RELEASE FROM THE WASHTUB

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 139, 26 May 1928, Page 3

RELEASE FROM THE WASHTUB

A BOON TO WOMEN. Since Eve, with her erring partner, was banished from Paradise and condemned to toil as a penalty for their lapse from grace, woman has been doomed, amongst other discomforts, to the slavery of the wash tub and, from thatiday to this, she has been in open rebellion against her fate amongst soap and suds. Many have been the unavailing schemes and devices to relieve her, in a more or less degree, from the drudgery of cleansing clothes with the travail of her hands, but at last, the problem has been solved at her own doors in Hastings. The Hastings Steam Laundry Co., next de Pelichea, McLeod and Co., in Lyndon road, have released her from her serfdom bv taking over her work and turning it out, promptly and immaculate, at a cost which scarcely exceeds the expense involved in achieving the same results by tiring personal effort in her own home.

This company, recently established, has come as a blessing and every woman who desires more leisure and every man who desires the happiness of his wife, should seize on the opportunity offered them. A “Tribune” reporter called at the Laundry yesterday and was shown, by Mr. L. T. Peach, manager, over the establishment, which is equipped with the latest steam-driven machinery, necessary to achieve perfect results.

The “bag-wash’’ department (it only includes boilable materials) which is a distinct feature of the operations, is at present in full swing and, in order to meet the requirements of patrons, the company's black and white Chrysler van gathers what is known as “the bag wash” from the various homes. Each bag is numbered and it contains all the “white washing’’ required in a five or six-roomed house, the contents being returned, washed and ready for ironing, in 24 hours, at the nominal cost of three shillings. When the bag arrives at the laundry, the wash is emptied into a basket and thence, accompanied by its numbered bag, is placed in one of the six different, close compartments of a rotary steam washing machine, so that, during the whole process of cleansing, the washing of each tamily is treated in its own water, and never comes into contact with the contents of any other parcels. The interior of the machine contains no “beaters” to tear the materials and the compartments are perfectly smooth everywhere, so that, in the rotary motion, there is no possible chance of the articles being damaged in any way. After being put through no less than eight different kinds of water (the housewife only uses three) in which only the purest melted soap is used, the contents of each compartment are withdrawn separately and each lot. accompanied by its particular bag, is placed by itself in a rotary drying machine and, when removed, its place is taken by another wash, with its own particular bag. Ten minutes exposure in the air after the drying process, completes the wash, which is then packed into its bag and laid aside for delivery. From this it will be seen that the contents of each wash, from start to finish, is kept strictly apart from the rest.

The company also take general laundry work of every description and, in this department, they nave in operation a modern ironing machine, which deals efficiently with the larger linens and another, for shirts and collars, which gives them a brilliant polish.

The establishment has a snacious drying ground attached and there is an ample supply of 5,300 gallons a dav of artesian water, which after being put through a softening process. i s used in general activities.

The company will be glad to supnly price lists of their general laundry work and, as the public patronage extends, sb will more labour be absorb, ed from the town.