I received this recipe in an email this week:
Warshing Clothes Recipe:
"Build fire in backyard to heat rainwater.
Set tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if wind is pert.
Shave one whole cake of lie soap in boiling water.
Sort things. Make three 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."