LAUNDRY WORK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 37, 14 October 1946, Page 3

LAUNDRY WORK

RESEARCH AND SCIENCE Housewives might not think so, but laundries do care! In the last twenty years, reputable launderers have sponsored highly scientific research into the most up-to-date methods. The old “soap water, and “elbow-grease” was not good enough —standards had to be laid down for all branches / of laundry work. In 1920, members of the industry decided to form a co-operative research association, “to look into the scientific basis of laundry processes.” Known as the British Launderers’ Research Association, it has been responsible for unprecedented improvements. A standard of “whiteness” has been laid down (based on the colour of well-finished - -new goods), strength-tests have been evolved to eliminate damage to weak fabrics, non-shrinking laundry processes have been invented, and even, in these days of shortages, a means to save soap has been found. Naturally, there are “slip-ups,” especially in the war years, and immediately afterwards—-when there is a shortage of skilled labour. But the Research Association, in addition to its other woi’k, is training students in laundry work, both in its .own laboratories, and by correspondence courses.' Among the students there now are representatives from New Zealand, Nigeria and Denmark.