their lifestyles any way as always iam gathering main information about topics you mentioned briefly here it’s Amish people especially in Middle East USA traditional head level to t pole clothes lines number of Amish ladies Rey on other extra long line strung up to tree high pole or barn rotating wheel or pull mechanism bring line in out to hang wash collect when dry before inventions of modern detergent civilizations in the past they used animal fat or lye to wash clothes they hang laundry out even in winter work better than you might think at freezing water in cloth will freeze but will also sublimate thank you for your great efforts giving us chance to read learn new information improve our English language as well we appreciate your efforts as foreigners subscribers as overseas students stay safe blessed good luck to you your dearest ones
I am a boomer. I grew up doing laundry the modern way. I don't remember thatcwell whatvweveid before 1963. But as of 1963 it was drip dry wash and wear permanent press clothes, washingmachine and dryer sith special cycles. When dryer done hang clithes up or put away. No itoning. No need tobadjust drying routine for weather. It wasn't just my family. All the relatives and friends did laundry the modern way. Much easier than the Amish methode. It shockede to see comments of people of my age category doing laundry by old fashioned amish methods. And I certainly do not understand ehy anybody after 1963 was interested in things like ringer washer and clothes line
Not exactly but younger Amish - for example young women in their teens may be more apt to wear brighter colors. In the plainer communities, darker colors - browns, purples, blues - predominate. In more progressive communities you'll see lighter colors, yellows, pinks, lavenders even, both for dresses and some men's shirts.
You find washing machines with separate spinners here in Germany (and presumably elsewhere in Europe) too, especially the cheap portable washing machines you can take camping, for example. The spinners may be separate or encased in the same body as the washer, but in a separate section with a second loading hatch, so you still have to transfer the wet clothes from the washer to the spinner. Personally I don't see why portable washing machines don't just have an automatic spin cycle after the wash, like the big attached units do. 🤔
Remember as a little child getting my fingers stuck in the wringer...Use an automatic now but opt to air dry.. Your clothes last longer... I am sure the Amish probably know that.
Yes they do freeze BUT they do dry out some before they freeze due to gravity and wind and then they are likely brought inside and hung in the basement or living area to dry out the rest of the way. My parents were not amish but lived on farms before electric was available in their area and that's what they did and I doubt Amish do much different.
As said earlier yes and then brought inside we had what we called a drying rack and would put it in front of the wood stove and we're in Wisconsin and I can remember when it was to cold and nasty out you'd run the clothes through the wringer at least another time and then just put them on the rack in front of the wood stove
I'm hoping to have a clothesline, husband has promised since we moved into this house and I've been begging. My husband does a lot of delivery and phone work plus other odd jobs for our local Amish.
If you have two trees that you can string a clothesline on, do it yourself until hubby gets around to making you one. That's what I did. Buy the plastic covered wire type or cotton rope type (I like the plastic as it is smaller and doesn't collect dust). Tie the line around both trees at a distance that works for you, or hang two lines, one above the other, using the lower one for small items, depending on what you need. I have one line about 18' long between two trees. I wrapped the line around the trunk of both so they wouldn't slip. I use hangers to hang clothes, and that way I can get three loads hung without using more line space. Then I just bring the hung clothes in and put them in the closet. You can buy special hangers designed to avoid getting hanger marks on the shoulders often left by wire or plastic hangers. You can also buy "strong colorful wire clips" that are better than clothespins if you look online. They are smaller and don't look so funky. They last indefinitely. Look under that title and you should find them.
Why you haven't seen a video from me in awhile - sorry for the unexplained absence, I am actually in Europe right now. I have some people I care about from, and currently still in Ukraine, and have been pretty involved with what's been going on since the invasion happened 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find space to make videos these last few weeks. I wrote about it all here on the website: amishamerica.com/praying-for-ukraine/
If you can offer prayers or other support for the people being killed and losing their homes, it is all appreciated. I plan to get back on schedule here with regular Amish videos again, barring any unexpected developments. I was in Ukraine a few weeks before it started, but currently in Poland (safe). Sorry to be writing this kind of message, this is an Amish channel and want to keep the focus on that, but sometimes larger events intervene and I wanted to explain to you. Thanks very much for your support and kind thoughts 🙏👍👍
P.S. I also I have a lot of comments I need to get caught up on as well but looking forward 🙌
@@AmishAmerica I've been thinking about you! Was just wondering last night if you're ok. Prayed for you, of course. I remember from someone else's video series a while back that there are Amish in Russia, Ukraine, and around that region. He (the video guy) had connected with an Amish family in Ohio, I think, and one of the men was married to a woman from one of the Eastern European Amish communities, whom he had met while traveling there. I didn't know you have friends in the region -- Amish? Anyway, you're all in my prayers for safekeeping. The Lord of All works all for our eternal good.
