In other words, being frozen doesn't keep water from evaporating out of clothing. Many Amish families take advantage of this fact, Williams said, but others prefer to hang their clothing indoors in the winter. They may hang clotheslines out of the way in the basement or arrange drying racks over wood-burning stoves.
The most common method for an Amish person to dry their clothing, regardless of the time of year, is on a clothesline. During the warmer months, there's no more iconic image of Amish country than dancing, colorful clothing flapping on the line, drying in the breeze.
Instead, most Amish families rely on clotheslines in the summer — and they still work in the winter, Williams said. According to appliance company Speed Queen, “Drying on a line in winter is actually a form of freeze-drying thanks to sublimation — or ice evaporating from a solid state.
Laundry. Amish women and girls do the family laundry weekly. Any day of the week is okay, as long as it's not Sunday. Most Amish orders permit power washing machines, but some still wash their clothes with old-fashioned methods such as bar soap, a washboard, and a wringer.
Despite the increased use of modern-day appliances, the Amish still use traditional methods in many areas of their lives. They often use horses and buggies as their primary mode of transportation, and they prefer to dry their clothes outside on a clothesline rather than using a dryer.
All types of birth control, and also all forms of natural family planning such as calendar-based methods, are forbidden in Old-Order Amish communities. However, especially in recent years, more Amish women have begun using contraception.
Thus, the Amish don't use cars or bicycles for transportation, but they will use skateboards. They don't use electricity, but they do use disposable diapers.
One study found that 1 in 3 Amish brush their teeth daily.
Concerning deodorant, yes, the Amish DO wear deodorant. If they don't, it's their personal choice.
The Amish retire early, typically around 9:00 p.m. This gives them time to wind down from their day and prepare for sleep. Once they are in bed, they say a prayer and then drift off to sleep. The Amish believe it's important to get a good night's sleep, so they can be fresh for the next day.
More often than not, Amish houses did have indoor plumbing and regular bathrooms. Although there was that one place in the middle of nowhere with one outhouse and many children. Most of my experiences with the Amish I will treasure.
Ice houses are also popular cold storage techniques used by many Amish communities. An ice house is an insulated basement or cellar that stores ice throughout the year. Various settlements hold ice parties in January or February, where they harvest blocks of ice from medium-sized ponds.
The old-order Amish forbid buttons on clothing as they are seen as a sign of vanity and pride. This means that traditional Amish clothing does not use buttons but instead relies on pins or ties for closure.
However, in addition to the modesty aspect, women must keep their heads covered at all times so that they can pray at any time. Both modesty and prayer are central to the daily lives of Amish people and for women, wearing head coverings and bonnets is an important part of that.
All Amish cleaning recipes contain natural ingredients, like white vinegar and baking soda. Instead of flushing toilets, outhouses are commonly used. This is true of the most conservative Amish, the Swartzentruber Amish. Interestingly, even communities that have indoor plumbing, sometimes still use outhouses.
Do Amish shave their legs and armpits? The Ordnung (set of community rules) forbids women from shaving. What's more, because the Amish interpretation of the New Testament considers cutting hair a shameful act (1 Corinthians 11:5-15), women don't cut or shave any hair on their bodies.
The Amish wedding night will usually be spent in the bride's parent's home, as the couple will need to assist in clean up the following day. They will then spend their first months of marriage – their honeymoon – visiting relatives. (This is when most gifts they receive will be given.)
Yes, the Amish bathe, but they often do it without electricity, and sometimes without indoor plumbing. They usually heat the water on a stove in order to have a warm bath. This labor-intensive process is one reason that the Amish don't normally bathe every day.
Unmarried Amish men and women aren't supposed to have any physical contact with each other. This includes kissing, hugging, and even holding hands.
They Prefer to Be Practical
Another reason for tooth extraction in Amish communities is their preference for practical solutions over cosmetic treatments. In line with their values of simplicity and modesty, the Amish tend to prioritize function over appearance when it comes to dental care.
Women are to keep their hair long and worn in a single braid or bun that is pinned behind their head. Hair must be kept out of sight, as it's seen as too sensual and can be distracting for men in the community. The reason Amish women don't cut their hair is more than just aesthetic preference.
Mothers are very demonstrative with their babies when they nurse them and sing to them as they soothe them to sleep. But they don't pick up their children to hug and kiss them.
Dating among the Amish typically begins around age 16 with most Amish couples marrying between the ages of 20 and 22. To find a prospective date, the young adults socialize at functions such as frolics, church, or home visits. One of the most popular activities is the Sunday night singing.
After giving birth, Amish mothers breastfeed their babies for as long as possible.