How to Wash Clothes on a Washboard

 

How To Wash Clothes On a Washboard

Okay – I went to a demonstration on handwashing your own clothes and it was such a great class.  The instructor was hilarious, she showed us how you can tear your clothes, stain your clothes, all sorts of dos and don’ts to your clothes. 

I was amazed but learned that cleaning your clothes properly is an important skill to learn.  If you have to clean your clothes in a washtub with a washboard as the pioneers did, can you do it properly. I would like to think, after the class that I just attended, to get my clothes clean (Not using a washer and dryer) I would know what to do if I had no electricity or modern day washing machines were not available?

Here are a few of the guidlines and tips with simple instructions an how you could do this should the need arise.

Remember, you can always read how to’s but hands on learning is always the best.

What you will need:

3 large wash tubs                                   

1 large washboard

1 bar of laundry soap                              

Hot and cold water

Laundry basket                                        

Clothes pins and clothesline

 

 

1. Heat water in one of the wash tubs over a hot fire.

2. Set the other two tubs up on blocks or a tree stump side by side 10-15 feet away from the fire.

3. Make certain all tubs are secure.

4. Fill one tub with boiling water, adding enough cold water to make it tolerable for your hands.

5. Add a few white clothes to the wash water

6. Put the washboard in the tub and rub the surface with a bar of soap.

7. Take a piece of laundry out of the water, lay it the length of and on top of the wash board. Rub soap on material.

8. With the edge of the material held in your hand between thumb and fingers, begin to rub up and down the board with the heel of your hand, gathering and pulling the material toward you.

9. Push the material down in the water and start from the beginning.

10. Scrub each garment vigorously four to eight times.

11. Dip into water, rinse, wring out water and put in next tub filled with warm rinse water.

12. Rinse in second water, wring dry, and hang on clothesline.

 

I promise – this might sound complicated, but it’s not!  You might bet a few blister, rack your knuckles on the board, but it won’t take long for you to become an expert.

I found this tip online – thought it might be useful.

Tip: For best results, boil the clothes for about one hour stirring occasionally. This will loosen the soil and make scrubbing on the washboard much easier.