After scouring over the books I've chosen for the 1900's portion of the Half-Century Housewife Challenge (as well as many more I've found since), I've finally put together a basic foundation schedule to follow for the month's focus on that particular era. Admittedly it was difficult, however, given the emphasis on both urban living, and live-in domestic labor during this time. But I think I managed to pull together quite a good one for myself despite all that; and despite being based on a general set of guidelines, this is, of course, still tailored to myself and my own health, location, and available conveniences specifically.
In the first place, the house should never be so elaborate as to overtax personal effort and hamper the personal freedom and growth of any of its inmates; it should be so simple, so economically adapted to its inmates' means, that its maintenance shall always seem their lightest care.
In the second place, it should always be sufficiently comfortable and beautiful to furnish its occupants daily recuperation and encouragement; it must be so interesting, so bountifully adapted to its inmates' needs, that enjoyment of it shall always foster and further their higher life, inviting their return to it daily for solace and inspiration, as well as for rest and food. (Comfort and Exercise: An Essay Toward Normal Conduct; 1900)
⚶ Monday – The Average Day ⚶
To Rise: Rise early (06:00 am in Summer; 07:00 am in Winter) and perform a short workout immediately upon leaving the bed. Then a tepid bath is taken with brisk rubbing to stimulate the system- followed by a brief facial massage with an emollient cream. Lastly, dress in a neat and simple wrap dress suitable for the day's domestic work.
If you do not rise early, you can make progress in nothing. (Mrs. Beeton's Household Management; 1907)
Morning: A solid but small breakfast is had between 08:00 and 08:30 am (cleaning as you go between cooking and eating). Morning prayers to follow afterwards at 08:45 pm- after which the domestics begin; wear an apron and gloves if necessary:
- Any doughs should be prepped immediately so they have adequate time to rise before the day's baking.
- The table is cleared and the morning’s dishes are washed.
- Then the stove and counters are cleaned from the morning's cooking.
- The house is gone through so that beds are made and windows opened for airing.
- Towels and soiled clothes are gathered for laundering later in the week.
- Then the house is given a light tidying (including any minor sweeping and dusting).
- Any home decorating (such as flower arrangements) is done.
- Marketing should be completed- after which the food prep for the day is done.
- Lastly, the baking should be done; enough to tide over the household through Tuesday and Wednesday at the least.
Afternoon: Change into a second (clean) dress more suitable for receiving any visitors, with some light jewelry if desired, and take care of the hand hygiene properly.
Morning [social] calls demand good but neat attire [... yet] As a general rule, it may be said [...] it is better to be under rather than overdressed. (Mrs. Beeton's Household Management; 1907)
Afterwards, retire to the personal den for the afternoon duties. Here, do the household’s financial calculations and other bookkeeping- plus arrange the menu through till Wednesday at the least, and make up the Grocery List for tomorrow's marketing. For at least another half hour to hour afterwards, time should be dedicated to studying Homemaking or another closely related subject. Following that study, the final time should be allotted to any letter writing and personal reading or recreation as desired (this is a good time for a walk around the Garden for the suggested afternoon exercise, if there's time).
A medium luncheon should be served between 01:00 and 01:30 pm, with "social visiting hours" to acceptably commence after that.
Evening: Whatever is chosen for dinner, the cooking should be started by at least 05:00 pm, with it being done and the table set for it to be served by 06:30 pm at latest; once the cooking is complete- but before the serving itself- change into a nicer dress with a nice bit of jewelry. After eating, the dishes are washed immediately, and the table setting put away.
Evening family entertainment in the form of handicrafts (needlecraft or knitting), household games, readings, or pleasant conversation may be had at this point- or any other participation in personally pleasurable past times. Additional social calls may also be taken now if they're desired; evening prayers are to be taken by 10:00 pm at the latest.
To Bed: A small snack of a digestive biscuit or two and a glass of milk or watered Wine had right before retiring; remember, however, to retire by a respectable time if one is rising early, especially as at least 8 or 9 hours of sleep are necessary (putting bed time at roughly 10:00 pm at latest for the full 9 hours).
⚶ Tuesday – Wash Day ⚶
Rising: See Monday.
Morning: See Monday. The domestic duties change a bit, however:
- The table is cleared and the morning’s dishes are washed.
- Then the stove and counters are cleaned from the morning's cooking.
- The house is gone through so that beds are made and windows opened for airing.
- The bedding is changed and checked over for mending.
Afternoon: After lunch do not change clothing. Instead, do take care of the hands. But afterwards retire with your sewing basket to mend any clothing, bedding, and other items which need it. One the mending is all finished, sort the laundry and do the week’s wash (since I own modern amenities like a dryer, I won't "hang it out to dry", but it'll still probably be an all day chore).
After that, if there is no more work to be done (and not work that is merely being put off), a change of dress may be performed and the rest of the time may be spent in personal leisure as desired.
Evening: See Monday.
To Bed: See Monday.
⚶ Wednesday – Ironing Day ⚶
Rising: See Monday.
