Thailand has some of the cleanest people that I have seen in my travels. Plenty of water and sunshine must be the key, as there is plenty here in the tropics. Even in some of the poorest houses, the washing and drying of clothes can be seen.
One of my chores growing up was learning how to clean my dirty clothes. It ain’t rocket science. Whites in one pile and everything else goes into another pile. Add soap and turn on the washing machine.
Laundry has been part of history since men began to wear loin cloths. Most of the time the task has been done by women. I think I know why.
Apparently, choosing the correct cycles and adding softener, bleach and other unknown liquids are essential to what one wears. Plus these ingredients need to be added at specific times. And the dials are not always set on maximum.
Additionally, some clothes are turned inside out and zippers must be zipped. Towels are washed separately. There is a reason that clothes with a Dry Clean only label are not supposed to be put in the washing machine. A garment marked Clean By Hand can be destroyed in one load.
When my wife went to America for the first time she was amazed. At what I hear you ask. She was amazed at my brother’s dryer. When we returned to Thailand we bought one. It does make sense. If one has a washing machine, then a drying machine is also needed.
Why do some women insist on doing the laundry? Because most men ain't rocket scientists…
Drying Clothes. It doesn't take long.
Members of the community cleanup committee placing bamboo flower pots alongside the road. Notice the clothes hanging in the background.
A Papaya tree makes for a handy rack.
Looks can be deceiving. A Spirit House is always displayed at the front of the house.
Even the Gold Shop does laundry. Many Thais will use this shop as a pawn store to borrow against their gold.
Surprisingly, these leaf roofs will last about three years.
Yes, this is someone's home. As money and time allows, the floor and cement block walls will be added. Invariably, the windows will be last to go in.
The World uses the metric system. America does not.
1 kilogram = 2.2 pounds.
This entrepreneur cleans mops at his home.
Cleaning By Hand
The inner workings of a commercial outlet.
One of the best selling laundry soaps. The writing looks like USA, but actually it is these letters บรีส.
A Thai Laundromat. Just a hair cheaper than America. Baht 40 is for a big load. That is five quarters in American money.
At a shop in Northern Thailand. For some reason many Thais often misspell Baht. Teachers think it is because the H sound is silent in the Thai language.
Look for the Chicken
The laundry room occupies the outside corner of the house.
Jungle Clothesline