Soak, boil, rinse and starch, that's how we did the washing

In those days gone by,

And then we'd hang it out to dry

On a line that stretched across the yard -

Did we ever think the work was hard?

 

The clothes prop man would come around

And if the prop were less than sound

It would be replaced in nothing flat.

Well, there was nothing wrong with that.

 

Monday was the washing day

With not a lot of time to play.

When all was dry we'd bring it in,

Then the damping down could begin.

 

For irons then did not have steam,

That was just a future dream.

With water in an old sauce bottle

With a holey lid, you could go full throttle.

The clothes rolled up for ironing day,

Work was organised that way.

 

Now washing machines have taken over,

The modern housewife is in clover.

Ironing soon will be obsolete

Drip-dry gear is the latest treat.