How Grandma Did Laundry

>>> I’d tell you about using three at a time; that’s another Story, (Grma did that though) <<<

How Grandma Did Laundry
By Arley Steinhour 112717

On Laundry day, I have a way,
To use Fewer Trips, to the Laundry,
By Sequencing, so Whites aren’t Gray,
And complete my Poetic Balladry.

The Stairs, and I have equal aversions,
To, ‘The other being in the same place,’
So, I don’t try more ‘trespass excursions,’
On Stair steps, I follow, an Apish Pace.

My memory of, ‘How Grandma Did Laundry,’
With the ‘Wringer Machine, and Rinse Tub,’
Gave me thought, to cover my quandary,
By, reducing the trips, needed to ‘Scrub.’

She had a system, of ‘Hot water, Bleach, and, Detergent,’
To, Start with ‘Whites and Delicates,’ for a long, Machine Scrub,
Soapy Water, wrung out, to be, ‘Warm Water Rinsed,’
Then to Tub Two, with Cold Water, both, ‘Hand Plunger-Drubbed.’

The Whites, and ‘Delicates,’ held in a dry-tub, and set aside,
As they need be hung center, to prevent neighborhood ‘viewing,’
The Second load, made up of Sheets, and pillow covers,
As above, and for Hanging, so ‘Delicates needed no Stewing.’

Load Three, was for ‘Coloreds,’ that didn’t need much bleach,
But, in cooler water, a little, spruced up and brightened the color,
With the Same starting water, with more added, for leaching,
Last, the dirtiest, ‘Outer Garments, from ‘Hard Work Squalor.’

The Bib-overalls, and Work Shirts, went on the outer line,
To show the neighbors, Working Men were well Tended, and Fed,
Plus, the heavier garments, broke wind for the ‘Delicates,’ just fine,
From this knowledge, I adapted my stair problem, as intended.

On ‘Small load,’ I start with Bleach, Soap, Hot Watered,
In go the White Delicates, that need a good scrub,
Five minutes later, I add Warm water, to ‘medium,’ and add Colored,
Another ‘Five,’ then add ‘Dark,’ and highest water setting for tub.

I let the machine wash, till it pumps, to cycle for ‘Rinse,’
I then, Restart the Cycle for a no soap ‘Wash,’
Running full cycle, it’s a Cleansing, ‘Double-Rinse,’
‘Seven trips into Two,’ to address the ‘Stair-Mish-Mash.’

Today, I don’t hang any Laundry on a Line,
I’ve figured out well, how to Wash, Rinse, and Dry,
Now, My ‘Dryer’ takes moisture out, just Fine,
But, ‘Folding, Ironing, and Stowing, I still can’t simplify.’

AMEN