Household chores have evolved over decades and more so with the introduction of technology to make life easier. To baby boomers, most of the things they needed to do on a daily basis took time, physical efforts and patience- long before short cuts and appliances were popular. These were just the tasks of growing up and they were frequently performed without any protests as there has always been no other way out. In retrospect, they are virtually unbelievable nowadays, but they have created strong habits and a rich sense of responsibility. These are domestic tasks that baby boomers can only recall having done the hard way.
Hanging Clothes to Dry in the Open Air
Prior to the installation of electric dryers, laundry day had to be taken to the outside of the house and wet clothes loaded up and clashed to long clotheslines. Weather was an issue, time was an issue and rushing to have clothes gathered before it rained was common. The new smell of the sun-dried sheets was a silent payoff on the work.
Ironing Clothes, Even Informal
Even on daily clothes wrinkles were not tolerable. Shirts, trousers, handkerchiefs, pillow clothes, and even underclothing were likely to pass through a hot iron. Ironing boards were left unattended throughout the day and sometimes small burns on fingers were almost necessary.
Beating Rugs Outdoors
The vacuum cleaners were not always as powerful and accessible always; therefore, the rugs were brought outside and beaten, using the metal beaters or wooden beaters. The dust was so thick and the dirt was so gradually oozing out in the air as the arms ached, and the lungs laboured.
Hand washing of Dishes after each meal
Dishwashers were uncommon and each plate, pot as well as glass was cleaned manually. The kitchen sink was dominated by hot water, soap, and elbow grease and children were given the task of drying them right after meals.
Defrosting Refrigerator by hand
Freezers would accumulate large layers of ice which were chipped out by hand. The floor was covered by towels, food kept in coolers, and patience was necessary to ensure that nothing is done to spill over and break the appliance.
Polishing Furniture by Waxing
Wood furniture used needed regular polishing to keep it shiny and in order to avoid drying up. This consisted in smearing surfaces with thick wax and polishing away indefinitely until the arms got sore and the room reeked of polish.
Cleaning Floors More Than Once in a Day
In the absence of the modern vacuum, cleaning was something that was done all the time. Simple brooms were used to pick up crumbs, dust and dirt, and this frequently was done multiple times a day, particularly in large families with children and pets.
Washing delicate clothes
Certain materials were far too delicate to be washed in the washing machine and they were thoroughly handwashed in tubs or sinks. It was a process that required time and attention which is hard to find in many individuals today.
Shaking Dust off the Heavy Curtains
Curtains were pulled down, taken out in the air and beaten fiercely to break the dust. Having them washed was a very tedious and infrequent affair, and it was only done in the context of periodical deep cleaning as opposed to daily maintenance.
Heavy Blankets Daily Making Beds
Mornings were used in making the beds tight with heavy bedspreads and thick blankets. Curved lines and sharp edges were not optional and inevitable, and untidy beds were promptly spotted.
Heating Water for Baths
Some houses had to have their hot water manually heated. Water was boiled and transported with a lot of care to tubs making bath time a well-coordinated activity instead of a routine daily activity.
