How did rich Elizabethan people wash their clothes?

Answer 1

Rich Elizabethans used a combination of methods to wash their clothes, often employing the services of laundresses. They utilized lye, made from wood ash, mixed with water to create a cleaning solution, along with soap, which was a luxury item at the time. Clothes were typically soaked, scrubbed, and rinsed, sometimes using fragrant herbs and flowers to impart a pleasant scent. After washing, garments were hung to dry in the sun, which also helped to whiten and freshen them.