A launderer, perhaps, used to be female (6)
I believe the answer is:
washer
'a launderer' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'used to be female' is the wordplay.
'used to be' becomes 'was' (eg 'he was...' means 'he used to be...').
'female' becomes 'her' (I've seen this in another clue).
'was'+'her'='WASHER'
'perhaps' is the link.
(Other definitions for washer that I've seen before include "Cleaner" , "Metal ring - cleans clothes" , "Seal preventing leakage" , "Rubber ring securing joint" , "Metal disc for hawser" .)