Vigo County Historical Society

Doing laundry wasn’t always such an easy task

Until the early 20th century, doing the wash was no easy task.

To get laundry done, one had to first mend, then soak the clothes in "blood warm" soapy water. But if the clothing was soaked too long, it soured. If it wasn’t soaked long enough, the dirt was harder to get out.

After soaking for the proper amount of time, all stains were treated with a variety of remedies depending on the stain’s content. Once the stains were dealt with, water was heated and the scrubbing began.

Homemade lye soap was "shaved" into the hot water and more was worked into the dirtier spots. The laundress would then rub each piece of clothing firmly against a rock or washboard until it was clean.

Following the scrubbing, clothing was put into a cauldron to be boiled. In the early 1800s a lighter boiler made of copper was introduced. A laundress boiled clothing to kill any little "critters" living in the laundry. Lice and flea eggs could survive regular scrubbing but boiling killed them. Boiling also helped remove some stains.

The next step was the rinse "cycle." Using a wooden paddle, the laundry was first rinsed in hot water, then cool water, then in cold water. Whites then were rinsed in a solution of bluing to "bleach" the soap-yellowed material to white (more like gray-white).

Getting as much water out before it was hung out to dry was a major job. The laundress first let gravity take some of the water out before it was either wrung by hand, wrung with sticks, or after 1847, wrung with a newfangled crank-wringer.

Clothes were dried by being hung on a rope line, draped over a fence or bushes, or laid out on the grass. When the laundry was just slightly damp, not dry, it was carefully folded and readied for ironing.

To complete the job of laundry, starch was made from potatoes, flour or other concoctions and applied to many of the garments before ironing. The heavy irons were heated on the stove or over the coals.

Ironing was finished when the clothing was wrinkle-free and completely dry to prevent mold and mildew.

Today’s Historical Treasure is a Rochester Rigid Bottom Copper Boiler and can be found in the museum’s lower level Tool Room with other laundry equipment.

The boiler will be used in laundry demonstrations outside the Pecker cabin Oct. 2 and 4 during Pioneer Days at Fowler Park.