A Washboard is a Great Survival Prep Item
February 10, 2012, Submitted by: Lauren (Mrs. MSB) Tweet
About two years ago Ken purchased a washboard
I don’t know if any of you have ever used a washboard or if you have one in your supplies. But, I would like to spout some washboard praises now because shortly after we bought it, I got the opportunity to use the washboard.
Not long after the washboard became part of our home, we lost power when an old transformer on the cross street died. The power had been out for hours when there were finally two trucks of crews that showed up to replace the transformer. It wasn’t a quick job and would probably take the rest of the day. Not to worry, it was a warm beautiful day. Most of the neighbors who had been milling about watching the work crews, headed back to their homes for some lunch.
Shortly after Ken and I ate lunch, he came inside from the mechanical work he was doing. I looked at him and asked him what he had gotten on his shirt. There were several black spots on his shirt. “Oh, honey, why don’t you change your shirt so I can start treating those stains?” I asked. He changed his shirt and brought it to me. All of a sudden it hit me. “Sure,” I said thinking to myself that it will have to wait until the power comes back on so I can get it in the washing machine.
A few minutes later, I was walking past the island and I noticed the washboard sitting there.
Yup, you guessed it, I decided to try the washboard. Ken had oil stains on his shirt and I didn’t want to wait until the power came back on. Can I just tell you that I loved using the washboard? All it took was a little soap, a little water and a little scrubbing action on the washboard ridges! I was amazed at how little scrubbing action it took to get the shirt CLEAN. Having a few other dirty clothes waiting for laundry day, I had to clean them. The amount of time and the amount of scrubbing was minimal. We squeezed the water out of the clothes. Nice! I then hung them on the folding wooden clothes drying rack.
According to Wikipedia, Clothes are soaked in hot soapy water in a washtub or sink, then squeezed and rubbed against the ridged surface of the washboard to force the cleansing fluid through the cloth to carry away dirt. Washboards may also be used for washing in a river, with or without soap. Then the clothes are rinsed. The rubbing has a similar effect to beating the clothes and household linen on rocks, an ancient method, but is less abrasive.
The washboard is a very easy, effective and economical way to keep your clothes clean. Try one!
Columbus Family Size Washboard
If you are looking for a clothes wringer, here’s one, although it’s pricey (but I’m sure it will last ‘forever’)
Best Hand Clothes Wringer
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Don’t forget about a hand driven clothes wringer to really get all the excess water out of clothes. This is especially important in humid climates in which water in clothes takes much, much longer to dry, even in the hot sun. This things people used almost universally before washing machines.
Good grief! I haven’t seen one of those in years! My grandmother used to use one along with a tin bath… Even when she was bought a washing machine. Lol. My Mum ended up with it for years and we played with it as kids. It was very sturdy and must have been at least 20 years old then. I’m going to ask her if she’s still got it hidden away in the attic.
Can I just add, a good way to wring out your clothes without power or a clothes wringer is to wrap your sheet etc around a wooden pole so that the ends meet and pull tight away from the pole. Then just keep twisting the ends together until it almost wraps itself up against the pole. The water just runs out as you twist.
Granted, it can really be arm aching after doing a load of washing but this is how it used to be done in the “good old days!” if you didn’t have electricity or a wringer.
have to get one. Great suggestion. Haven’t seen or thought about a washboard for years. I hate dirty clothes. Mrs. S.D.(arthritis) will supervise my scrubbing! lol
Never gave a thought other than soap and such to the mechanics of washing our clothes if the grid is down. Again…really good idea.
I couldn’t believe how well this simple device worked, the first time I tried it.
@Miss Lauren; Another way to augment your washboard is to use a commercial grade mop bucket and mop wringer in your wash routine. You can have soapy water in one container with your washboard, rinse water in another container. Then when washed, squeeze the soapy water out of the garments and then rinse and squeeze the garment out and then hang it out to dry. This saves a lot of effort trying to wring it out 2x with other methods. NOt an automatic washer but beats doing it all by hand. Survive well. Enjoy.
Ooh…We had actually taken out the mop ringer, but since we weren’t doing that many clothes, we decided to do them by hand. Thanks! Lauren
Well, since then I’ve been searching around the shops in the UK for a washboard, but come up with nothing. Online I could only fine them that were being advertised as musical instruments.
But, I’ve just found a site that imports them from the Columbus Washboard co across the pond at your place
There are a few available and I wondered which is the best one to choose… Galvanized, Crystal or Steel Spiral?
Also, are the ones advertised as an instrument made different in any way or is it just a selling gimmick?
@Damkina, Without seeing the actual product, it seems to me that one that is galvanized should hold up better over time to corrosion via the water.