Text A: Wash Day Long Ago
Long ago, before washing machines, washing clothes was hard work. It took most of a day. Many families did their washing once a week, and the whole family often helped.
First, people carried water from a well or a pump. They often heated the water in big pots over a fire. Next, they put the clothes in a tub with soap. They rubbed each piece up and down on a washboard, a board with bumpy ridges. Rubbing helped get the dirt out of the cloth.
Then the clothes were rinsed in clean water. People twisted them to squeeze out the water. Last, they hung the clothes on a line to dry in the sun and wind.
Text B: How a Washing Machine Works
Today, many homes have a washing machine. It does most of the hard work for the family.
First, a person puts dirty clothes and soap into the machine and pushes a button. Pipes bring water into the machine. In many machines, a big metal tub called a drum turns back and forth. It tumbles the clothes through the soapy water. All that moving helps get the dirt out.
Next, the dirty water drains away, and clean water rinses the clothes. After that, the drum spins very fast to push water out of the clothes through small holes. Last, the damp clothes often go into a dryer, which tumbles them in warm air.
