kiilteissä

Kiilteissä is a Finnish term that refers to a traditional method of laundering and drying textiles used by the indigenous Sami people of Northern Europe. The practice involves using hot stones to combine the actions of heat, friction, and water to clean and freshen clothing, bedding, and other fabrics.

Traditionally, women of the Sami community would prepare the stones by heating them over a fire, then use them to rub against fabric items, gradually heating the stones, and pouring hot water over the items to remove dirt and germs. This method allowed for efficient and effective cleaning of clothing and bedding in the remote, cold climates of Northern Europe.

Kiilteissä has been an important part of Sami culture for generations, with specific stone types and the manner in which they were heated believed to possess spiritual and healing properties. The use of stones was often tied to ceremonial and ritualistic practices, adding an emotional and cultural dimension to an ultimately mundane task.

Today, while kiilteissä is no longer a primary method of laundry, elements of this practice continue to be found in modern indigenous practices. There is evidence that younger generations are starting to rediscover these traditional methods as part of Sami preservation and healing projects.

Scientific analysis has revealed the remarkably effective and hygienic nature of kiilteissä as a form of textile cleansing, making it an even more significant and worthy reminder of the resourcefulness, adaptability, and innovative thinking of indigenous cultures.