I've been praying for everybody in the Ukraine and all the Russian people who are against Putin's war. I hope you and your friends will all stay safe.
We’re behind you all the way. Be safe!
First - happy to know you are okay but sending prayers for those in Ukraine. It’s unbelievable what is happening. Stay safe.
My Grandmother had one of those hand cranked ringer washers. No, she wasn't Amish. When she upgraded, Grandpa turned the ringer washer into and ice tub for ... his beer.
I once had one that I turned into a mailbox. Stopped people from driving on by my place, for sure!
My Aunt Agnes had 1 they used 4 making lye soap when they upgraded !
My grandmother also had one and I helped. I want one now.
I hang my clothes up in my house in the Winter. It adds much needed humidity to the air while not using any electricity . It's an old Swiss German Mennonite trick. It really WORKS!!
I’m Scottish I hang our laundry outside most days dried inside when it’s raining 🏴💕
Me too! I'm Scottish and hang up my clothes to dry
I used to have a square wringer washer and loved it.
@@baire702 Aye, same here! There's nothing like the smell of a line dried washing!!
I’m Australian & I always use an outdoor clothes line to dry my washing - except when it’s raining. It saves so much money.
Ditto I’m in australia I have always done the same but my woman doesn’t like to hang clothes and demanded a dryer! So now it costs more grr
Then, I suppose the reputation that it is _always_ raining in Scotland is exaggerated. ☔
My chore as a little girl was to hang the laundry. I loved doing it. I sorted by type and size. Nothing smells better than fresh laundry that smells like the fresh air and sunshine. Had to run many times to get the laundry off of the line when rain moved in.
When I was a little girl (not Amish), I don't know how many times we got our fingers caught in those washer wringers. We also froze our fingers hanging out blue jeans and towels on the clotheslines - that was the real "freeze dried". Good memories.
I totally remember that
I did that too wonderful old memories.
Yeeouch :)
When I was small I got my hand caught in a wringer and it went most of the way up my arm. I was OK. My mother was there and opened the cylinders to get me out.
@@yellowbird5411 OUCH!!!!!!
I am not Amish, but I hang my clothes, outside, to dry. Nothing better than your bedding that has been hung, on the line. I remember helping my grandma, wring her clothes, with one of these washers. I loved laundry day, at my grandma's house.
I grew up helping my Mother wash clothes this way. BTW not Amish, lived in rural Ohio, didn't have excess water to waste.
First we washed & rinsed the delicate clothes, then the whites, lighter colors, medium colors, dark colors, then dirty work clothes, and lastly rags & rugs. This was done with one washer and one tub of water. We only added water as needed. Of course the clothes were hung up immediately after rinsing.
Those ringer washers are so familiar! I'm a baby boomer, but my parents struggled financially. So I grew up with an old ringer washer and clotheslines. I and my sisters helped my mom on laundry day. I know that the old fashioned way to launder and dry clothes is a lot of work!
I'm a boomer too, and am familiar with wringer washers. I have fed many an item through the wringer. It's a little more work, but not terrible. We get used to doing the method we are used to. I hang my clothes on the line on hangers, and take them off with the hanger and put them in the closet. Less work than using a dryer. Mine threw a belt and I just donated it.
Boy, I remember the days when my mother hung clothes out on the line. We definitely were not to play around the clothes line that day or we’d be in big trouble. Thanks for sharing and bringing those memories to mind.
Ringer washers sound like the perfect eco-friendly solution to washing. Shame I'm too young to remember them, but I'll look around and see if I can get one. Saves money on a washing machine!
