Vintage Ideas For House-Cleaning

Frugal Housekeeping Ideas
The Thrifty Kitschy Housewife

There really is no need to spend oodles of money on household products to keep your house in tip top shape or free of unwanted visitors. Just grab a cup of tea and read this post and you will be well on your way to becoming a nifty thrifty housewife.

To Kill Moths in Carpets:

On the floor, spread a cold, damp cloth on the carpet, iron it with a hot iron, and the steam thus caused will kill the moths.

To Clean Soiled Wallpaper:

Take half a loaf of bread and gently rub the soiled portions, working allways in a downward direction. As soon as the bread is soiled cut off a thin slice.

To Drive Away Red Ants:

Keep a small bag of sulfur in the drawers or closets they frequent, and they will disappear.

From "Household Hand Book" by Edwardian expert
Lily Haxworth Wallace, early 1920s.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Tips Every Frugal Retro Housewife Needs To Know About Keeping Home

Retro Reliable Household Advice The Thrifty Kitsch Household Series

If you have not completed a proper degree in household management, than this post is sure to help you become the frugal housewife you always wanted to be. Thanks to experts like the esteemed Gold Medalist (Flour) gal, Lily Haxworth Wallace, we have lots of retro reliable advice.

Things Worth Knowing About Managing Your Household

To Avoid Slipping on Icy Sidewalks:

Cut good sized discs of felt and attach these with rubber cement to the soles of a pair of rubbers. Two sets will probably last all winter and the feeling of safety is wonderful.

To Wash Water Bottle

That have become stained,put in newspaper torn into shreds, then half fill with hot soapy water in which has been dissolved a little washing soda, Let stand for about a half hour, shaking occasionally. Rinse with clear water, drain and dry.

To Prevent Salt From Lumping:

Mix it with cornstarch in the proper proportions of three teaspoons of cornstarch to one cup of salt.

Rag Bags:

In an upstairs closet or store room, have several bags of varying sizes, in which may be placed as they accumulate, pieces of dress materials, trimmings, old cotton and linen for repairing, etc. It is a good plan to have the bags made of a piece of the same kind of material that they are to contain, so that no time may be lost in searching for the right one.

To Clean a Sponge:

That has become slimy and unpleasant, soak it in milk for several hours, wring out and rinse thoroughly in warm water to which has been added a teaspoon of carbolic acid.

A Few Drop Of Oil of Lavender:

Scattered through a book case, in a closed room, will save a library from mould (sic) in damp weather .

Photo are the courtesy of :
Kelley Street Vintage
http://johnhlavinka.blogspot.com/
http://www.collectibles-articles.com/

Let us know if you try any of these tips and remember these are the household hints of an Edwardian expert.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

How To Remove Stains From Clothing: Thrifty Retro Housewife Ideas

Stain Remover Tips:
The Thrifty Kitschy Housewife Series

This post should help all of you Retro gals finally figure out how to get stubborn stains out of your laundry. Back in the day... laundry work was a real pain. so housewives had to perfect the art of washing and caring for clothes with home remedies, using such things as tomato juice, salt, lemon etc. All the zillion products that we find in the stores today to help us cope with nasty stains just didn't exist in early homes.

So, I have searched this topic and now share with you the wisdom of Lily Haxworth Wallace, an expert on Home Management back in the early 1920s. (Tomato jar photo is from a wonderful blog called Oodle a Kadoodle Primitives


Laundry Work: Removing Stains From Clothing

To Remove Tea And Coffee Stains:
Stretch the stained place over a bowl and pour boiling water through the strain.

To Remove Ink Stains:

While fresh soak in milk, sing fresh milk as it becomes discolored. If the stain has been allowed to dry use salts of lemon, first wetting the spot, then rubbing the salts on and rinsing well with cold water. It may sometimes be necessary to repeat the process.

To Remove Wine or Fruit Stains:

Put a layer of salt on the stain as soon as made and treat with boiling water the same as for tea stains.

