Warshing clothes recipe (old timey)

**NewLeaf** · 05-14-2009, 07:58 AM

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.

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 boilin 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. Hand 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.

* Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer , and give thanks. For you non-southeners - wrench means rinse.

**baxjul** · 05-14-2009, 08:02 AM

Can you imagine if we had to do all that now?

Lots of us, don't even stay up on the laundry even without having to do all that work.

Great reading, thanks!

**Pemberleyan** · 05-14-2009, 08:25 AM

Whew! I think I'll go kiss my washing machine.

In my part of the south we pronounce it "wash" without the R.

**kittykatstrong** · 05-14-2009, 09:16 AM

Thanks for the reminder. I need to go hug it right now.

**Debbie-cat** · 05-14-2009, 09:46 AM

My washing machine may be an old beater BUT I LOVE my washing machine!

Thanks for sharing!

**stinkbug** · 05-14-2009, 11:44 AM

One of the reasons I LOVE to do laundry is because for many years I didn't have a W/D. I had two in cloth diapers at one time, going to the laundry-matt. Having a W/D in my home is a luxery I will always appreciate!

**joyofsix** · 05-14-2009, 01:39 PM

Ok, my grandma warshed and rinched things til she died. Thanks for posting this.

**forHISglory** · 05-14-2009, 02:25 PM

"Warsh" and "rinch" are the exact pronunciations I grew up in southern Iowa! That intrusive R in wash is very hard for me to get out of my mouth, even today.

**thefrug** · 05-14-2009, 02:32 PM

Good info to know. Glad to see everything was reused (flower garden and porch)

Stop and think what you would do if there was no more electricity to run those fancy warshers and driers.

**fixer** · 05-14-2009, 03:55 PM

Thanks for adding a bit of perspective. My wife has the opportunity to visit with Amish ans Mennonite families in her job. She comment on how they never seem hurried or stressed. I think sometimes simpler is better.

**pollypurebred39** · 05-25-2009, 03:09 PM

My Grandmother used to get a bit snippy when people would say with great affection. "Ahh the good ole days" She loved modern inventions. She was born in a log cabin in the hollows of Kentucky as was my mother, moving to Pa. changed my Grandmothers world, yes she still canned, farmed, milked cows, but boy did she love cars over horse and buggies(old Mennonite sect) She loved paved roads, talked about walking ankle deep in mud on dirt roads when it rained back home(they're still unpaved) she loved her washing machine and dryer, she LOVED indoor plumbling (no more out house!) she loved that she didn't have to pump water from outside to boil for baths, she loved everything about modern inventions. She never had a microwave, a VCR, or any of the other new fangled gadgets, but I'm postive she would have loved everyone.

I'm super glad after reading this post to have a washer and dryer right in my home. Glad I don't have to collect rain water, and scrub on wash boards. I think I'll go hug my washer and dryer, lol!

**mauimagic** · 05-25-2009, 03:17 PM

What a great entry and what wonderful memories!! I am going to print it out for myself and others.

About 28 years ago we purchased our townhouse. My DH said that he was sold when he saw that it came with a washer and dryer in its own little room - really a closet!!

For so many things we can be thankful!!

**miss_thrifty** · 05-25-2009, 04:21 PM

thank god for modern machines .

**bluedog** · 05-25-2009, 04:44 PM

I too am deeply grateful for my W and D. Did it occur to anybody else that that bride waited until the last minute to get instructions on what must have happened in her natal home weekly? Or am I foolish in thinking kids were a large part of the home work force?