We used to wash pretty much like this when we lived on the ranch in Kansas. Dad would hitch the mule and would bring water up from the river. The fire would be built the next morning (long before I awoke) and the clothes would be washed pretty much like the recipe below. I remember when we got a wringer washer. Mom was ecstatic.
"Warshing" Clothes Recipe
Never thought of a "warsher" in this light before...what a blessing!"Warshing Clothes Recipe" -- imagine having a recipe for this!
Years ago, an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe
exactly 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 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, rock a spell, and count yore blessings.
"Warshing" Clothes Recipe
Paste this over your washer and dryer. The next time you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washing machine and dryer, and give thanks. The first thing each morning ,you should run and hug your washer and dryer.
For non-Southerners - wrench means rinse
