When we think of the 1950s we always think of an era that was beset with women’s rights issues and rightly so.
The term "1950s Housewife" always makes us shudder because it conjures up an image of a dolled up, smiling and doting wife who is ready to serve up dinner to her hard-working man, inside a sparkling house that she has been relentlessly scrubbing all day.
But with the recent uptake in interest in online cleaning/home décor and lifestyle accounts such as Mrs. Hinch, Stacy Solomon, Life at No. 2, and Ellen O’Keeffe... can I (cautiously) ask: Aren’t we all a little 1950s Housewife these days?!
Here is a list of household tips from the 1950s. Tell me you aren’t nodding along thinking, "I totally do that!"
Use more bins and clothes hampers
A wastebasket in every room, clothes hamper in the bedrooms and the bath - these will save you extra trips. And you won’t have to grumble at the family to keep paper and clothes picked up.
Use a handy basket
Keep a basket at the foot of the stairs, both in the basement and on the first floor. Then while you’re cleaning slip teddies and abandoned trucks – anything that belongs on the next floor in the basket. Then you can carry everything up in one step.
Keep your cleaning supplies with you
Save time on cleaning day by keeping your equipment in one spot. Carry cleaner, waxes, and polishes with you in a basket.
Clean the toaster regularly
In some cases, crumbs may store up moisture and cause rusting. Many toasters have removable crumb tray to make the job easy. Otherwise, carefully tilt the toaster on its side or turn it upside down. Unplug it, and be gentle.
You do a little bit every day
Each morning, spend about five minutes picking up each room. Then, with no signs of disorder, you can go on to other jobs. Or you can play hooky and know you won’t be caught with a messy house.
Reduce how much stuff you have
One of the best household tips is to go through your home, room by room. Consider honestly each article of furnishings and see if you can do better without it. You’ll be amazed at how much is unnecessary or troublesome in the average room, and you will find that a simplified room can be beautiful and comfortingly calm if well planned. Remember, the fewer unused things you have, the less you have to care for. Don’t load your home with trimmings that give little return for the care they need.
Keep your refrigerator clean and smelling fresh
Wash inside of the refrigerator with sudsy water once a week. Follow with a baking soda-water rinse (three teaspoons baking soda in a quart of warm water) to prevent odours.
Well? 7 out of 7? Let us know in the comments if you still use these household tips!
