ImageHave you ever wondered how your grandmother kept a spotless home and prepared healthy, nutritious meals made from scratch? And she didn’t have the luxury of a washing machine, dishwasher or tumble dryer. Nevertheless, the kitchen floor was always scrubbed clean, and there was always a cheery welcome and a pot of tea.
We can learn a lot from older generations. Though few us would want to go back to the days of washing by hand and cooking over an open fire, there’s a lot to be said of the routines and methods of that time.
The Art Of Scheduling
Did you ever hear your grandmother talk about wash day? This was the day that the laundry was tackled. All items had to be washed by hand and hung out to dry. And during inclement weather, it was hung around the house on racks and clothes maidens. Most households had an allocated wash day, so everyone knew where they were up to. The same was true regarding household chores and meals. Your parents may have spoken about Friday being fish day or similar. And Tuesdays were for ironing, etc.
The fact was that there was a routine for everything. This was necessary in an era where everything took longer to complete and therefore had to be planned carefully. It’s useful to adopt some of these techniques in our own homes. Allocating a day to do the laundry alerts the household that items have to be put into the washing basket on time. It also helps in terms of planning. The majority of people can load the washing machine and then forget about it until the clothes are washed and spun. They can then be transferred to the dryer.
ImageScheduling other household chores is also practical. For example, tackling certain rooms on particular days, vacuuming two or three times a week, changing the beds on a Sunday, etc. However, you choose to set up your routine; the idea is that it is broken down into manageable chunks. Everyone knows where they’re up to and it is easy to plan and organize.
Planning in this way is also an economical way of living. Food can be planned over a week and bought during one shopping session. This negates the need to keep on going out to top up grocery items.
Maintenance
In your grandmother’s day, if something broke around the house, someone would know how to fix it. Ornaments and vases were glued together, cupboard doors were repaired, and drawers were sanded until they opened and closed smoothly again. Of course, they didn’t have the same appliances as we have today and so repair work was a little easier. But the make do and mend mentality is a good concept to adopt.
ImageIn order to function efficiently, homes need to be well-maintained. This extends to the exterior and garden. A little and often approach is desirable, as it avoids the necessity of spending large tranches of time on DIY, etc. Keep a monthly list of items to check and, if necessary, repair. Keep on top of appliances and enlist an efficient appliance repair service. When washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, etc. break down the whole system grinds to a halt.
Housework can be time-consuming and boring. Few people enjoy cleaning, grocery shopping, and doing the laundry. They would much rather be doing something fun or relaxing. Scheduling chores like your grandmother’s generation, planning weekly tasks and keeping on top of maintenance, help to operate an efficient and organized home. And this leaves plenty of time to do the things you enjoy.
