A Trip Back in the History of Laundry
I admit it, I have a weakness for antique stores.
For one thing, one never knows what one will find
in them.
It's like a treasure hunt each and every time.
For another thing,
it is history, pure and simple.
I am torn between which of the two is the more compelling.
At any rate,
I recently came upon an item at my favorite
antique store in town that spoke to me.
It found a place of honor in the laundry room.
The only thing I did to this antique scrub board
was to treat the wood with mineral oil.*
That brought out the words
"Home Aide" on the front.
The words on the back of the board are:
"Ideal for silks, hosiery and lingerie
or handkerchiefs
"Just the right size to fit a bucket,
pail or lavatory
"Packs easily into suit case
or traveling bag**
"Columbus Washboard Co., Columbus, Ohio"
**I wonder what TSA would think
about finding a washboard in a carry-on bag.
"It's for washing my silks, hosiery and lingerie. Really."
"Sure, it is. Step over here for a full body pat down."
* I waffled about doing anything at all to this
washboard as it is an antique, but in the end,
I decided that the need for preserving the wood
and the clarity of the written words
was greater than the need for being "authentic".
Sometimes it's okay to touch-up a good antique.
Just make sure that you aren't harming the value by doing so.
