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Tea Towels
1920's
Saskatchewan, Canada


Credits:
Assiniboia Museum

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The mark of a good homemaker was that her tea towels - whether made from flour sacks or were purchased - had to be WHITE! To achieve this, they could be whitened with a bit of bleach or bluing agent could be added to the rinse water. Also towels could be put into a large vessel of very hot soapy water and boiled on the stove. In summer - whites could be placed on the green grass with the sun as the bleaching agent. Once dried, the clothing to be ironed was sprinkled; (certain items had to be starched) rolled tightly together to produce uniform moisture so to be ironed into a superior finish.