Laundry Around the World: A Cultural Journey Through Soap, Water and Sunshine

In Jamaica, I grew up believing wax and a dried-out coconut brush were the answers to having a polished floor; Pine Sol was best for mopping and Old English was best for polishing the furniture.  We would use the blue cake soap to wash our clothes in a pan in the yard and if there was no running water, which was often, we had the river.

Then the women from our neighborhood and the surrounding areas would gather like a ritual by the river. As if they were responding to some secret order, they would find their places on the riverbed and begin washing. Sheets would be soaked, soaped and spread over rocks where they would be beaten with a stick and left to be bleached out by the sun. Soapy water in plastic and metal bath pans would splash to the sides as the women washed their clothes by hand or with a scrub brush. This natural, low-impact way of doing laundry was more than just practical ─ it was community. The women would share stories while their children played nearby.

My mom, who grew up in the country and spent many of her days washing clothes in the river, had grown tired of this ritual and avoided it. But she would send us, her four children, to wash clothes. I liked the clean scent of the soap as it mingled with the fresh scent of the river. And I liked the sound of the pounding on the rocks and scrubbing of the clothes. It was like a synchronized system, a musical language that even us children, who made up our own quartet, could share with the adults.

After washing, we would rinse out our clothes in the river and then take them home to hang on the clotheslines in our yards to dry.

Looking back, I realized nature was always part of how we cleaned, even if sometimes the solutions weren’t completely natural.

From Riversides to Rooftops: The Global Soul of Clean Clothes

For many laundry isn’t just a chore ─ it’s a rhythm, a ritual, and as connection to tradition passed down through generations. At Nature Kleen, we believe in cleaning with care for both our homes and the planet. Before detergents and high-efficiency machines, people around the world found meaningful, sustainable ways to care for their clothes ─ and still do.

Let’s take a refreshing journey through how some different cultures approach laundry, and how these traditions continue to inspire green living today.

India: Stones, Songs, and Saris

In parts of rural and urban India, laundry is still washed at communal dhobi ghats ─ open-air washing areas where clothes are scrubbed on stones, rinsed in large basins, and hung in long, colorful lines. The Dhobis (traditional washermen and women) carry on generations-old practices using minimal water and often natural soaps.

These scenes, rich with rhythm and repetition, show how laundry is both a livelihood and a cultural heartbeat.

Japan: Order, Efficiency, and Respect for Water

Japanese laundry culture is marked by precision and mindfulness. Clothes are often washed daily to maintain freshness and are meticulously folded. Space-saving drying racks are common, and many households still line-dry laundry, even in modern apartments.

Natural drying and gentle detergents reflect a deeper value in Japanese culture ─ respect for belongings, the environment, and the rituals of daily life.

Italy: Line Drying with La Dolce Vita

Walk through an Italian village and you’ll see garments fluttering like flags between old stone buildings. Italians have a long-standing love affair with the clothesline. The sun and wind do their work, and neighbors chat from balconies while their linens dry.

Even in cities, many Italians avoid electric dryers ─ not just to save energy, but because nothing beats the scent of sun-dried clothes.

Kenya: Community, Color, and Open Skies

In Kenya, it’s common to wash clothes by hand in basins with water drawn from wells or local taps. After scrubbing, clothes are laid out on bushes, fences, or lines to dry under the open sky. This method, though labor-intensive, is eco-friendly and deeply connected to daily life in many communities.

The colorful fabrics drying in the sun add to the vibrant visual culture of the region.

Then Came the Machines

The Mechanical Revolution: Washing Machines, Dryers, and Their Cultural Impact

While many cultures around the world continue to hand wash clothing with time-honored methods involving soap, water, and sunshine, the advent of washing machines and dryers revolutionized the way modern societies clean their clothes. This mechanization not only transformed daily routines but also reshaped cultural norms, economic systems, and even environmental concerns.

A Brief History of Washing Machines and Dryers

The first patents for mechanical washing devices appeared in the late 18th century, but it wasn’t until the early 1900s that electric washing machines reportedly became commercially available. Alva J. Fisher is often credited with creating the first electric washing machine, the “Thor,” - a top-loading machine in 1908 for the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago, according to Weiliglobal.com. Dryers followed suit, with early versions appearing in the 1930s, though they didn’t become common household items until the post-World War II economic boom of the 1950s.

These innovations offered a solution to the labor-intensive nature of traditional laundry practices, especially in Western societies where time-saving technologies were increasingly valued. What once took an entire day (or more) could now be completed in a matter of hours.

Cultural Shifts and Domestic Roles

With the rise of washing machines and dryers, domestic labor ─ particularly women’s labor ─ underwent significant changes. In industrialized countries, the burden of laundry began to shift from physical labor to machine monitoring, freeing up time for other pursuits. In this way, these machines subtly contributed to evolving gender roles and the broader women’s liberation movement.

However, not all cultures embraced mechanization in the same way. In many parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, hand washing remains common either due to economic factors, limited access to electricity or water, or cultural preferences that associate hand washing with better cleanliness and garment care.

Environmental Impact and the Rise of Green Consciousness

With convenience came consequences. Modern washers and dryers are among the most resource-intensive household appliances. Traditional hand washing methods typically use significantly less energy ─ especially when clothes are line-dried in the sun, a method still prevalent in rural areas and gaining renewed interest among eco-conscious consumers.

Today, energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly detergents attempt to strike a balance between convenience and sustainability. Innovations like front-loading machines that use less water and energy, as well as solar-powered dryers, reflect a growing demand for green alternatives. In some cultures, particularly in Scandinavia and parts of Japan, eco-efficient communal laundromats have become a norm, offering shared resources and reducing household consumption.

Bridging Tradition and Technology

In Jamaica, though there are many who now embrace the use of washing machines and dryers, you will still find many who prefer to handwash their clothes. At Nature Kleen, we celebrate the intersection of cultural heritage and sustainable innovation. The global laundry story is not just about machines replacing hands—it’s about understanding our past, appreciating cultural diversity, and making mindful choices for the future. From riverside stone slabs in India to compact washing machines in Tokyo apartments, the art of cleaning clothes tells us much about the human journey. And while the machines have changed, our shared desire for cleanliness, care, and connection remains timeless.

What We Can Learn (and Bring Home)

Around the world, laundry practices are shaped by environment, history, and a deep respect for nature’s resources. These traditions teach us:

• Water is precious ─ use it wisely.

• The sun is the original dryer ─ and it’s free and chemical-free.

• Natural soaps and manual washing methods are gentle on fabrics ─ and the planet.

• Laundry can be community, not just a solo task.

At Nature Kleen, we honor these time-tested ways by offering green, biodegradable cleaning products that align with sustainable values. We believe in a future where clean clothes don’t come at the cost of a clean planet.

Let’s clean the world, one shirt, one river, one sunshine-filled line at a time.