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

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