Washing Clothes Recipe

Years ago an Alabama grandmother gave a new bride
the following recipe.

This exact copy, found in an old scrapbook, is exactly as written, spelling errors and all.


WASHING CLOTHES RECIPE

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 blessing

*For you non-Southerners –“wrench” means rinse.

P. S. The washer woman is actually from Texas, but the recipe is still the same!