DIY washboards for your pioneer dolls...

        A washboard is a tool designed for hand-washing clothing. The traditional washboard is usually constructed with a rectangular wooden frame in which are mounted a series of ridges or corrugations for the clothing to be rubbed upon. For 19th-century washboards, the ridges were often of wood; by the 20th century, ridges of metal were more common. A "fluted" metal washboard was patented in the United States by Stephen Rust in 1833. Zinc washboards were manufactured in the United States from the middle of the 19th century. In the late 20th century and early 21st century, ridges of galvanized steel are most common, but some modern boards are made of glass. Washboards with brass ridges are still made.

Doll sized washboards for play only.
Not for submerging in actual water!

Supply List:

• corrugated cardboard and smooth cardboard
  
• Popcycle sticks
• silver acrylic paints
• faux wood scrapbook paper (optional) or
  grey or brown acrylic paints
• white school glue
• glue gun and hot glue
• Mod Podge
  

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. First, you will need to cut one piece of smooth cardboard the size of the washboard you intend to make. If the cardboard is not stiff, double it's thickness by gluing multiples together using white school glue. 
2. Press these layers together, until dry, under a stack of heavy books.
3. Now cut Popcycle sticks to hot glue a wide frame around the washboard. The two longest sides should extend beyond the 'washboard' to shape 'feet' by 1/2 inch. See photo above.
4. Cut two more shorter washboard metal flutes from the corrugated cardboard. 
5. Peal away the top layer of this cardboard to reveal the fluted or rippled flat sides of the corrugated cardboard. Glue these sections inside the frames, both on the back and front of the faux, doll 'washboard.'
6. I then covered the smooth wooden frames and the cardboard areas above the fluted cardboard with white glue and faux wooden scrapbook paper. This step is optional. Some of you may prefer to paint the same areas brown or grey instead.
7. Next paint the fluted cardboard silver or pewter to give your mini washboards a galvanized metal patina.
   

Alicia demonstrates how pioneers did the laundry...

 

100 year old ad claims "Pearline" will replace washboard.