Delicate Woolens:

Soft sweaters and babies garments which will not perfectly survive the most careful washing can be cleansed by a dry washing in wheat flour. Rub and squeeze in the flour just as you would in water, but work gently. Shake out the soiled four and if needful go over the garment again with fresh flour. By this method the garments do not lose their shape and are ready for use as the cleansing process is completed.

Automobile or Carriage Grease:

Grease can be removed from silks and fabrics which will not stand washing, by covering them with magnesia (powdered) rubbing it well into the fabric and letting it remain for two or three days. Brush out and remove any clinging powder with a soft cloth.

Grass Stains:

Wash the stained part in alcohol and rinse in clear water, while the stain is fresh, if possible.

Perspiration Stains:

Should be removed by rubbing with soap and laying the garment in the hot sun.

Machine Oil Stains:

Should be rubbed with soap and cold water. Hot water may make these stains permanent.

To Remove Mildew:

Rub over the marks with juice of a raw tomato, sprinkle with salt and lay in the sun. repeat the process if necessary two to three times.

Remember: These hints are from the early 1920s.....I am only the messenger not the laundry maven who came up with these tips. By gosh, I barley know how to turn on my washer and dryer!

Please let us know if you try any of these gems.

Photos shown are from these great blogs:

http://oodlekadoodleprimitives.blogspot.com/2010/08/canning-week-tomato-soup-recipes.html
http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelleystreetvintage
http://mycountryhomedecor.com/pro1054207.html
http://www.sportingcollectibles.com/kitchenalia.html

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Fresh Frugal Ways To Preserve Lemons

Preserving Food Tips For Retro Homemakers
The Thrifty Kitschy Housewife Series

Are you keeping your FISH LEMONS CHEESE mixed in with your milk or butter? Shame on you. You clearly are not running a well run kitchen! Read on and you will see just how you should be preserving your strongly flavored food

Learn From A Vintage Balabusta

I know something about this topic because while I'm buried in SNOW (and can't go out hunting for antiques and collectibles) , I have been reading every page of "Household Hand Book", a booklet published long, long , long ago. I am becoming such a kitchen maven . My secret source is Lily Haxworth Wallace, A Edwardian Era balabusta. I am actually picking up a lot of useful information from this properly prepared award winning homemaker, author, lecturer.

So, I will share with you her ideas about FISH LEMONS CHEESE

"or any strongly flavored food, should not be placed in the same compartment with milk or butter.

Steps To Preserving Lemons The Old Fashioned Way By Lilly Haxworth Wallace

"1. A kitchen economy is to grate the rinds from lemons as soon as the come in from the store,or at any any rate while they are still fresh.

2, Add an equal quantity of sugar, place in small jars and cover closely.

3. The fresh flavored essential oil is preserved, and the lemon rind is ready for use when needed for frosting pies or puddings or for flavoring , instead of being wasted as is so often the case where only lemon juice is called fro in a recipe.

4. Incidentally, the lemon juice, mixed with thick sugar will also keep for several weeks if kept tightly closed and in a cool dry place."

If you try this, let us know how things turn out. Remember this post is based on Lily's ideas .

By the way, Lily Haxworth Wallace was the author of Rumford Cook Book and a dozen other books on cooking and home management. According to a blog called "On Food and History" Lilly emigrated to the United States from England in 1900. She was a specialist in home economics and lectured and taught cooking skills to women throughout the country.

Lemon Pie Recipe

2 Tbsp. corn starch

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup boiling water

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 Tbsp. butter

2 eggs

Salt

Grated rind 1/2 lemon

2 Tbsp. sugar

Combine corn starch and 3/4 cup sugar. Add water slowly, stirring constantly. Cook over hot water, stirring constantly, until thick and smooth. Add slightly beaten egg yolks, butter, lemon rind and juice, and a few grains salt. Cook 2 minutes. Pour into baked pastry shell. Cover with meringue made of the egg whites and 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake in slow oven (325 F.) 20 minutes.

