Scrubbing Collection

They say cleanliness is next to Godliness - but I say its next to impossible. A young child fails to clean their grimy knees no matter how hard they scrub! Date: 1933

Young woman washing clothes at a sink
A young woman at a kitchen sink washing clothes using a washboard. There is a stack of four dinner plates waiting to be washed up, a kettle, and a tin of One-O-One which cleans without scratching

Advert / Calverts Carboli
CALVERTs CARBOLIC SOAP for floors

Washing Board
A photograph demonstrating the use of a scrubbing board in a tub during washday in the early 20th century

The Poor Washerwoman - Henri Clark - Music Sheet
The Poor Washerwoman - sung with typhoons of applause by Henri Clark - Music Sheet, written by Walter Hadtings and composed by W. T. Webb

Boy Scouts cleaning street sign, London
Two Boy Scouts cleaning a street sign in Downshire Hill, Hampstead, north-west London during Scout Job Week. In their spare time

Model Maid-Of-All-Work
The model maid of all work is kept busy in the scullery cleaning boots, boiling kettles and pans, and responding to the bells that are constantly rung for her

Young Navy cadets in Gravesend 1944
Young Navy cadets training for the seas by scrubbing the decks of this steamer in Gravesend. Nearby will be HMS Gordon, a Navy school on land

Scrubing Doorstep / 1920S
A Charwoman, who goes to work in her motorcycle and side car, kneels whilst scrubbing the steps of no. 47

Routing the "Cooties", 1918. Creator: Bain News Service. Routing the "Cooties", 1918
Routing the "Cooties", 1918. American soldiers scrubbing a soldier's back in St. Nazaire, France during World War I.

Demon with Temple Guardian in Bath, Mid-19th century. Creator: Miwa School
Demon with Temple Guardian in Bath, Mid-19th century

U.S.S. New York, washing clothes, between 1893 and 1901. Creator: William H. Jackson
U.S.S. New York, washing clothes, between 1893 and 1901

U.S.S. New York, scrubbing down, between 1893 and 1901. Creator: William H. Jackson
U.S.S. New York, scrubbing down, between 1893 and 1901

Woman scouring a vessel, 1631-1677. Creator: Willem van Odekercken
Woman scouring a vessel, 1631-1677. Other Title(s): Woman scouring a vessel

The Caldron Scrubber, 1808-1810. Creator: Abraham van Strij
The Caldron Scrubber, 1808-1810

Madame Leroux'; By Francis Eleanor Trollope; Whereapon the housemaid said she know'd the young man Creator
Madame Leroux'; By Francis Eleanor Trollope; Whereupon the housemaid said she know'd the young man wasn't waiting there for nothing, and set them down as a couple of sweethearts, 1890

The Kitchen (oil on canvas)
NGW239405 The Kitchen (oil on canvas) by Gilman, Harold (1876-1919); National Museum Wales; National Museums & Galleries of Wales

A housewife stoning the steps in Nelson Street, Manchester. 1st December 1961

Washboard for scrubbing laundry in the 1800s
Woman reenactor doing laundry with a washboard, living history demonstration, Shiloh National Military Park, Tennessee. Digital photograph

British Navy sailors swabbing the decks

Salvation Army Shelter, Blackfriars Road, London
Men scrubbing floors at the Salvation Army Shelter, Blackfriars Road, London Date: 1897

The Cleaning Lady (oil on canvas)
490030 The Cleaning Lady (oil on canvas) by Baes, Firmin (1874-1945); 138.2x113.2 cm; Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium; © Art in Flanders

The Troll Washing His Kid, 1905 (coloured pencil on paper)
OVR358724 The Troll Washing His Kid, 1905 (coloured pencil on paper) by Kittelsen, Theodor Severin (1857-1914); 35x25 cm; Private Collection; Photo © O. Vaering

The Brine Bath on board a prison hulk in the early 19th century. The brine bath aka coffin bath was where the prisoners were put after being flogged

Washers on the Bank of the River; Laveuses au Bord de la Riviere, c
655847 Washers on the Bank of the River; Laveuses au Bord de la Riviere, c.1877-1881 (oil on panel) by Boudin, Eugene Louis (1824-98); 34.9x26.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

The Royal Naval Volunteers, a Cruise in HMS "Cherub"(engraving)
1053926 The Royal Naval Volunteers, a Cruise in HMS " Cherub" (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Royal Naval Volunteers)

Comic postcard, Little girl scrubbing the front step Date: 20th century

Comic postcard, Woman on holiday, then home again, from sea to tub Date: 20th century

The charwomen in the National Gallery. A cartoon about the conservation controversy at the National Gallery, after nine paintings were cleaned in the autumn of 1852

Study for St. Elisabeth and her confessor Conrad of Marburg in 1230 (w / c on paper) (see 372079)
BFM372085 Study for St. Elisabeth and her confessor Conrad of Marburg in 1230 (w/c on paper) (see 372079) by Janssen, Peter Johann Theodor (1844-1908); 28.4x29.2 cm; Marburger Alten Aula, Marburg