I remember my grandpa having the old wringer washer. He stored it in a room off the kitchen, and wheeled it to the stove when he did laundry. He didn't hook up the hose to the kitchen sink faucet, he boiled big pots of water on the stove and poured it into the washer tub. If I recall, he may have plugged the washer into the outlet that was on his old electric stove. Things were very different in the early days. Grandpa was a stubborn holdover from the early 1900s. My other set of grandparents had modernized to indoor plumbing and modern washer and dryer by the time I was a kid. But I admit, it was fun going to my old-fashioned Grandpa's to watch him wash clothes. For some reason, though, my baby brother didn't see The old wringer washer at Grandpa's. He was four years old and playing next door with the neighbor boy while the neighbor lady did her laundry in the kitchen. My brother came home all excited, telling our mom, "You gotta git this brand new kind of washing machine! You hook up the hose to the kitchen faucet, fill it up, and you can watch the clothes being washed because it doesn't have a lid. And then you pull the clothes through between a couple of rolling pins to wring out the water! It's so neat! We need one of those!"
🙂I bet that was a thrill when you think about what they were used to. Interesting to wonder how people of the future will look at what we today consider modern and cutting-edge.
My Polish granny used a ringer washer and lines. One of our chores was to help her with the laundry.
I grew up using a clothes line
Years ago, living in a tiny studio apartment, I hand washed clothes in a big plastic tub & hung them on a pulley line between 2 trees. I then rinsed out the soap by spraying the clothes with a garden hose. Very quick & easy step to do in a pinch.
I live in the Uk and we use a charming spinner they are called spin driers here and they get water out by centrifugal force at 2,800 rpm compared to washing machine spinner at 1,400.
They'll take out at least 2 litres of water after going through a washing machine. Great for towels,fleece jackets, in fact anything. Just make sure you even the load in the spin drier or it will dance around the floor.
As with everything that is good to use, it's getting hard to find descent ones.
I have some Amish friends who run their washing machines with horse power. The horses walk on a sort of treadmill that attaches to a belt on the washer to run it. It is very cool 😎
That is a thing too, very plain. Thanks for adding it! ttps://amishamerica.com/mule-powered-washing-machine/
the rollers are called a mangle in UK. 🤓👍🏻
Cause they will mangle your hand if it gets caught in them?
Yeah, that's what it's properly called on the wringer washer too.
Actually a mangle is something else, basically a giant stationary iron used to iron clothes.
@@OilHist A domestic mangle we had in the kitchen got as much water out as possible. You folded sheets \ clothes and ran them through so it would somewhat get rid of creases but there was no heat involved just muscle power of the person doing the mangling. The clothes still needed hanging out but dried quicker as the majority of the water was out especially if you ran the clothes through the mangle a couple of times. As it was so in Uk anyway. Not sure if there were industrial ones that ironed or the USA used better ones that would iron. . They all got the job done ✅ you had to make sure you didn’t have dangling apron strings or a tie hanging loose otherwise you would find yourself getting rolled in too !
An Amish couple rented my house before we bought it. So it has a pulley clothes line attached to an old telephone pole off the back deck. My neighbors have at least 3 lines. I've got 2 of the circular hook ups too.
My Mom grew up with a wringer washer and having to do the laundry for 4 brothers. They would apply starch and put clothes in the ice box too. When I was a kid we would hang our clothes on a clothesline to save money on gas and electricity in the Summer.
I fondly recall using a 'solar' dryer when I lived in South Florida.
For many years my grandparents lived in a traveling trailer due to my grandfather’s job. They didn’t have a washer/ dryer. When they were offered a washer/ dryer they didn’t understand the fuss being made. They said it wasn’t important. I didn’t understand the importance of simplicity then. I only understood “convenience”. Im very respectful of their lifestyle now but I wish I had understood then. 💗💗
Thanks Erik for another informative video, with the crazy world that we live in I would not be surprised that we will need to learn how to survive from the Amish. 🙏👍
Oh my goodness, it reminded me of my Nanny house, she lived in Ireland. I love your Channel! ♥️👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you Jane!
Gosh laundry for the Amish, that sure is a days work, I'm happy to have the modern conveniences of a real electric or gas washer/dryer combo. Growing up we had a washer but no dryer, my mom grew up in the 30' s and 40's where everything was hung outside, our back yard have the "T" clothes lines, everything smelled wonderful when we pulled it in after drying. Sending lots of prayers for the people you care about in the Ukraine, hoping for peace sooner than later. Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us.
In the Big Valley PA, aka Kish Valley on rainy days the Amish/mennonites hang the laundry under roof opened air porches
I live in atlanta and can’t imagine hanging clean clothes outside when we have our spring pollen drops. Everything would be yellow!
