The first set of blanks in this flat can be filled in with a six-letter word that appears to be a compound word, but really isn't. The two other sets of blanks can be filled with the two three-letter words which make up the six-letter word.

Way back when, cleaning _ _ _ _ _ _ pieces
Of laundry was not fun.
It was hard work to scrub out the soil.
Then later, to _ _ _ them, we'd turn to the _ _ _.
An appliance now saves us the toil.

HINT:
_ _ _ _ _ _ means "various"

Answer:

SUNDRY 
DRY - SUN 

Credit:
The Enigma
January, 2020
A. CHEMEM