Hung out to dry
Owner: Hand-wash method is tough and not for everyone
Modern times are washing out hand-wash dhoby operators in Penang.
GEORGE TOWN: Every morning, Raman Angko, 57, would start his day by sorting out the clothes according to the colour. He would then place the clothes in hot water to soak before washing them with his hands.
Raman said this has been the routine for his family who has been in the hand-wash laundry business for almost 70 years in the Vannan Thora Tedal, which literally means a laundry district in Tamil, along York Road.
“I enjoy my work as I get to meet people and even develop friendships.
“Back then, there were many hand-wash laundry shops in this area but many of the owners have died and their children were not interested in this business.
“It’s not for everyone. I am a third generation and most probably the last. My children, too, are not keen to follow my footsteps.
“It’s a tough job as I work from 7am to 8pm,” said the father of three when met yesterday.
In 2012, three laundries in Dhoby Ghaut were gutted by fire, which destroyed a large amount of clothes, blankets, bedsheets, curtains as well as dryers. Although nobody was injured, 18 people were made homeless.
Raman said the best option for him would be to relocate to somewhere else if his present landlord asks him to move out from his rented premises.
“There are only four or five laundry shops left in this area.
“I’m not too worried about the competition from modern laundrettes.
“The detergent and the way the clothes are washed in the washing machines tend to destroy the clothes.
“Our method of washing clothes by hand is more hygienic compared to using the wash- ing machine.
“We soak the clothes in hot water first before they are scrubbed and rinsed by hand in soap water. Then, they are dried under the hot sun and later pressed with an iron.
“There is actually a demand for clothes to be washed the traditional way,” he said, adding that his customers included a few VIPs.