Missed your posts!
Glad to be back! Yes being from NC it would be the same issue
I am not Amish and I wash my clothes with a wringer washer and line dry! I really enjoy the slow down time that comes with the process. Thank you for these videos.
I've seen old wringer machines, my grandma told me she always used one. I grew up in the 60s and 70s, we never had a dryer in my home, even up to my mom's passing in the late 90s. We always hung our clothes outside. I remember my mom on our back porch, and the line went out to the end of our lawn. We had a pulley wheel. And a little contraption that about halfway through, mom would hang on the line so the two lines would stay closer and the bottom wouldn't be so low the clothes would touch the ground. In the winter clothes got hung up in our basement boiler room. The clothes always smelled so good being dried out in the sun. Another great video, thanks for posting ☺
We have missed your videos for the last couple weeks! Glad to see you posting again!
I used this when I was a kid and hung the clothes on the line. I also took a bath in a metal tub, washed dishes by had, and used an outhouse. I was born in 1960 and I don't regret one bit of my experience from back then. I am grateful for the experience should we ever have to live without modern conveniences.
Many people had arms caught in the wringers as you tried to push cloths in to the rollers ...!
The charming spinner is essentially a centrifuge. It forces more water out of the clothes to reduce drying times. I remember going to the laundromat as a young child and mom using something like that there because the machines were not like our new machines that can spin faster.
I love drying my clothes outside. Natural sun light is the best disinfectant and whitener available. I' d love to have a good pulley clothesline where I live. It is on the list. Nothing beats a set of sheets dried in the sun on a clothesline. 😃
@@kurtm.7494 I know. Its ridiculous. Most hoa are designed so busybodies with nothing better to do can tattletale on others. It's not about ensuring home values stay stable.
Excellent video..I admire the research you do information wise and visually..I've seen the Amish cloths hanging out on the "pulley" system which is most common here in my area in western Pa in February ! All months of the year..I have no idea how they get dry in the winter months but they must..cold but clear and sunny days they still hang thier cloths outside..oh and I was at the local Amish general store today and purchased some of that F.R.O.G. jam..will try it out for breakfast in the morning..thanks for sharing your video I always look forward to watching them..
Thanks much Ron and how was the F.R.O.G. jam? After that one you might try Amish T.O.E. jam (Tangerine, Orange, Elderberry). I'm not sure which name sounds better/worse 😄
@@AmishAmerica the F.R.O.G jam was great.. something different..I'll check and see if they have the T.O.E. jam in the next week or so..lol..I like the sense of humor involved here..🤗😁
We used this system in the 1960s and yes, (frozen) clothes would dry outside in winter. If it was raining on washday (Monday in my family) then the clothes were hung in the basement--lines were permanently suspended from the ceiling. I think clothes ended up being hung in the basement frequently in winter, but not always.
God I remember my grandmother using rollers to roll the clothes through to help dry then put them outside she did use conventional washing machine she was definitely English from Wakefield West Yorkshire
I've used the pully system for my clotheslines in NM where we have lots of sunshine. Clothes smell so fresh & sun helps whites stay that way. I always forget my pulleys when I've moved. I think Walmart & Walgreen's still sell those.
We used to do this as Mormons/Latter Day saints….well, hang drying but we used conventional washers. But, there is nothing like sun and wind dried fresh, clean clothing. It always smells so good.
The first washing machine my mother had in the 1950's-60's was the wringer type and we also used a pulley clothes line.
Good to see a video up from you again!
I got a bit off schedule which I explain in a comment I pinned to the top 👍
Thank you for sharing about your absence. I'm so glad that you have been able to be there and help.
My mother user her wringer washer into the 1970's. Hung her wash outside when it was warm and sunny. Basement was criss-crossed with clothes lines for winter wash. Still have her wringer washer in the basement.
Glad to see ya back, missed the videos
I miss drying clothes outside. Not only it helps environment and saves engery, clothes, towels, and all smells fresher .
My mom always hung our clothes outside. I hated when my little boyfriend came over and my flowered panties were on the line. Also did not like towels hung outside as the became stiff
Add some white vinegar at the spin cycle will help make all your clothes softer
are you not permitted (or don't have the space) where you live now ? :-(
I remember helping my mother wash clothes in a wringer washing machine in the 1970's and hanging the clothes on a clothes line to dry on nice days. We did have an electric clothes dryer during not so nice days.
