I Tried A 1950s Cleaning Schedule But Learned Something About My Grandmother Instead

Even though she wasn’t here to share the wisdom in person.

I might be one of those rare birds who actually enjoys cleaning, to an extent. Even as a child, I reveled in tidying up, vacuum lines in the carpet, and a perfectly made bed. I carried this with me through college and into adulthood, where my relationship with cleaning supplies and the process in general started to waver once I began trying to balance a perfectly put-together home with work and a family. It was completely unrealistic and quickly sucked the joy right out of something that at one time was an unlikely form of stress-relief. In came the professional housecleaners and I never looked back.

Years later, the housekeepers are no longer on the payroll and I’m in a place where I am once again finding little bits of joy amidst daily house upkeep. What’s changed? My work hours, most notably, but also that little nagging voice in my head that yearns—no, demands—perfection. What once was an obstacle to allowing others to help, has come under new management, finally allowing the rest of the family to jump in on the action without fear of being micromanaged.

Just in time to have this full-circle moment, I decided to give a 1950s cleaning schedule a try. [Because that makes sense, right?] But, in my current place of moderation, I didn’t jump into this little experiment with an all-or-nothing attitude. It was all about modification.

Related: I Tried The 6/10 Cleaning Method And Now I'm A Believer

The Basics

While I didn’t work off one specific 1950s cleaning schedule, I took my knowledge of everything I know about the housekeeping methods of yesteryear, paired with memories of how my grandmother kept her home and schedule, and morphed it into something that would work for a modern home and lifestyle. The daily tasks were more numerous than my typical day and the weekly tasks also more time consuming. All in all, even a moderate approach was like 12-hours of rigorous cardio.

I only made it a day and I didn’t sit down until 7:45 p.m.

The Morning Tasks

There are a variety of 1950s cleaning schedules to choose from. Peruse Pinterest and you’ll find countless checklists that simplify the process. Turning down beds and opening curtains and windows are where many of them start. Note: I did not say “make beds” as the turning down portion was an early morning essential. Making breakfast for the family, cleaning up breakfast, and tidying the kitchen all came in quick order but, once the morning meal was handled, it was down to business.

The daily tasks were similar to many of the things you might expect, even in a modern household. Wiping off surfaces, opening curtains, making beds, and tidying messes were all in a day’s work but, that’s where the fun began. There was daily laundry, which, I am certainly not against as I firmly believe a load a day keeps a scary laundry room at bay, but it was more exhaustive than my usual routine. Every load would be seen through from start to finish, so that meant daily ironing, too.

The fridge required daily attention with a fast purge and wipe down, plus trash throughout the home would be collected and taken out each morning. Attention to details like soap dispensers, toilet paper rolls, and tissue supplies were key. Each being replaced or filled as required.

Floors would get a quick sweep with areas that required heavier foot traffic being more thoroughly cleaned and perhaps even mopped daily. Sofa cushions, pillows, and throws would be fluffed and tidied and nearly all surfaces would receive a quick dusting.

By now it would be 9:05 a.m. Just kidding. For me, this list required a full morning (from 7:45 until 12:30 with a quick 30-minute workout thrown in) and even then I didn’t make it to everything. Because it was a hard stop for me due to preschool pickup, I had to make a few concessions which included skipping lunch because who has the time when there are 5 million tasks to get done by noon? A smoothie in the carpool line was all I had time for as far as sustenance.

The Afternoon Tasks

From what I understand, the afternoons were left a little more open than the mornings. Visits from neighbors or other friends and family were more common and it also allowed time for dinner prep. This worked well with my schedule since I usually have various activities already in the schedule between the preschool pickup and big-kid pickup an hour and a half later. It’s imperative to be set with dinner groceries and supplies ahead of time as mornings will no longer be your own once they are taken over by the clean machine that is the 1950s housekeeping schedule.

Related: 5 Things Grandma Did Every Day That Deserve A Comeback

The Evening Tasks

After dinner, closing the house for the night would include making sure the kitchen was entirely tidy (including floors) and everything was put away. One last look around the house to ensure no errant toys or items were strewed about but, instead all tucked away in their rightful place was last on the list—at which point one could collapse in a heap on the floor.

The Takeaways

While we have modern-day appliances that can speed up daily chores (washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, etc.) there are certain factors that are working against us, too. Larger homes, for one, and overloaded schedules, for two. While I was able to make it to do the daily tasks, adding one of the larger jobs like wiping down all the floor boards, dusting the light fixtures, or cleaning the outside windows was not a realistic add to my to-do list.

But, even with this major shortcoming, my home still felt much cleaner, smelled fresher, and honestly felt even a tad bit more peaceful at the end of the day. It’s definitely an unrealistic ideal for this point (and perhaps century) but I can see the appeal. A 1950s cleaning schedule can definitely help if you’re truly a cleaning novice or need a full deep clean before the holidays and/or have house guests coming—plus, have the time to put in. Once again, it can also act as a starting point that can be customized to suit your needs and that of your home.

A while ago I was listening to a podcast where the host warned against making an idol of a clean house, and I took that to heart. While I love the thoughtfulness in creating a warm and inviting home, I know I definitely have a talent for over emphasizing things that, in the grand scheme of things, are truly trivial. While I set out on this experiment aiming to do it exactly by the book, I quickly realized how unrealistic that really was for my current phase of life—something I’m sure my grandmothers would have also encouraged me to consider had I been able to discuss this with them. I am sure they would have warned against trying to make anything perfect, let alone a home that’s full of life.

While giving a much greater attention to detail and working at a tiring speed were (dare I say) a nice change of pace, what I’m taking with me is another renewed look at what balance means in 2024—and how home will always be where the heart is, just as my grandmother would have wanted. Even if there are finger prints on the windows.

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