Vintage Homemaking

Forgive me for yet another post about the Vintage (mostly Victorian) woman’s weekly chores schedule.
This choice tidbit is found in Catherine and Harriet (Stowe) Beecher’s American Woman’s Home…
Monday, with some of the best housekeepers, is devoted to preparing for the labors of the week. Any extra cooking, the purchasing of articles to be used during [...]

from The New Housekeeping Efficiency Studies in Home Management
1912,1913

In The new housekeeping : efficiency studies in home management by Frederick, Christine, b. 1883 she lays out her weekly housekeeping schedule.
MONDAY - Brush up after Sunday, mend soiled linen, soak clothes, market for and prepare Tuesday meals in [...]

from The New Housekeeping Efficiency Studies in Home Management
1912,1913
(take with a grain of salt and do try to remember she did not have the internet, television, or mommy play groups)

Rise 6:30 o’clock.

Breakfast 7 o’clock.

Dress little boy; scrape and carry dishes to kitchen; air beds. Baby’s bath,

7:30 A. M.; the baby naps from 9 to 10 [...]

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 [...]

Monday - Wash Day
First let me go and give my washer and dryer a hug…
During the 19th and the early part of the 20th century Monday was known as washday or Blue Monday. Without the benefit of a washing machine, running water, hot water and ’stain lifters’, this meant time consuming duties such as lugging [...]