A Daily Schedule for a 50s Housewife

Every 50s housewife had a daily to-do list to help her keep the house clean and sparkling. If you’re stuck at home right now, throw a little retro into your life by following a housewife daily schedule. You might find that everything on the list is too much for one day, but just go at your own pace.

Something I’ve learned from my own experience is that the more I have to do, the faster I get each task done. You won’t be spending all day cooking and cleaning – unless you make a five-course meal for dinner every day.

While you may not follow every step on this list, you can certainly get some inspiration from this housewife schedule!

Morning Work

Once a housewife and her husband had woken up, she would throw back the covers to air the bed linens. Then she’d open the windows and blinds to air out the whole room before freshening up. She’d put breakfast together, much of which she had prepared the evening before.

A homemaker would take some time for herself to do a little exercise, shower, and do her hair and makeup. Once she was ready for the day, she would get a basket to help straighten up. Whenever she found something in a room that didn’t belong, she’d put them in a basket. Then she could redistribute them when she entered a new room.

A few other cleaning tasks included straightening up the living areas by picking up clutter, fluffing the pillows, and dusting. By this point, the beds would be aired so she could make them. While she was there, she placed dirty clothes in the hamper and hung up the other ones. Finally, the bathroom was quickly tidied up.

Kitchen Chores

Every meal was planned out ahead of time. That way, the current and the next day’s menu could be reviewed and compared to what was in the pantry. This allowed her to plan what to purchase or prepare ahead of time.

Even if it was only early in the afternoon, a 1950s housewife would start preparations for dinner, like making dessert. For example, a pie crust from scratch can be made ahead of time to cut down on the time to make the pie.

The kitchen would be cleaned thoroughly each day. That included everything from the refrigerator to the kitchen work surfaces. A homemaker disposed of the garbage every day.

In the 50s, housewives still used mainly cloths instead of paper towels. These needed to be rinsed and hung up to dry. Kitchen towels used for drying dishes and wiping down counters were replaced once a day.

If you’re coming back from the grocery store, you can wash any vegetables, wrap them, and put them away. Then put away the rest of the groceries. Mop or sweep the kitchen floor, and you’re done here! Once the kitchen work was done, a 50s housewife would take care of errands outside of the home. This could include:

• Correspondence
• Getting something fixed
• Volunteering
• Going to the post office
•  Bookkeeping
• A fun hobby

Afternoon Work

After a quick lunch, it’s time to start preparing food for dinner. Thaw any frozen meats or crisp the vegetables. That way, you can prepare something special for dinner. Set the table for dinner.

Part of a housewife daily schedule involved doing a weekly chore each day. This would usually be something bigger that didn’t need to be done every day. Spreading these chores out over the week made them more manageable.

This once-a-week task could have been something like polishing the bathroom fixtures with metal polish or replacing old flowers with fresh ones. A housewife in the 1950s might also clean the kitchen a little more thoroughly once a week. Every kitchen appliance, such as the oven or fridge, would be cleaned and disinfected. Garbage bins and bread boxes would both be scalded and disinfected.

Many guides for a 50s housewife suggest making the husband’s evening a little brighter. For example, if a wife’s day dress was plain, she was advised to change into something brighter. She’d also freshen up before her husband came home from work. That way, she would be ready to greet him “gayly.” If “the Mister” wanted drinks before dinner, she would set up a tray with cocktail equipment.

Finally, she’d arrange the living room so they could relax after dinner. That might include putting out her husband’s book, newspaper, and cigarettes. She would quickly sweep the floors and make sure that the entrance was clear.

Dinnertime and After

After the family finished dinner, a 1950s housewife cleared the table and washed up the dishes. To ensure that the pipes didn’t have any food debris in them, she would pour boiling water down them.

If her husband brought his own lunch to work, a homemaker would prepare and pack the meal. To help get the next day off to a great start, she would make sure that the breakfast foods were available and prepare anything necessary. Then the table would be set for the meal. Finally, she’d get to enjoy a relaxing evening with her husband and any children.

I want to hear from you! Would you try any of these tips? Don't forget to share on social media!