Bedding

A task that required a lot of work

Before mechanization, washing laundry involved heating the water, preparing the wash baths, scrubbing or agitating the textiles, then wringing them out and drying them. Museum collections preserve the vats, washboards and tools used for this work. Maintaining large pieces of bedding thus represented a significant physical task.

The machine transforms home maintenance

Machines gradually took over part of this mechanical action. The Science Museum notably preserves an electric machine from the 1920s, witness to the arrival of the engine in domestic tasks. Mechanization has reduced the manual labor of washing, even if sorting, drying and storing laundry continues to require organization.

The connection to skin care

In current dermatological advice, laundry care can also be part of the search for the causes of pimples. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing pillowcases and sheets that have residue from hair products responsible for breakouts. The bed then enters into a broader routine, alongside the products used on the hair and face.