Grandma's Washing day instructions

[-6]

From a friends E: I remember helping on wash day and that was exactly the way it was. Then we got a wringer type washing machine. Got my arm caught in that thing several times. wc

 

How blest we are today!!

> Washing Clothes Recipe

> ======================

>

> Washing Clothes Recipe

> Imagine having a recipe for this!

>

> Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the

> following recipe:

>

> This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook

> with spelling errors and all.

>

>

> WASHING CLOTHES

>

> Build far in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so

> smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert.

>

> Shave one hole cake of lie soap in bawlin water.

>

> Sort things, make 3 piles

> 1 pile white,

> 1 pile colored,

> 1 pile work dark britches and rags.

>

> To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin

> down with boiling water.

>

> Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and

> bawl, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.

>

> Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench,

> and starch.

>

> Hang old rags on fence.

>

> Spread tea towels on grass.

>

> Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy

> water. Turn tubs upside down.

>

> Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew up a

> cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings

 

We are blessed today are we not??? wc

[Grace&Violets]

I really like that! I've never washed clothes like that, but this made me smile. The last part was especially nice.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

wait a minute.....

You mean we can do it with a 'far'?

other then that part that is how we do wash here. Our magtag wringer washer does run by electric but the rest is just how we do it most mondays in our wash house (cellar walk in) and then out on the solor dryers (clotheslines).

It is so relaxiinga nd kind of Zen for us so don't worry that we are working to hard to get clean clothes. We also don't do it everyday - you know you can wear some things more then once if you are careful.

 

 

 

 

 

[Homemaker]

My clothes dryer is sitting neglected in the laundry room. I've started hanging everything to dry. I don't have a clothesline yet, so I was hanging everything on the garden fence. Now that it's cold and rainy I've had to get really creative. I discovered that I can hang everything on hangers and hook them to the garage door track on the ceiling in the garage. Just need to remember not to open the garage door when clothes are hanging there! I also strung wire between the tracks at the ends to have room to hang things with clothespins.

 

We saved over 750 KWH last month compared to last year by not using the dryer, turning off more lights and lowering the house temp. from 60 degrees in the winter to 55 degrees and wearing more layers and hats.