My mother was a housewife. Our home was spotless, and I think, if I didn't work full-time plus write, that maybe my house would be spotless, but hey, I love my life so when I look around my home, I think, "Spotty is good!"
Here's an email my cousin sent me, and yes, I can remember going to grandma's and watching her use this washer, only hers was white.
History of this recipe:
Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave a new bride this advice. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook -spelling errors and all.
WARSHING CLOTHES
Build fire 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 boilin water.
Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white,
1 pile colored,
1 pile work 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 boil, 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 cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
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For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse
Build fire 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 boilin water.
Sort things, make 3 piles
1 pile white,
1 pile colored,
1 pile work 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 boil, 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 cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.
================================================
For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse
8 comments:
I love this! I'm from Alabama, and I remember my grandmother washing this way, then later with a wringer washer. Her house never had indoor plumbing (except for the kitchen sink), but she did have a clothes line instead of the fence.
That's a riot!! I love what they did with the water ... water the plants, scrub the porch ... frugality doesn't even begin to describe it. and thanks for defining 'wrench' ... i had visions of weird tug of war type thinks going there for a bit ... :)
Ramona,
I remember when the city came to my grandmother and told her she had to put in a bathroom!
Sadie,
Thanks for stopping by! I agree, they knew how to be frugal.
Yes, we do have it pretty sweet these days don't we with all our fancy appliances!
Dana,
Some of those fancy applicances are unopened in my cupboard. I'm forever slicing a potato with a regular knife and then remembering that I have a potato slicer.
LOL! This is great. I love my washer and dryer, too! I would have been a lousy housewife back then.
Too funny! I'll take one of those cards. I detest housework. Except washing dishes. There is something soothing about hand washing a sink full of dishes. I usually carry on a conversation with God at that time.
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