The Retro Cleaning Tool No One Uses Anymore (& 13 Ways To Repurpose It)

Just say the words "retro" or "vintage" these days and you elicit all kinds of romantic and nostalgic thoughts about the way people used to live. Although our idyllic visions of periods like the 1950s or the early pioneer days may not always be true to reality, they remain charming and comforting in our imagination. Many of the old houseware tools that people used back in the day have quite the allure for a variety of home decor styles, including old-school laundry room items nobody uses anymore. One of these is the washboard, a retro cleaning tool that can be reused in a surprisingly vast number of ways.

From long-forgotten laundry item displays and holiday decor to wall sconces and digital message boards, we found 17 creative ways to repurpose an antique washboard. If you're wondering what to do with an old washboard that you picked up at an antique store or thrift shop, these ideas can inspire you. Each allows you to craft an old washboard in your own personal style to make it a one-of-a-kind decorative item that oozes with yesterday's charm. There's even a DIY that turns an old wash tub into a rustic end table for even more vintage-inspired laundry room charm IN your home.

The most obvious solution for repurposing a vintage washboard is to turn it into a statement piece. Even if you only have one washboard, you have the beginning of a collection, and these seem to multiply their charm when displayed in a group. Of course, this idea works best in the laundry room, but if you're looking for mudroom ideas that will help you transform your space, that's another good place to display these where they'll have a little more visibility.

Upcycle a vintage washboard to add rustic charm to bathroom storage by turning it into a miniature cupboard. All you have to do is attach the washboard to a similarly sized set of shelves (store-bought or handmade) using hinges. Then, add a knob and you're in business. These work well hanging on the wall in a laundry room if you want a space to store small items. Or, if you make a miniature one with a tiny washboard, you could even use it on your kitchen countertop.

DIY lamp kits are a great way to turn almost anything vintage into a useful statement piece. By adding a light, it brings attention and purpose to the vintage washboard. One of the reasons this idea works so well is because the metal washboard is a natural light diffuser that brings texture and visual interest to your space. This idea is an obvious choice for a laundry room, but it also works for porches, rustic outdoor kitchens, or outdoor handwashing stations.

When it comes to decorating an old washboard for home decor, you have a lot of options. You could choose a Victorian style or use rice paper bird designs for decoupage. Or you could paint the wood frame using a nice green (consider SW 6194, the green paint alternative to sage that designers prefer) then add a botanical-themed design. Obviously this type of decor works well in a laundry room or mudroom, but no matter which room you choose to put it in, old washboards give off an old fashioned country vibe that appeals to many.

Add a couple of shelves and a rod to an old washboard and you have a great idea for a bathroom shelf. This idea would also work well in your laundry room to hold essentials and a hand towel next to your laundry sink. The small shelves can be made out of wire, upcycled from other thrift store finds, or made from a piece of trim. You could even skip the dowel and just add another shelf or a small planter. Once you figure out the mechanics, you can decorate it to match whichever room you decide to put it in.

Here's a retro washboard upcycling idea you can use for any room in the home, even a child's bedroom. String a line between the legs of the frame and use miniature clothespins to hang painted wooden letters, small decorative shapes, or photos. There's just so many ways you can use this idea, from spelling out a child's name to using value words like "love," "hope," or "family" to highlight what's important. Or, if you wanted to use this idea for holiday decor, you could make a clothesline featuring the clothing of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

You can turn an antique washboard into a charming planter shaped like a bed. Use the header of the washboard for the headboard, and if you cut the washboard in half, and fashion it to the foot of the bed, you have an adorable miniature bed-shaped planter. This could be filled with everything from succulents to petunias, but if we're already thinking outside of the box, let's go a step further and use it in an unexpected way, such as to hold linens, towels, or laundry room essentials.

If you're hesitant to cover the rustic charm of an old washboard with paint, you could leave it alone and simply repurpose it with festive holiday greenery and battery-operated lights. Hang it on the wall and enjoy it throughout the Christmas season. To make this idea more versatile, use LED lights that change colors and swap out the greenery in different seasons, allowing you to use the same piece all year round. You could use this retro holiday decorating idea for any room in the house or outside on the porch.

We came across many unique ways to repurpose an antique washboard, and some are definitely more unexpected than others. Case in point is this modern digital message board made from grandma's old washboard, as designed by YouTube creator Mosttorer. Completely restored, it has lights, eyes, and looks like a robot — but best of all, it's ingeniously connected to a smart home system, so it even talks. You can use the metal part of the washboard as a magnet board to leave notes and post important business cards, or add some hooks for a handy place to store your keys.

You can make DIY picture frames out of almost anything, and instead of just hanging a plain vintage washboard, this idea adds value by giving you more space to hang photos of your family and loved ones. Black and white or old-timey photos are a perfect choice for this idea, but you could really take this idea in any direction you want. This is another place you could add a mini clothesline to hang other images or mementos below the main photograph on the washboard.

If you're someone who likes a busy, eclectic vibe that includes a lot of thrift store finds, you might like this idea: use antique washboards on your laundry room cabinets. You can use this idea to display your entire collection, or mix and match antique houseware items for a rustic, cozy look. Keep them as-is, or give each one an upgrade to match your personal style. With the right upcycle, this idea could also work well for coffee stations, pet feeding areas, and pantries in your kitchen.

A rustic outdoor water feature, with or without nighttime lights, is another idea for upcycling an antique washboard. After preserving the wood and metal with a polyurethane spray, use a small pump to bring water to the top of the washboard and let it flow down the metal part. When you add a few lights to this design, it creates a soft tranquil glow and adds to your backyard's charm. This idea works exceptionally well if you have an old laundry tub for the basin of the water feature, but you can use anything for this purpose.

To make a jewelry organizer out of an old washboard, all you need to do is add some cuphooks and hang it on the wall. Whether you decorate it, or leave it as is, this idea can add rustic charm to your bedroom, powder room, or bathroom vanity. Consider adding a board at the bottom with wooden knobs, or employ some of the other ideas we've mentioned to make your jewelery organizer even more useful, such as adding a dowel, more cuphooks, or a faux clothesline to hang earrings or other small jewelry items.