Wash Day

Once, doing the family laundry was actually a task of several days. Early Humboldters used washtubs and washboards with boiling water and much scrubbing. The "agitator" on a pole and the hot water prong were other accessories. In the early 20th century, the electric washing machine with the wringer attachment was introduced. The electric dryer didn't arrive till later in the century, and before then most backyards were adorned with clotheslines.

Ironing could take another day. The ironing machine or "mangle" was introduced in the 1920s.

For those who didn't want to bother with all of this or who had special items, 20th century Humboldt County had many commercial cleaners.