Washing Clothes in the "Good Old Days"

My Uncle Bo sent me this, taken from an Alabama grandmother's advice to a new bride back around 1900. This is how to go about the simple chore of washing the clothes. Spelling errors included.


Build a fire in backyard to heat kettle of rainwater. 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 three 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 the kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench and starch.

Hang old rags on fence. Spread tea towels in grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on a clean dress, smooth hair with hair comb. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

My uncle cleared up the question of what wrench meant. It means rinse.

And, These Were the Good Old Days. --Cooter