Thrifted Washboard Farmhouse Makeover

February 07, 2022

Photo of a vintage, well used washboard.

I found this rustic, vintage glass and wood washboard at the local thrift shop recently.

It was used a lot and pretty hard from the looks of it!

(When you click on the bold Amazon, Old Sign Stencils or Dixie Belle Paint Company affiliate links you will be taken to the products I used for this project. If you order it does not change the price or service at all. As an Amazon Affiliate, Old Sign Stencils Affiliate or Dixie Belle Paint Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)

Photo of a vintage washboard being cleaned in the kitchen sink.

I scrubbed the washboard in my kitchen sink with hot soapy Dawn dishwater.

I used a shish kabob stick to pull the dried clothing lint out from along the sideboards.

Photo of a wooden shish kabob skewer being used to clean lint out of a vintage washboard.

The shish kabob stick worked pretty well, and I was able to pull most of the lint out.

Photo of Weathered Wood Accelerator being applied to the wood on an old washboard.

When the washboard had dried, I brushed on a coat of Rust-Oleum Varathane Weathered Wood Accelerator in Gray

The Weathered Wood Accelerator evened out the wood tone and gave it a grayish tint. I have used this product a lot, and really like it.

Photo of Redesign With Prima's Everyday Farmhouse decor transfer.

Next, I pulled out the remaining decor transfer pieces from my Redesign With Prima, Everyday Farmhouse. I have used many of the transfer parts on a variety of rustic farmhouse projects in the past.

This transfer is retired, but is still available at various online retailers on Etsy and others as well.

Photo of a farmhouse decor transfer being added to a washboard.

The Rosewood Farm portion of the transfer fit my washboard pretty well.

I pulled of the paper backing and centered the transfer onto the washboard. I rubbed the transfer onto the board using the rectangular stick provided in the transfer tube.

Always, always, always, pull up the clear top sheet carefully just in case your transfer is not completely stuck down and you need to rub it more.

Photo of Dixie Belle's Big Mama's Butta being used to wax a vintage washboard.

If you look at the top board on my washboard, you can see I started applying Dixie Belle's Big Mama's Butta with a rag. The dried out wood loved the wax, and you will love the scent of the wood after application. I used Flannel scent.

Dixie Belle says to enhance wood grain and revive, soften and protect leather and other surfaces with Big Mama's Butta! This unique blend of all natural Hemp Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Beeswax and Carnauba Wax is buttery, water-resistant and easy to apply!

Photo of a metal container from Hobby Lobby.

I then found this divided metal container from Hobby Lobby in my crafting stash. This container is regularly priced at $10.99, but of course I purchased it a 50% off just for a project like this.

I wanted to attach the container to the middle bottom of the washboard. Since I was concerned about breaking or cracking the glass with the drill or screws, I enlisted my husband's help on the project.

He carefully attached the divided container with two short screws.