Monday is Wash Day

Monday was always wash day, not only at my house but for the whole community, a friendly competition as to who was first on the line or the whitest, or neatest. If the weather permitted the wash tubs were set up on the back porch; in the wintertime it had to be a corner of the kitchen. We set up the wash tubs on a bench holding two tubs, which were sometimes wooden, later galvanized. These tubs were filled half full by carrying water in a pail.

Later, we were fortunate to trade our tubs for a washing machine, a round wooden tub set on 4 sturdy legs. There was a rod on one side about the size of a broomstick which was pushed forward and back. The rod was connected through the bottom of the washer to a gyrater in the center. The inside of the washer was made of five ribs similar to a wash board. The motion of the gyrator rubbed the clothes against these ribs which supposedly washed out the dirt.

Attached to the washer was a contrivance called a wringer. The ringer consisted of two solid rubber rollers, turned by a handle on the side. There was a screw-like device on the top to adjust the tension, which you did from time to time, tightening it for a pillowcase or loosening it for bulky overalls. You moved the wringer to the rinse tub when ready.

Since lots of hot water was a necessity, a large copper boiler was placed on the hot stove and filled with water. In the winter drying clothes was a problem. I remember a fan-like device hanging flush with the wall, when needed it was raised and opened to fan out a number of spokes. This held a surprising number of articles. Some people also had a large folding rack, similar to those decorative ones we see today closing off a corner. They too, could be opened out and were used for larger items.

Not only did you wash and dry the clothes you also, if you were a careful housekeeper starched the mens shirts, the pillowcases, petticoats, aprons and children's pinafores. Starch was mixed by making a paste of a product similar to cornstarch adding the necessary amount of boiling water, then thinning it to the required consistency. Starched items needed careful and painstaking attention. First they were dried, then dampened (sprinkled with water) and rolled tightly-left over night to be ironed on Tuesday which was ironing day, just as Monday was Washday.

Laundry Index