Laundry Washboards
and a Suggestion for Using a Clothes Dryer
Copyright © October 1, 2018 by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.
During a serious hard times event a traditional laundry washboard would allow you to wash your dirty clothes in your bathtub (or washtub) if you had some water and some soap.
Allow the dirty clothes to soak in some soapy hot water for about 30 minutes. The soapy hot water will help to loosen the dirt from the clothing and the soap will surround and lubricate the dirt particles and this will make the dirt easier to remove.
After the dirty clothes have soaked for about 30 minutes, put the two wooden legs of the washboard down into the soapy water and then lean the top end of the washboard against the side of the bathtub.
Hold the washboard steady with one hand and use the other hand to select one dirty clothes item and rub it up and down on the metal face of the washboard to remove dirt and stains. The objective is to force soapy water through the garment so the soapy water can remove the dirt from the garment. Focus your attention on the dirty spots.
When the item is clean, wring the soapy water out of it by hand. Then rinse it in some clean water and wring the clean water out of it by hand. Then hang it up to dry.
Repeat for the next dirty clothes item.
Suggestion for Using a Clothes Dryer
If you currently use an electric washing machine and you also dry your clothes in a clothes dryer then may I suggest the following:
As you remove your damp clothes from the washing machine do not simply toss them immediately into the clothes dryer. Instead take the time to separate all the items from one another, and shake each item to spread it out so it is not stuck to itself or to another item. Then toss the item into the clothes dryer. Repeat for each of the damp items. This will help all of your clothes to dry more uniformly and it will help to prevent damp spots where clothes are stuck or folded together as a result of the washing cycle.
Respectfully,
Grandpappy.
Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com