Possible Clues:

• Formerly female: next thing to a nut
• Metal ring - cleans clothes
• It used to be herself that used to be the next best thing to a nut
• Rendered sightless
• Joint-sealing ring
• Rubber ring securing joint
• Flat metal ring; cleanser
• That ring seems formerly female
• Cleaner used to be a woman
• There's just a nut beside this in the laundry, perhaps