Thursday, October 19, 2006

Domestic education

These are my new tea-towels.

Now before you call the men in white coats let me explain. I'm only displaying them because:

a) there hasn't been a photo on this blog for a while and you might get bored;
b) they're pretty.

And I'm supposed to be doing housewifey things and I'm bored.

I have realised once again what gaping holes they are in my education. How do you hand-wash a bra? How do you hand-wash anything if it comes to that?

I put them in a bowl of soapy water, squish them around a bit, and that's as far as it goes. I can't see how they can possibly be clean but at least they smell fresh.

Last night I watched Mona Lisa Smile. In the film, set in a posh girls' school in New England in the fifties, along with Art History, lessons included setting the table when your husband's boss comes to dinner and other vital requirements. They would have known how to hand-wash I'm sure.

The film was okay but it wasn't Dead Poets' Society.

And now I can cross 'wash bras' off my list.

9 comments:

jomoore said...

I went through a phase of hand-washing my bras, but I'm with you on this - it was just a bit of swishing, rather than all the vigorous whooshing that they get in the washing machine. So I decided that, the amount that bras cost, they really ought to be well made enough to withstand the washing machine. And just in case they're not and the wires do come out, I've taken to putting them in an old pillowcase, just to be on the safe side.

Of course, I can get away with this as I'm not a housewife and don't know any better...!

Liz Hinds said...

Yes, you're right, jo. The lady in the lingerie shop always tells me to hand-wash as they're so precious but at that price they should be well-made!

Anonymous said...

No comment from me on hand washing, unless it's my hands. But hell, I've had the best laugh today over this post. You can cross off posting a picture on your blog.

Clare said...

I never handwash bras, I figure they should be able to withstand a bit of spin and tumble!! My mum has drummed it into me that you shouldn't tumble dry them, so consequently there is always a lot of bras dangling from a "towel rail" ("" because it's never had towels on it) in our kitchen. Much to the amusement of any male guests in our house...

Anonymous said...

I handwash mine, I was given hand washing lessons from my mum (we never had a washing machine and I think she was delegating).
Lots of agitation needed. pull the straps to make sure the soap can get into the fibres. Rinse, rinse and rinse again, and again!

Mind you as you wash and wear daily a simple swish and rinse would be enough.


Love the Tea towels, it's true then that welsh peeps are obsessed by sheep?

Anonymous said...

I get the same lecture from my bra-lady as well. I do hand wash for a few days, then say to hell with it and chuck 'em in the machine.

And here's an interesting side-note: my very expensive bras come from England. Never realized England was the expensive-bra capital of the world, but there you are.

Joy Des Jardins said...

I haven't handwashed anything in years...I can't even remember when I did. I'm sure I'm breaking ALL the rules in some circles. But for me...it's all in convenience and what's easiest.

By the way, I love your little towels...adorable.

Liz Hinds said...

My very expensive bras come from France; I wonder if French women buy theirs from America.

We welsh are fond of sheep, it's true to say, though I wouldn't believe the old stories about wellies!

Serena said...

I think the tea towels are adorable. In fact, I wouldn't mind having a set of those myself. I love sheep.

I never hand wash my bras, not even the attack-bras. I put them in the washer and let whatever will happen happen. I lose one occasionally to old age, but I've never lost one to the washing machine.

I'm not sure about the efficacy of hand washing, either. Some things, you just don't want to take the risk and defy the Hand Wash Only label. So I put the item in a sink full of sudsy water and let it soak for a little while, then rinse it out. Like you, I always wonder how clean it could really be. But what the hell, it smells darn fine.