What type of laundry soap do the Amish use? And what do they do in winter time? I like your videos!
I don't know but my best guess it not Tide.
I worked at a Country Club (golf course) in high school and we used that kind of wishing machine for washing towels for golf carts and for washing the range balls.
I lived in South Korea from 1996 to 2020. Before 2010, there were almost no clothes dryers in Korea. They were only for the very very rich. I got accustomed to hanging my clothes on the racks provided in each apartment. I am SURE that the reason my clothes have lasted as long as they have (some for more than 30 years!) and look as new as they do, is because they've rarely been in the dryer. Now, I live in an apartment in the US and I still hang my clothes on a drying rack most of the time.
Where do they purchase the new wringer machines?
I remember mom doing laundry on the wringer washer and hanging the clothes out all seasons.
We're not Amish and that is exactly how my mother did laundry when I was growing up. I used a wringer washer myself when I moved out of my childhood home.
I live in Elkhart County Indiana. I've seen several rolling drying racks that can be wheeled into a garage. They kind of look like a giant metal hammock frame with drying lines, and they are on wheels to move them in-and-out of the garage. It's actually a really cool concept, and I wish I had room for one of them myself.
Question for a future video/ discussion… I know the Amish pay their taxes but how do they deal with the programs inside the tax system that gives additional credits/ money above and beyond normal tax refunds. Im thinking like earned income credits, child tax credits, etc. Also, what about the previous 3 Stimulus Payments during Covid. How do they regard those monies? Thanks!
Nice sharing ❣️
This would help my clothing to stay looking new and also I like the idea of slowing down and making this more of an interesting ritual than a chore. I like the hand operated machine but even Amz doesn’t sell these.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Argentina, and almost everyone (if not everyone) I know has clothes spinners. They are not Amish, so the spinners are electrically operated. Clothes dryers are not a thing in Argentina, and the spinners help get more water out so hanging time is a considerably shorter.
I live in Mexico and clothes dryers are very rare here. I'm living in luxury since I have a washing machine....but no clothes dryer. I have a line up on my roof terrace for that.
My great Aunt had a ringer washer. Hers would be put under the shade tree out back. I remember one time seeing her get her fingers cought in the rollers. What I would give to have one now.
You can still buy them.
@@yellowbird5411 where?
@@darlaballenger2357 I bought a bright yellow Home Depot mop basin and wringer. It was $49. Haven't used it yet. But, when the electricity cuts out, it'll come in handy.
Thanks for that Erik. I know of other communities who live off grid who say they can run a washing machines off one small solar panel. On the cold programme, as heating water takes more electricity. They look out for old machines from the 70 s as these are more easily repairable if something goes wrong. I notice in your video of How Amish keep Food Cold you say that some have solar panels. So I imagine thete are probably some who run à washing machine off a solar panel too.
My mom washed clothes in a Maytag wringer washer. One 9f my aunts washed clothes fir ever in the wringe. Clothes did not get clean in the auto magic. She washed clothes way fir ever when others had an auto matic. My mom dried clothes outside always fir ever smell so good. Washing back in the day w a wringer washer 2 tubs rinse washer was work heating the water carrying water by bucket Fulls to the machine a 2 tubs wash white clothes f it rest it was work. My neighbors I grew up with had the 9 kids the older girls washed clothes in the garage had to get b work done. No auto driers those days hung outside. That's a dying thing of the past I have memories soon no one have the memories of the work big laundry days. Clothes drying out side that great smell and ironing had a better smell. Great memories
The wringer washers were also good for low water pressure or filling from a bucket from a well.
I also wish for such a life. Love from Germany
One amish family I know of used a wringer washer and did it by hand and they had a front porch or a gazebo that was screened and hung the clothes up in there this way its not inside the house but protected from the elements this way they can hang dry year round
This is what we had when I was a kid growing up. I can remember if you weren’t careful feeding c.others into the wringer, you’d get your hand caught. Also, in the wintertime, clothes on the clothesline froze solid. Amish aren’t that different than other folks.
In South Australia ninety percent of people hang their washing on a clothes line outside save using electricity and the sun helps to kill germs too
We see the pulley lines often here in western KY
There is nothing like line dryed clothes and it's not just Amish who do that
I agree! I think it' s the norm to dry clothes outside on a line. When did it become the " norm" for Americains to always use a machine to dry clothes? In my opinion since we now all have machines ( eg automatic washing machines) we wash clothes more often than is necessary, eg to freshen.up not because they are dirty.