St. Elisabeth and her confessor Conrad of Marburg in 1230, 1903 (oil on panel)
BFM372079 St. Elisabeth and her confessor Conrad of Marburg in 1230, 1903 (oil on panel) by Janssen, Peter Johann Theodor (1844-1908); Marburger Alten Aula, Marburg

Laundresses, 1901 (oil on canvas)
SRM114390 Laundresses, 1901 (oil on canvas) by Arkhipov, Abram Efimovich (1862-1930); 97x66 cm; State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia; eState Russian Museum; Russian, out of copyright

The Scullery Maid, 1738 (oil on canvas)
HNT151897 The Scullery Maid, 1738 (oil on canvas) by Chardin, Jean-Baptiste Simeon (1699-1779); The Hunterian, University of Glasgow

The Compulsory Bath, illustration for Les Defauts Horribles, c
CHT173797 The Compulsory Bath, illustration for Les Defauts Horribles, c.1860 (colour litho) by Trim (Louis de Ratisbonne (1827-1900); Private Collection; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

The Washerwomen, 1906 (oil on canvas)
651307 The Washerwomen, 1906 (oil on canvas) by Monsted, Peder (1859-1941); 46.5x32.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Washerwomen. Peder Monsted (1859-1941). Oil on canvas

Preparation for married life: woman scrubbing a flight of stairs (colour litho)
5995984 Preparation for married life: woman scrubbing a flight of stairs (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Preparation for married life)

Plate 438. Setting Down Bucket and Preparing to Scrub, 1885 (collotype on paper)
3950489 Plate 438. Setting Down Bucket and Preparing to Scrub, 1885 (collotype on paper) by Muybridge, Eadweard (1830-1904); 30x26 cm; Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Landscape with washerwomen, 1873 (oil on canvas)
XIR386491 Landscape with washerwomen, 1873 (oil on canvas) by Boudin, Eugene Louis (1824-98); 37x58 cm; Musee d Orsay, Paris, France; (add.info.: Landscape in the lavender; ); French, out of copyright

The Holy Family at the washing place (etching)
3704982 The Holy Family at the washing place (etching) by Bourdon, Sebastien (1616-71); Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge

Advertisement, Brookes Soap (engraving)
1604893 Advertisement, Brookes Soap (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement, Brookes Soap)

A Quiet Night on Board Ship (engraving)
1061404 A Quiet Night on Board Ship (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A Quiet Night on Board Ship)

Advert for Sapolio cleaning soap 1887
Bar of soap Sapolio, and a scrubbing brush, helped this housewife keep her floors in proper shape! Date: 1887

The Naval Manoeuvres of 1893, Incidents during the Operation (engraving)
1063427 The Naval Manoeuvres of 1893, Incidents during the Operation (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Naval Manoeuvres of 1893)

Women washing clothes, Africa (b / w photo)
6033665 Women washing clothes, Africa (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Women washing clothes, Africa)

Three labels for the Bleu de E. Boilley brand of washing powder
CHT178341 Three labels for the Bleu de E. Boilley brand of washing powder, 1878 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; eArchives Charmet; French, out of copyright

Study of Washers at Eragny; Les Laveuses, etude, a Eragny, c. 1901 (oil on canvas)
826019 Study of Washers at Eragny; Les Laveuses, etude, a Eragny, c.1901 (oil on canvas) by Pissarro, Camille (1830-1903); 73x92 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Roman Interior, c. 1760 (oil on canvas)
3618018 Roman Interior, c.1760 (oil on canvas) by Fragonard, Jean-Honore (1732-1806); 48.9 x 59.4 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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"They say cleanliness is next to Godliness - but I say it's next to impossible. " In this captivating caption, we witness the timeless act unfold across various settings and eras. A young woman diligently washes clothes at a sink, her hands immersed in soapy water as she strives for spotless perfection. The advert for Calverts Carboli reminds us of the products that aid in our quest for cleanliness. A vintage washing board stands as a testament to the laborious task faced by washerwomen throughout history. Henri Clark's "The Poor Washerwoman" music sheet echoes their struggles and resilience, underscoring the importance of their role. Transporting us back to the 1920s, we glimpse a scene of a determined individual scrubbing a doorstep clean – an image that speaks volumes about pride and dedication. In Gravesend during 1944, young Navy cadets join forces in maintaining shipshape surroundings, embodying discipline and teamwork. Even Boy Scouts take part in upholding tidiness by cleaning street signs in London – teaching valuable lessons about civic responsibility from an early age. The Model Maid-Of-All-Work symbolizes domestic workers who tirelessly ensure every corner sparkles with freshness. British Navy sailors swabbing decks conjure images of maritime life where cleanliness is crucial not only for appearance but also for safety on board. At Salvation Army Shelter on Blackfriars Road in London, individuals find solace amidst challenging circumstances while still valuing hygiene. From past to present, these snapshots remind us that scrubbing transcends time and place; it represents our collective pursuit of orderliness and purity. Whether through personal diligence or communal efforts, each instance reveals how striving for cleanliness connects us all – bridging gaps between generations and fostering unity within diverse communities worldwide.