Winter is coming, bringing with it a whole host of new, annoying cleaning jobs. From more mud and muck being trodden through our homes to constant condensation making our windows a mucky mess, it feels as though the cleaning to-do list has grown exponentially. It got me thinking: how did my grandparents tackle all these jobs without the technology we rely on today?
But when I looked into it further, I realised that this apparent disadvantage may have been what made their cleaning so effective. With a little research, a little asking around and a few memories of my own grandparents, I found a treasure trove of vintage winter cleaning jobs and hacks that we seem to have forgotten. They tackle the task in simple yet surprising ways, while drawing attention to the areas of our homes we may have stopped cleaning properly.
It’s time to learn from the past. These are the Grandma’s vintage cleaning jobs we’ve forgotten - and need to bring back before winter grime sets in for good.
6 vintage Grandma cleaning jobs for winter
Cleaning foggy windows with newspaper
This trick is a very familiar old method to me. My Nana used to do it all the time and, as a child, I thought she was somewhat mad, smearing the morning news all over her windows. I now know there’s a practical reason behind it: newspaper can help buff away the last streaks and moisture after you’ve washed the glass. With daylight in shorter supply over winter, cleaner windows can also help make the most of what little sun we get.
First, wipe away any loose dirt, then wash the glass with your usual window cleaner or a little washing-up liquid diluted in water. Use a squeegee or cloth to remove most of the moisture, then scrunch up a sheet of plain newspaper and use it to buff the pane dry. Check the result in the light and give any streaks another pass. Modern inks can transfer, so avoid coloured or glossy pages, test on a small area first and keep the paper away from pale frames and rubber seals.
Boot brush by the door
‘Whatever happened to the boot brushes?’ Genuine words uttered by grandfather, and he has a point. I remember visiting my grandparents house as a child, and finding using the freestanding boot brush contraption by the front food after a long muddy dog walk, really fun. Watching all the caked on dry mud chip away brush by brush.
Of course now as an adult with my own home, I appreciate it’s tempting to come in, kick off your boots and leave the mud for Future You to find in the hallway. But a stiff free-standing boot brush by the door makes this old-school habit super easy to revive. Simply use one to scrape off dried mud from the soles and treads before stepping inside, then leave wet footwear on a tray to dry by the door.
In winter, that means less grit ground into floors and carpets - and fewer mysterious muddy footprints leading right through the house. Shake out or clean the doormat regularly too, so it doesn’t become a mud collector of its own.
Use an iron to lift candle wax from table linen
Candlelight does make a winter dinner feel cosier doesn’t it. But when the wax drips down the candlestick, onto the tablecloth, suddenly the mood is less magical. Don't worry, our grannies have got it covered. Allow the wax to harden, then gently lift off as much as you can with a blunt knife or spoon. Place clean, absorbent paper towels above and beneath the mark, then press the area with a warm, dry iron, moving the paper as it absorbs the melted wax. Check the care label first and keep the iron moving so you don’t scorch the fabric. If coloured wax leaves a stain behind, treat that separately according to the fabric’s care instructions.
Use white bread to lift marks from wallpaper
Possibly the weirdest one on this list, but possibly a household myth you’ve heard before. It’s one of those old cleaning tips that sounds made up until you see the evidence: English Heritage conservators found that white bread could collect a surprising amount of dirt from wallpaper. There’s evidence of this cleaning method being used as far back as 1839, when Sarah Josepha Hale’s The Good Housekeeper recommended stale bread for wallpaper. So in that case perhaps this is your great-great-great grandmother's cleaning tip.
It may be particularly handy in winter, when soot from a working fireplace can leave walls looking a little dull or mud and dust get stomped through the home more than ever.
Remove the crust from a piece of fresh white bread, gently roll the soft inside over the mark, then use a clean bit of bread as it picks up dirt. Don’t scrub, and vacuum up any crumbs afterwards. Try it on a discreet patch first, and avoid damp, flaking or textured wallpaper.
Polish mirrors with a soft chamois leather
Winter mornings often mean a steamy bathroom mirror just when you’re trying to get ready. Once the glass has cleared, or after you’ve wiped off any marks with a slightly damp cloth, buff it with a clean, soft chamois leather for a clear, streak-free finish. English Heritage recommends the reusable cloth as an old-fashioned alternative to glass cleaner; its soft surface also helps avoid lint. Keep it well wrung out and dry the mirror’s edges, as moisture can damage the backing. It won’t stop condensation returning, but it’s handy to keep nearby for a quick wipe.
Beat or shake the rugs outside
While the invention of the vacuum is truly one of the best most advancing moment of the 20th century, and no I’m not exaggerating, there are still some old school approaches that reaches layers that even our fancy-shmancy tech can not. Vacuuming is the regular upkeep; on a dry day, shaking or gently beating a suitable rug can help loosen dry dust and grit that has settled deeper into the pile. That’s worth doing every now and again, especially in winter, when muddy shoes and wet-weather debris get trodden indoors. It’s an old routine for a reason: before vacuums became widely available, rugs were hung outside and beaten to knock out dirt as the only means to clean them. They may not have had many options back then, but the method they did have certainly has some advantages.
Take the rug outside, hang it over a sturdy rail or line, then shake it or gently beat the reverse with a rug beater or broom. Check the care instructions first, as rough beating can damage some rugs, including hand-tufted ones. Once you’ve finished, vacuum up the loosened dust from the floor and rug.