Laundress
What is a laundress?
In an estate, the principal will often hire a laundress in addition to the housekeeper(s) – the laundress’s main job is to care for fine clothing and linens in the home. The laundress will understand how to wash, handwash, press, steam, fold, starch, as well as mend and tailor as necessary. They will also keep the home’s closets organized- packing and storing items properly for each season, as well as keep a detailed inventory of items and their locations. They will typically also handle fine linens, sheets, and towels.
Who can benefit from a laundress?
Any family who has couture clothing, which can carry values into the millions, or suits and items tailored by renowned professionals would benefit from a laundress. While a housekeeper can usually manage the basics, those with extremely fine clothing should opt for a laundress. On large estates, there is typically enough work to be done that the housekeeper(s) and laundress both have a set of full-time responsibilities.
Laundresses often have experience with cleaning couture and designer clothing as well as having relationships with expert tailors (‘artisans’) who can help mend and fix rare, vintage or expensive items of clothing. Proper care extends the life of couture garments – if one has high-end clothing, as well as fine linens, it makes sense to invest in a laundress to keep these items in top quality shape over time. It also minimizes the risk of loss or damage that can occur when items are sent out of the home for cleaning.
What is the difference between a housekeeper and a laundress?
A housekeeper will have a range of tasks around the home – while many might have the knowledge to care for cashmere and silk, they likely do not have enough time to give top quality items the time and detailed attention required while managing the rest of the cleaning and upkeep of the home. When done properly, a single men’s shirt can take 30 minutes to iron. Furthermore, laundresses will have a deep understanding of various high-end fabric types and how to best care for each one.
A laundress will be able to easily distinguish between high-end items that are best cared for in the home and those that can be sent out to dry cleaners. A laundress will usually have previous seamstress experience as well as experience working in homes or estates. They will be highly skilled and organized individuals, ready to organize the closets, pack suitcases, and maintain inventory logs of high-value items.