The California Gold Rush provided tremendous opportunity and prosperity. However, it was also a difficult time, particularly for the men who migrated to California in search of gold. One of the most serious issues they encountered was a lack of women.
During the Gold Rush, there were very few women in California, and those that were there could charge exorbitant amounts for their services, including laundry. The men considered doing their own washing was beneath them, so they would ship their filthy clothing all the way to Hong Kong or Hawaii and wait 3 to 6 months for them to be returned.This was a major nuisance, but the guys felt it was worth it to have clean clothes.
The scarcity of women in California during the Gold Rush was a serious issue, but that didn't stop the men from devising ways to keep their garments clean.