Thursday, June 11, 2009

~~ "Warshing" Clothes Recipe ~~


A little stroll down 'memory lane' for some, for the rest of you ... look what you missed! Have a great day ... TY Dixie for sharing ................. (this is wonderful - I do not long for the olden days!)





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: 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.
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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.
For you non-southerners - wrench means, rinse ;)

30 comments:

  1. Love this post...warsh days in the good olde days was really a chore.I love all the modern conviences we enjoy but I do seem to take them for granted...no more:). I can't even imagine washing my clothes in a tub over a fire...we are so fortunate. hugs, Linda

    p.s. I'm really enjoying all your thoughts and words of wisdom on your sidebar...L

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  2. What a great post and love the "southern!"

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  3. Hi Marydon,
    Well one thing I know for sure. I wouldn't have the closet full of clothes I have now if I had to wash this way. I love my 'warsher' and dryer! I loved this post, thanks for reminding me how blessed I am.
    Smiles,
    June

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  4. Hello Marydon!
    Nice to meet you.
    To my delight when I checked on my blogspot this morning, I had a new follower. Thank you for becoming one. Appreciate this and I look forward to getting to know you better through blogland.
    I'll be returning and reading more of your blog.
    I grew up in Southwest Kansas saying warsh instead of wash. It's actually easier on the face muscles to say warsh than wash. ha ha.
    Blessings to you,
    ~Deanna~

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  5. Cute post. I came over from Gary and Elizabeth's. I commented after you and thought I'd peek in. You have a great Site over here. I see you love vintage family photos as much as I do. I post old family pix every Wednesday. : )

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  6. Such a neat post! We folks growing up in Illinois also said "warsh" - my youngest granddaughter ragged me about that for a long time. When I would send her a card, I would spell their street Warshington! My warshdays sixty years ago weren't like that but I did have a wringer washer and two rinse tubs - didn't get an automatic until after my two little ones were out of diapers! However, made it through fine and my daughter, the oldest, turns 58 this weekend. Where does time go!! I enjoy your blog, Marydon!! Carol

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  7. What delights..I do recall our old ringer machine lol...always had to use the "cloth poke"~~~that special stick to save all our tender fingers!

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  8. Hi I am thankful that we don't have to wash clothes like that anymore. I remember as a kid worrying that I might get my fingers caught in the ringer!
    Rhondi

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  9. ha, ha, It is so true that we now have servants called washer and dryer :-)

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  10. Hysterical...I'd be nekked if I had to do all that! LOL

    xoRebecca

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  11. We have it so incredibly easy don't we. My mom used to lug the warsh from the basement up to the 2nd story porch and hang the clothes out. I feel bad I never helped her once. Kids!

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  12. I enjoyed reading this. I'm not old enough to recall "warshing" that way, but I do recall the wringer washers (and I can still do a pretty good job of hanging wash outside to dry....and LOVE the smell of clothes dried that way....although I don't do it often).

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  13. Amen Sister!!
    I could wash dishes by hand but hope to never have to go without my clothes washer. I would use a clothes line though....
    Blessings~LillySue

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  14. I am so thankful I don't have to wash clothes like that or I'd be doing it once a month (undies excluded).
    BTW-replacementltd.com is where I look things up too but I try to find a lower price than them so I feel I got a deal. But when I'm desperate...

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  15. I have this pasted over the washer and love it.

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  16. Thanks for stopping by my place, it's always nice to meet new bloggers.

    I love your warshing recipe! How happy I am that I am in this day and age of washers and dryers!

    Your site is lovely and I can't wait to come back and spend more time looking around. Take care and enjoy your day. jj

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  17. Hi Marydon!
    Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving your kind comment :-) I don't run very fast so I give those bears plenty of space...I must admit though I CAN yell really loud and let them know when they need to go back to THEIR "homes". ;-)
    I enjoyed visiting your blog so much I am now a "follower". I'm also looking forward to visiting your boutique.
    Happy Weekend!
    Tam

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  18. That is so cute, and hallelujah for the modern conveniences, I don't think I would have made it back then. ;) We are spoiled these days aren't we?

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  19. I remember my grandmother's washer that she would roll in from the back porch and hook up to the sink faucet in the kitchen. I loved watching those clothes be rolled through the wringer! Linda

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  20. I think my grandmother wrote that recipe, lol.

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  21. I remember the clothes line from when I was young. Lovely when the weather was nice and miserable in the New England winters I grew up in. I also remember how excited my mother was to get a dryer. Thanks for your sweet wishes to Jess.

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  22. I've heard this before. It's just as amusing the second time around. Thank the Lord for modern day washing machines!

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  23. What a great post ! Thanks for sharing. Take care...Kathi

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  24. Amen! We sure do have it easy compared to our Grandmother's generation. I remember Grandma using Mrs. Wright's bluing in her whites to make them sparkle! Great post and good to go back and see how far we've come!
    joy c. at grannymountain

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  25. I remember my Grandmother having one of those!! Thank goodness for washing machines.

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  26. Oh my...I would be wearing the same thing a bunch of times before I went to all of that hard work! I'm so glad that we have washers and dryers now!

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  27. I'm originally from NW PA and I remember my grandmother talking about this! Also we all pronounce wash as "warsh"!! I think I still do! Love the recipe!
    Shirley

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