Warshing Clothes Recipe………
Never thought of a ‘washer’ 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:
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 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.
================================================
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. First thing
each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer, also your toilet—
those two-holes used to get mighty cold! AND WE THOUGHT WE HAVE IT ROUGH!!!!
For you non-southerners – wrench means, rinse 
My, what we can learn from the past, they recycled everything!
Tags: britches, broom stick, cool water, cup of tea, dirty spots, exact copy, flower bed, hair combs, lights, old rags, rain, rain water, recycle, recycling, set tubs, smooth hair, soapy water, southerners, spelling errors, starch, tea towels, washer and dryer, washing machine and dryer, water, water set, wind
September 9th, 2008 at 9:30 am
That was a special one…make my laundry so easy after I have read this…*LOL*…I found my mothers
certificate from her home economics school way back…there it was writing that she was good to everything but really bad to milking cow…*L*…
September 9th, 2008 at 9:42 am
This just goes to show that some of the old ways aren’t always the best ways.
I love my modern washer and dryer (an HE model – yay!) and the fact that laundry day in the 21st century no longer takes all day to do!
Condo Bluess last blog post..How to Hem Pants Into Shorts, Then Use the Pant Legs to Make a Hat!
September 9th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hi Fancy … How funny! LOL I think I would be as well!
Hi Condo … You are so right! I do not believe I could do laundry all day long.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Ha, when I saw the title I was thinking, “Oh geez, she must be a Midwesterner. We’re from CT but living in St. Louis, and they DO say “warsh.” I even saw a bottle of water at a day care I worked at here labeled “warter.” I’ve never heard “wrench” in terms to washing until now.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:16 am
You are so welcome if you have the time take a tour on my site hope you like it
FANCY SWEDENs last blog post..Obeisance
September 9th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Hi Stefanie … Had ya fooled, eh? Warter is so funny but you know that is how it is said!!!
Hi Fancy … I mosey on over……….
September 9th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Lol, yep, I honestly thought you were spelling it “warsh.” My husband likes to say, “At least we don’t add letters to words, we drop them!” You know, being from New England… Actually from CT, so we sort of mish mash New York and Boston accents.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Hi Stephanie … I have noticed that the East coast does have a uniqueness to it. Just as the south does but each has it flavor that is just delightful to me. I love hearing all accents.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
You might also consider using collected rainwater to wash with and save energy
straw bales last blog post..Round Pole Post & Beam Structure
September 9th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Hey Stawbale … you could do that … not a problem.
September 9th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I don’t know about the setting the tea towel out on the grass. Don’t know if I’d want to use them after that!
It’s always kinda bugged me living up here in Washington, when I’ve heard people call it “Warshington.” Sorry, but there is no “r” in Washington. I love listening to different accents, just not that particular word.
Barbaras last blog post..Relax With Barbara On Wednesday 4
September 9th, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Hi Barbara …. Yeah! well there is no double “s” in Texas either or the other way is to substitute the “e” with an “a” or Taxass! LOL!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Hi Linda,
We do have it good, don’t we. I can’t even begin to imagine how difficult it was in the past, and I’m sure many only had one or two pieces of clothing, so wash day probably happened pretty often.
I’m going to leave and hug my washer and dryer.
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..NBOTW – Putting His Spin On It
September 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
hi Barbara … LOL .. I have been hugging mine daily.
September 13th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Oh my god, Linda. Did you know something? At first, I thought you’re wrote the wrong word or having the wrong spelling for the “Warshing”, but when I read it further, I found out it’s a nice and creative idea indeed!
wilsons last blog post..How Can I know Whether I Have Bad Breath or Not?
September 13th, 2008 at 6:59 am
Hi Wilson … LOL! nothing like getting you to think of something else! Are you kissing your washer and dryer yet?