And don't preach about the climate change when everything is in dryers and people do not walk the length of them self and drive to the gym for a work out 😂
This has nothing to do with them washing clothes but I'm looking for someone that makes quilts. I need a new quilt for my bed. And no one sells handmade quilts. I live near an Amish and Mennonite town in Kentucky but no one here makes quilts for sale. If you could help me find someone that does quilts I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you very much for your time.
Hey Erik! The pulley wheel is used a lot in Parke County, In. I find that a pretty awesome concept. Also, wringer washers do a much better job than many of the modern washers! It is hard to find a good set now days w/o taking out a loan lol, very expensive!! I also have a question, Who is in charge of cleaning the school house? I am curious about this, if it falls on the teacher, students or parents of the students? Thanks for sharing!
The parents of the children typically do a big cleaning/general prep a bit before the school year starts. As far as regular clean-up, that's a good question, I am pretty sure that would be the responsibility of teacher and scholars to keep things generally tidy. Parke County is a Lancaster-origin community so definitely will see a lot of the same things there, nice area 👍
My mother had one of those in the 1950's.
ARE wringer washers being re produced??
I have a Maytag wringer washer with a Maytag gasoline engine on it.
I have a question. How do the Amish justify a diesel motor versus electricity? Why is one okay and the other not?
Being on the grid means they have a physical connection to the English world, by the wires. They want to keep to their Amish community in this regard.
That’s also why they put the telephone - if they have one - in a dedicated phone booth or shed or maybe in the garage, but never in their home. Several families often share such a telephone.
@@Anncrohr Oh, thank you! I just never could figure that out!
@@Alma_Gertrude I think I learned that during the tour at the Amish Farm And House in Lancaster county, PA… it’s a rather touristy place, but I still learned a lot and left with a breadmaking book and homemade jam.
Wonder of wringer washers are easy to find these days?
If you're looking for a wringer washer go visit an Amish community they'll get you hooked up if that community doesn't have one their willing to sell they'll know where there is one for sale
YES, SOMETIMES YOU CAN FIND THEM AT AUCTIONS....
Grandma had a wringer washer out in the backyard shed. The water drained into a field of Canna lilies. No dryer, it all went on the clothesline. I admire anyone who successfully lives off the grid. But I wonder, if you're going to use a deisel generator anyway, might as well hook up to the power grid?
What about in the winter? I know many of these Amish communities get below freezing a lot in the winter, and clothes won't dry outside when it's that cold...
I thought that every one hangs their washing, on the Washing line, to dry it. My Grandmother had a washing machine with the Mangle, as you have shown, when we all had automatic Washing machines, in the 70's and 80's.
The thought that because they were not using the same things that we use, in the modern world, the Amish would be using The Washing Up Bowl, to wash their clothes in.
Lol I must be Amish, I have the T bars for my wash line.
I'm thinking people are underestimating the power of clothes pins. Those who prep, might want to stock up on these items, because we know when the SHTF happens, we are most likely going to have to hang our clothes outside.
I got my arm stuck in a wringer washer when I was a kid.
I get that they hang the clothes out to dry, but when I was living in Ohio sometimes I'd see Amish clothes hanging outside in freezing winter. There's no way they'd dry, just freeze. What's up with that?
How are you doing mister Erik happy Mother’s Day to yours and ours and all mothers we celebrate mother day in Arabic countries as well as England it’s different date around world we on March you in USA and Canada on May thank you for wonderful cultural channel Amish nation must be major university or have special books about their lifestyles any way as always iam gathering main information about topics you mentioned briefly here it’s Amish people especially in Middle East USA traditional head level to t pole clothes lines number of Amish ladies Rey on other extra long line strung up to tree high pole or barn rotating wheel or pull mechanism bring line in out to hang wash collect when dry before inventions of modern detergent civilizations in the past they used animal fat or lye to wash clothes they hang laundry out even in winter work better than you might think at freezing water in cloth will freeze but will also sublimate thank you for your great efforts giving us chance to read learn new information improve our English language as well we appreciate your efforts as foreigners subscribers as overseas students stay safe blessed good luck to you your dearest ones
Thank you! Great info
I am a boomer. I grew up doing laundry the modern way. I don't remember thatcwell whatvweveid before 1963. But as of 1963 it was drip dry wash and wear permanent press clothes, washingmachine and dryer sith special cycles. When dryer done hang clithes up or put away. No itoning. No need tobadjust drying routine for weather. It wasn't just my family. All the relatives and friends did laundry the modern way. Much easier than the Amish methode. It shockede to see comments of people of my age category doing laundry by old fashioned amish methods. And I certainly do not understand ehy anybody after 1963 was interested in things like ringer washer and clothes line
I would love a manual spinner.
