Oct. 27, 2004

Ancient Egyptian Laundry

In ancient Egypt, men servants did the laundry using natron (NAY-tron), the same mineral that is used for mummification. Natron occurs as a natural crystal in a couple of places in Egypt. Laundrymen first carried the dirty clothes to a nearby stream or canal. There they washed them in two pottery tubs filled with water. They soaked the clothes in cold water in one tub while they lit a fire under the second tub and mixed in natron crystals. When the water was warm, they put in the wet clothes. Then they beat the warm, wet clothing on a large stone, using a wooden stick or paddle. Finally the laundrymen rinsed the clothes in the river, wrung them out and spread them in the sun to dry and bleach.

You can do laundry with homemade natron. It's easy to turn this activity into a science experiment. Take two dirty white socks. Wash one using natron and one in a modern washing machine with detergent. See which comes out cleaner!

You can do this activity outside or in. It's safe to pour the natron solution on the ground, but not into a body of water such as a lake or stream. Do not touch your eyes or mouth while doing this activity. Thoroughly wash all utensils afterward.

Adult help recommended with the washing solution.

Materials

• 2 buckets or laundry tubs
• Cold water (from hose or tap)
• 3 or 4 pieces dirty white clothing or rags
• Bowl
• 1/2 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
• 1/4 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Large wooden spoon
• Warm water
• Drying rack or clothesline (optional)

Directions

Fill one tub with cold water and add clothes. Make natron by pouring the washing soda, baking soda, and salt in the bowl. Use the wooden spoon to mix. Put the warm water into the second tub or bucket. Add the natron mixture. Use the spoon to transfer the clothes to the second bucket. Swish them around for a while (Note: Natron doesn't form suds.)

Dump the water from the cold water tub or bucket and turn it upside down. Take a garment from the natron bucket, squeeze it gently, and lay it across the upturned tub. Thwack it with the wooden spoon a number of times to drive the natron into the fabric. Repeat this process for the other garments. When you are finished, you can dump out the natron water and store your washed clothing in the second bucket. Rinse the clothing under running water. Wring it out. Spread it out on the ground or a drying rack, or hang it out to dry.

How clean does the clothing look and smell?

Activity excerpted by permission of Independent Publishers Group from Ancient Egyptians and Their Neighbors: An Activity Guide by Marian Broida. Published by Chicago Review Press, distributed by Independent Publishers Group (www.ipgbook.com). Copyright © 1999 by Marian Broida.

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