How We Shower and Do Laundry at -71°C (-95°F) | Yakutia, Siberia

Life in the coldest inhabited place on earth is not easy, and even seemingly simple daily task can take a whole day. Locals dedicate their weekends to doing laundry and washing in their wooden bathhouse, the only option for maintaining personal hygiene in a region without running water. To get the bathhouse to the right temperature, Stanislav and his son must start heating it well in advance. The bathhouse in Yekutia are heated by wood-burning stoves and the temperature inside the steam room can reach up to 70 degrees or higher. It takes them to five hours and requires a lot of wood. Because it takes so long, the locals will usually shower only once or twice a week. As the bathhouse slowly heats up, Stanislav and Jelustan set out to get the water from the garden snow, making sure to gather enough for both washing and laundry. Jelustan is 13 years old, the third child in his family and a student at the local middle school. Despite his young age, he has already learned the necessary skills to survive in the extreme climate and is always there to help his father. With the water collected and the bathhouse heated, Zinaida, the wife of Stanislav and their 16-year-old daughter Julia are ready to begin their weekly laundry. Every Sunday, the two of them wash the family's clothes by hand, using the snow water that Stanislav and Jelustan have collected from the garden. With a large family to care for, there's a lot of laundry to get through. Despite the heavy workload, Zinaida and Julia work diligently together to ensure that the family has clean and fresh clothes for the week ahead. Meanwhile, Jelustan is helping his father in another important task of heating their home. The harsh winters in Yakutia require filling up the stove with wood twice or even three times a day for nine months of the year. As the heat from the fireplace starts to warm the house, Jelustan hurries to the outdoor toilet, a small shed that covers a pit. While using an outdoor toilet may seem less convenient, it's actually more hygienic. The frozen temperatures make it difficult to have working pipes, which would easily freeze, and indoor toilets without sewage would become quite unpleasant. In the meantime, Zinaida and Julia finished washing their clothes. They hung the freshly cleaned garments outside in the garden to dry in the freezing winter air. This is a traditional method that helps to kill any remaining germs, leaving the clothes crips and refreshed. The freezing winds in Yakutia work quickly, causing the wet clothes to stiffen and become as hard as boards within minutes. In the dry frosty air, the wet clothes freeze and slowly evaporate due to the dryness of the air, although there is still some moisture on the fabric. With skillful hands, Zinaida expertly gathers the frozen laundry and brings it back inside. The laundry absorbs the refreshing scent of winter, making it especially sweet to sleep on. As the evening approaches, Zinaida busies herself with preparing dinner while the boys get ready for their bath. After hours of heating the bathhouse to a sweltering 70 degrees Celsius, Stanislav Angelus relaxes in the heat of the steam room, especially as the outside temperature drops to minus 50 degrees, which is 120 degrees colder. Once finished, Stanislav Angelus runs outside to cool off in the freezing cold air. The difference between the hot steam room and the cold air is believed to have many health benefits, including improving circulation and invigorating the body. After cooling down, they use the melted snow, water, and soap to wash away any remaining sweat and to clean themselves. While Stanislav Angelus are washing in the bathhouse, Zinaida and Julia are busy making their favorite dumplings filled with minced beef. Zinaida is well known in the village for her delicious cooking skills and is always teaching her daughter new dishes and training in the kitchen. Once the dumplings are prepared, they put them on the terrace outside to keep them frozen while they are in the bathhouse. The cold temperatures outside helps to preserve dumplings, ensuring that they are ready to cook and serve once they return from the bath. It's dinner time! Zinaida returns from the bathhouse, refreshed and ready to cook a delicious soup with dumplings for her family. In Yakutia, most people make soup every day. It's a nourishing food that helps to stay hydrated and warm in this cold, dry climate. On this Sunday evening, they can finally take a moment to rest and unwind after a long and busy day.