Hi Erik, can you please explain the different colors the Amish wear ? I’ve noticed they wear different Colors, is it based on age ?
Not exactly but younger Amish - for example young women in their teens may be more apt to wear brighter colors. In the plainer communities, darker colors - browns, purples, blues - predominate. In more progressive communities you'll see lighter colors, yellows, pinks, lavenders even, both for dresses and some men's shirts.
My mother had a ringer washer. I remember it grabbing my arm up past my elbow once! Very painful
You find washing machines with separate spinners here in Germany (and presumably elsewhere in Europe) too, especially the cheap portable washing machines you can take camping, for example. The spinners may be separate or encased in the same body as the washer, but in a separate section with a second loading hatch, so you still have to transfer the wet clothes from the washer to the spinner. Personally I don't see why portable washing machines don't just have an automatic spin cycle after the wash, like the big attached units do. 🤔
So they wash and dry clothing like me lol… I hang clothing out when I can and inside on a rack when the weather isn’t favorable.
Remember as a little child getting my fingers stuck in the wringer...Use an automatic now but opt to air dry.. Your clothes last longer... I am sure the Amish probably know that.
And are less likely to shrink. That's my pet peeve about air dryers
@@AmishAmerica Clothes will only shrink in a dryer if they are made out of cotton. A polyster/cotton blend of material will not shrink.
Worth there weight in GOLD
Don't wet clothes on the line freeze in the winter?
Yeah
Yes they do freeze BUT they do dry out some before they freeze due to gravity and wind and then they are likely brought inside and hung in the basement or living area to dry out the rest of the way. My parents were not amish but lived on farms before electric was available in their area and that's what they did and I doubt Amish do much different.
Yes, but they still dry out pretty well, and it only takes a little longer. Cold air is very dry so the ice evaporates.
Fir sure they freeze hung out freezing days stiff came in. Big darn job
As said earlier yes and then brought inside we had what we called a drying rack and would put it in front of the wood stove and we're in Wisconsin and I can remember when it was to cold and nasty out you'd run the clothes through the wringer at least another time and then just put them on the rack in front of the wood stove
How do they iron their clothes. All the best UK.
I live in Mexico. The vast majority of people still hang their laundry to dry. I have a line out on my roof terrace.
I need my wringer washer repaired
Wish I could buy those
Can someone experienced explain the diesel generator to me. Why is it okay?
I'm hoping to have a clothesline, husband has promised since we moved into this house and I've been begging. My husband does a lot of delivery and phone work plus other odd jobs for our local Amish.
If you have two trees that you can string a clothesline on, do it yourself until hubby gets around to making you one. That's what I did. Buy the plastic covered wire type or cotton rope type (I like the plastic as it is smaller and doesn't collect dust). Tie the line around both trees at a distance that works for you, or hang two lines, one above the other, using the lower one for small items, depending on what you need. I have one line about 18' long between two trees. I wrapped the line around the trunk of both so they wouldn't slip. I use hangers to hang clothes, and that way I can get three loads hung without using more line space. Then I just bring the hung clothes in and put them in the closet. You can buy special hangers designed to avoid getting hanger marks on the shoulders often left by wire or plastic hangers. You can also buy "strong colorful wire clips" that are better than clothespins if you look online. They are smaller and don't look so funky. They last indefinitely. Look under that title and you should find them.
@@yellowbird5411 I did that at my old place, If he doesn't get it up for me this spring I will wrangle my son outside with me and set something up.
How do they dry clothes in the winter?
Interesting to see the cross trainer at 1 minute. that must use a lot of gas electric unless it's completely manual and non electric.
I wondered how they dry cloths in cold weather.
👍
Many amish use solar to run washing machines now.
The Amish have in-unit washer/dryer, whereas my lease contract in my NYC apt forbids it smdh