Vintage Homemaking

There are three methods in general use of caring for cupboards. Some housewives prefer their cupboard shelves of bare wood, to be well scrubbed with soap and water at the periodical “turn-out.” Others cover all shelves with white American cloth, which only needs wiping over with a wet house-flannel; while still others prefer to dispense [...]

In 1921 The Priscilla Proving Plant was a home where the Priscilla’s Housekeeping magazine editors lived and worked to find the best ways to accomplish regular household tasks.
Here is shared the best (at the time) methods for caring for your home’s floors.
Just as the decorative beauty of a room hinges on the treatment of floor [...]

In the early 20th century homemaking was a common school course. By the time I ended up in school Home Economics had turned into more of a feasting class than learning anything practical.
Here is a lesson from the Ontario’s Teaching Manual for Household Management on washing the dishes.
Washing Dishes
Preparation for washing:
1. Put away the food.
2. [...]

I thought this was timely since I just bought one.
Godey’s Lady’s Book December 1867.
“It should be remembered that the pianoforte is susceptible of the change of temperature, and when tuned in one temperature will be out of tune in another.
Good and well made pianofortes will stand if they are tuned at proper periods.
Many [...]

You’ll find them listed as “Receipt Books” . Volumes originally meant to be cookbooks that came to mean much more as historical housewives journaled their homemaking tips, notes, and routines in them. We refer tto them these days as homemaking journals. Some were turned into volumes for purchase and others are only passed on from [...]

From what we know the Vintage Homemaker’s uniform always included an apron.
Used as a way to protect good clothing without having to wash too much the apron could be donned once again for the next day’s housework without worry of a few spills from the previous day’s toil.
The apron has long been the symbol [...]

Box Irons Heated Internally by Patent Artificial Fuel

Today most of our clothing is wash and wear, wrinkle free, or dry clean only. In the past Tuesday was the day to take all that was washed up on Monday and iron it to a becoming crispness. There was no benefit of wrinkle free fabrics in [...]

The dusting of a room during the Victorian era was serious business.
Here is a systematic list for dusting the parlor courtesy of …
TRIED AND APPROVED.
BUCKEYE COOKERY
AND
PRACTICAL HOUSEKEEPING.
COMPILED FROM ORIGINAL RECIPES
C.1887

The sweeping and dusting of a parlor seems simple enough, but is best done systematically.
“Dusters,” made of old prints, with which to cover books, statuettes, and [...]

THE CLEANING OF ROOMS

In the The American Woman’s Home
Catherine E. Beecher lays out an orderly manner of cleaning a room

 
 
General Rules for Cleaning a Room.
Dust and remove or put under cover small articles and bric-a-brac.
Dust or brush furniture; [...]

Fall
In October and November, it will be necessary to prepare for the cold weather, and get ready the winter clothing for the various members of the family. The white summer curtains will now be carefully put away, the fireplaces, grates, and chimneys looked to, and the House put in a thorough state of repair, so [...]