Did you know that in the 1960s, the average American housewife spent about 56 hours per week on housework?1 Today, that number has decreased to just 18 hours. While modern conveniences have certainly made homemaking easier and less time-consuming, there’s still value in many of the traditional skills our grandmothers practiced.
From cooking from scratch to mending clothes, these vintage homemaking arts are not only practical but can also bring a sense of satisfaction and connection to a simpler way of life. In a world of endless consumer choices and disposable everything, embracing old-fashioned resourcefulness and creativity can lead to a richer and more intentional home life.
Here are 15 vintage homemaking skills that are still relevant and useful today.
1. Cooking from Scratch
Cooking meals from scratch using whole, unprocessed ingredients was the norm for previous generations of homemakers. Not only is homemade food often healthier and tastier than pre-packaged meals, but cooking from scratch can also save money.
Studies have shown that people who cook more of their own meals tend to have healthier diets overall, with higher intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.(ref) Cooking from scratch allows you to control the ingredients and avoid preservatives and additives. Plus, the act of preparing a meal can be a relaxing and creative outlet.
2. Baking Bread
The smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the house is one of life’s simple pleasures. While store-bought bread is convenient, nothing beats the flavor and texture of a homemade loaf.
Baking your own bread allows you to experiment with different grains, flavors, and shapes. It’s also often cheaper than buying artisan breads.
3. Canning & Preserving
Canning and preserving food is a valuable skill that allows you to enjoy the bounty of your garden or local produce year-round. Home canning can also be a more economical and eco-friendly alternative to store-bought canned goods.
According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, when properly done, home canning prevents food spoilage and can help retain nutrients.(ref) Common foods that can be preserved include jams, pickles, tomato sauce, and even meats. Learning proper canning techniques is essential for food safety.
4. Gardening
Growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs is a rewarding way to provide fresh, organic produce for your family. Even a small plot or container garden can yield an impressive harvest.
Gardening has many benefits beyond providing food. Gardening reduces stress, increases physical activity, and improves mental well-being. Planting a garden is also a great way to teach children about where food comes from and environmental stewardship.
5. Sewing & Mending
The ability to sew and mend clothes was once an essential homemaking skill. While clothing is now relatively cheap and disposable, mending can extend the life of garments and save them from the landfill.
Basic sewing skills allow you to hem pants, replace buttons, and repair tears. Visible mending, which uses contrasting thread or patches to highlight repairs, has even become a trendy way to add character to clothing. Sewing can also be a fun and inexpensive way to create custom home decor items like curtains and pillows.
6. Budgeting
Careful budgeting is a key aspect of running a household. People back then knew how to stretch a dollar and prioritize spending. In today’s consumer-driven world, these skills are more relevant than ever.
Creating a budget helps you track expenses, set financial goals, and find areas where you can cut back. You can avoid overspending and maximize your resources by budgeting for groceries, cleaning supplies, and home maintenance. Vintage budgeting tools like the envelope system can still be effective today.
7. Meal Planning
Planning meals in advance is a smart way to save time, reduce food waste, and ensure your family eats a balanced diet. Families often had a regular rotation of tried-and-true recipes that efficiently used ingredients.
Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated. List your family’s favorite dishes and build a weekly menu around them. Use leftovers and batch cooking to streamline meal prep. Planning ahead can also help you shop more efficiently and avoid impulse purchases.
8. Home Remedies
In the days before drugstores on every corner, homemakers often relied on home remedies to treat minor illnesses and injuries. Many of these traditional remedies, which use common ingredients like honey, herbs, and essential oils, are still effective today.
Of course, home remedies should not replace professional medical care for serious conditions. But for things like soothing a sore throat or easing a minor burn, DIY remedies can be a natural and inexpensive alternative to over-the-counter drugs. Learning about the healing properties of plants is a valuable homemaking skill.
9. Cleaning with Natural Ingredients
Homemakers from decades ago didn’t have access to the dizzying array of chemical-laden cleaning products available today. Instead, they used simple, natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice to keep their homes clean and fresh.
Not only are natural cleaning products often cheaper than commercial ones, but they are also better for your health and the environment. Many common household ingredients can be used to make effective all-purpose cleaners, window sprays, and drain uncloggers. You can avoid harsh chemicals and customize scents using essential oils by making your own cleaning products.
10. Repurposing & Upcycling
Thrifty homemakers knew how to make the most of what they had by repurposing and upcycling items. Before tossing something in the trash, they would find ways to reuse it or give it new life.
Repurposing is not only good for the planet, but it can also save you money and unleash your creativity. Old sheets can become cleaning rags, jars can be used to store pantry staples, and furniture can be refinished or painted for a new look. Embracing a “make do and mend” mentality is a valuable vintage skill in our disposable culture.
11. Composting
Composting kitchen scraps and yard waste is an age-old practice that old homemakers have used to reduce waste and nourish their gardens. Today, composting is enjoying a resurgence as more people strive to live sustainably.
Composting keeps organic matter out of landfills, where it releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Instead, composting transforms waste into nutrient-rich soil amendment that can boost garden productivity. Even if you don’t have a yard, indoor composting systems make it possible to compost in small spaces.
12. Handwashing Delicates
With the convenience of modern washing machines, the art of handwashing delicate clothing is becoming lost. However, knowing how to wash items like silk, wool, and lace properly can help them last longer and look their best.
Old-fashioned homemakers took great care with their clothing, often washing delicates in a basin with mild soap and cool water. Handwashing prevents damage from agitation and allows you to treat stains individually. It’s a slower process than machine washing, but it can be gentler on fabrics and more effective for heavily soiled items.
13. Home Organizing
An organized home runs more smoothly and efficiently. Space was limited before, so people had to be clever about storage and organization. Many of their tried-and-true tactics are still useful in today’s homes.
Decluttering regularly prevents buildup of unnecessary items. Designating a place for everything and putting things back where they belong keeps a home tidy. Using vertical space with shelving and hooks maximizes storage. Labelling also helps to keep things organized and easy to find.
14. Hospitality & Hosting
The art of hospitality was a point of pride. From hosting dinner parties to welcoming unexpected guests, people back then knew how to make people feel at home. In today’s fast-paced world, slowing down to connect over a shared meal or a cup of tea is more important than ever.
Honing your hosting skills doesn’t have to be intimidating. The key is to focus on making guests feel comfortable and welcome. Prepare simple, nourishing food, create a warm and inviting atmosphere, and be present and attentive to your company. Hosting large or small gatherings fosters a sense of community and belonging.
15. Resourcefulness & Creativity
Perhaps the most valuable vintage homemaking skill of all is a general sense of resourcefulness and creativity. Homemakers of the past had to be innovative and thrifty, often coming up with clever solutions using limited resources.
Cultivating a mindset of resourcefulness means looking for opportunities to make do with what you have, thinking outside the box, and being willing to experiment. It’s about valuing quality over quantity and finding joy in creating something yourself. In a world of endless consumer choices, embracing vintage resourcefulness can lead to a richer and more fulfilling home life.
While some vintage homemaking skills may seem quaint or old-fashioned, there is still much wisdom to be gleaned from the methods of the past. By selectively incorporating these skills into our modern lives, we can create homes that are not only functional and efficient but also nourishing and life-giving.
Source:
Read Next:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.