Morning: See Monday, with different domestics based on yesterday's work:
- The table is cleared and the morning’s dishes are washed.
- Then the stove and counters are cleaned from the morning's cooking.
- The house is gone through so that beds are made and windows opened for airing.
Afternoon: Afterwards, again, do not change clothing this day. Instead, do take care of the hands again- but remove yesterday's wash from the laundry and spend the afternoon ironing the pieces that need it. Then put away all of the washing in its appropriate place.
If there is no more work to be done (and not work that is merely being put off), afterwards, then a change of dress may be performed and the rest of the time may be spent in personal leisure as desired.
Evening: See Monday.
To Bed: See Monday.
⚶ Thursday – Kitchen Day ⚶
Rising: See Monday.
Morning: See Monday- but the domestic list changes, again:
- The house is gone through so that beds are made and windows opened for airing.
- Any doughs should be prepped immediately so they have adequate time to rise before the day's baking.
- The table is cleared and the morning’s dishes are washed.
- Then the stove top is cleaned from the morning's cooking, and the stove is scrubbed inside and out.
- Clean out and inventory the refrigerator
- Scrub the kitchen
- Tidy up and take inventory of both the store-closet and pantry
- Furniture should also be polished at this time now that yesterday's dust has fully settled.
- Lastly, the baking should be done; enough to tide over the household through Monday.
Afternoon: The kitchen cleaning is carried through to the afternoon as needed, with a small break between 01:00 and 01:30 pm as usual for a solid luncheon. If there is no more work to be done (and not work that is merely being put off) after the Luncheon, then a change of dress may be performed and the rest of the time may be spent in personal leisure as desired.
Evening: See Monday.
To Bed: See Monday.
⚶ Friday – Sweeping Day ⚶
Rising: See Monday.
Morning: See Monday. The domestic list changes, however:
- The table is cleared and the morning’s dishes are washed.
- Then the stove and counters are cleaned from the morning's cooking.
- The house is gone through so that beds are made and windows opened for airing.
- Curtains are pinned up where necessary and table items removed to safer spaces.
- The sweeping begins through the house in full.
- When the dust settles, the dusting is likewise done in full.
- Lastly, those floors that can be washed are washed thoroughly.
- Wash all of the windows, too.
Afternoon: Any dusting, sweeping, and washing is once again carried through to the afternoon as needed. A small break is taken between 01:00 and 01:30 pm as usual for a solid luncheon, however. After that, if there is no more work to be done (and not work that is merely being put off), a change of dress may be performed and the rest of the time may be spent in personal leisure as desired.
Evening: See Monday- except to let any dust that hasn’t settled yet get reacquainted with a surface without irritating the lungs as much, a simple High Tea out on the deck would be a lovely end to this day.
Live outdoors all you possibly can. Transform your piazza into an outdoor sitting room […] When the sun goes down you might occasionally have tea in the yard. (Making of a Housewife; 1904 / 1906)
To Bed: See Monday. Before retiring as usual, however, take a second full bath of hot water in order to remove the day's dust completely from the body- there is no need to clean the face before retiring, then, because of the bath tonight. Then have the snack as regular.
⚶ Saturday – Rest Day ⚶
Rising: See Monday. One may rise slightly later than usual, however, since there are no domestic duties this day. And instead of dressing in Domestic clothing, however, dress in clothing more suitable for light outdoor activities (with some light jewelry if desired).
Morning: Eat and pray as usual. But instead of the domestics, spend the morning occupied outside- whether on a good walk, or in leisure in the garden; if you have social calls to make, make them instead as desired.
Let toil lie undone once a week; it will come out all the same in the day’s work. (Making of a Housewife; 1904 / 1906)
Afternoon: Retire to the study with light tasks such as embroidery, mending, or cleaning the silver for the rest of the afternoon- until luncheon as usual (which should be light but good). Follow this with pleasurable activities of choice.
Evening: See Monday- however, dinner should be light, followed by a solid, rich dessert.
To Bed: See Monday; it is acceptable to retire later this evening, as there is no domestic work the next day.
⚶ Sunday - Socials ⚶
Rising: See Monday. Again, one may rise slightly later than usual given the lack of domestic duties this day. Dress should once again be clothing more suitable for more outdoor activities- though this time the nature should be more active (avoiding most jewelry).
Morning: Eat and pray as usual. But instead of the domestics, spend the morning occupied with the family in entertainment in the form of outdoor activities as much as possible; this is a great time to visit a Botanical Garden, go Cycling, or enjoy some other activities.
Afternoon: After the afternoon activities, wash the face with tepid water and apply the appropriate after-activity toiletries and take care of the hands; change into a clean dress of a nicer quality than the usual Afternoon dress- but should still be good and neat, and not overly elaborate.
A light afternoon tea should be taken at home at the usual time of 01:00 to 01:30 pm, instead of the regular luncheon- and visitors should be received freely during the desired time.
Evening: See Monday; a medium dinner followed by a good Pudding or Jelly for dessert is preferable this night, however.
To Bed: See Monday.