Read More about Lemon desserts:

http://joyofdesserts.blogspot.com/

http://www.chroniclebooks.com/index/main,book-info/store,books/products_id,2126/title,Luscious-Lemon-Desserts/

Top image courtesy of http://joyofdesserts.blogspot.com/
Juicer photo is courtesy of http://augustvintage.blogspot.com

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Funky Frugal Ways to Clean Kitchenwares

Cleaning Tips For Retro Housewives
The Thrifty Kitschy Housewife Series

Skip the Brillo ...hello potatoes....clean with potatoes?....now that is a really kitschy GREEN way to be a frugal mom (dad) and "housewife" .Yes I said you can clean with potatoes and even bread.
Imagine that, I have just discovered a new use for all the crusty bread sitting on my kitchen counter. Hang in there...this will all become clear in just a moment.

I am watching the snow fall....again...and I have stumbled across some totally fruity ideas that appear to have worked in kitchen back in the day. I'm not saying that these pearls of wisdom will work for everyone......but if you are still using older pots and pans or like kitchen collectibles...you may want to keep some of these tips handy.

If you try any of these ideas......let us know..

To Clean Aluminum:

use a fine metal or silver polish. Use nothing that will scratch it. If food should scorch in an aluminum pan, cover the burned area thickly with salt. Let stand for several hours, rinse and use more salt to rub off the scorch.

To Clean Copper or Brass:

if copper or brass is very dirty, put some fine salt on a plate, dip into it a cut lemon and rub on the metal. The strong acid will remove the worst stain.

Metal Coffee Pots:

should always be bright on the inside to insure good coffee. By occasionally boiling soap, water and washing soda in them they will be kept in excellent condition.

To Clean Rusty and Blackened Knives:

use half a raw potato dipped into brick dust.


To Clean A Frying Pan:

rub with a hard crust of bread, and wash with hot water and washing soda. Never scrub it or the next food fried in it will be be likely to stick.

Saucepans and Baking Dishes:

should be filled with cold water immediately after using, so as to prevent fragments clinging to them. By doing this they may be cleansed in half the time otherwise required.

Source: Edwardian Era Booklet "Household Hand Book " By Lilly Haxworth Wallace

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Monday is Wash Day: Hints For Thrifty Housewives

The Proper and Systemic Method of Doing Housework
The Thrifty Kitsch Housewife Series

Back in the day, many pamhlets and booklets were published to help women conduct the proper and systematic method of of of doing housework! Lily Haxworth Wallace, a Gold Medalist Graduate of the National Training School of Cookery compiled a booklet for Rumford Baking Powder on how to run a well planned household.
(Edwardian Era).

"Monday: Although it is the habit of many to wash on Monday, and while this method has much to recommend it, it has also some disadvantages, the principal ones being that it necessitates either soaking the clothes on Sunday, or leaving them in the water from Saturday night, neither of which is advisasble (sic)."

Tips On How To Put The House In Order On Wash Day

Monday is the day to keep free. Monday is the day "that the average house will be found to need rather more thorough attention".


1. Sort linens and mend holes before washing.
2. Keep Monday for doing needlework, repairs, etc.
3. Have the maid boil clothes while breakfast is prepared.
4. The Mistress must undertake the care of the bedrooms and also wash the breakfast dishes, so the maid can devote all her time and attention to the washing.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Using A Piece Of Oil Cloth As A Kitchen Backsplash

Oh The Wonders Of Oil Cloth
The Thrifty Kitschy Housewife Series

Here is a neat idea which I discovered in a booklet from the early 1900's about using oil cloth as a protective wall covering behind sinks and stove.

Using A Piece Of Oil Cloth As A Backsplash

"If the wall around the kitchen sink is not tiled, put a large piece of thin table oilcloth on it.
fitted carefully around the sink itself, fastened with thumb tacks, or better, if possible, with a narrow molding which will hold closely to the wall. Splashings of water or grease can be wiped from the oilcloth much more easily than from the wall"

Source: Household Hand Book By Lily Haxworth Wallace undated

Photo courtesy of http://oilcloth.com/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists