Recurring domestic tasks and the tools used for them, including laundry and cleaning; decor and renovation stay in their existing subjects.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Which clothesline spins around a single central pole like an umbrella?
The spinning arms let users stand in one spot while loading wash around all sides.
Which laundry bluing brand is known for a stern older woman's portrait on its label?
According to the company's history, the portrait shows Al Stewart's mother-in-law; his wife declined to appear on the label.
Which fastener grips laundry on a clothesline with two prongs and a spring?
The spring clothespin dates to an 1853 Vermont patent, replacing older one-piece wooden pegs.
Before use, Mrs. Stewart's instructions say to mix its laundry whitener into which liquid?
Concentrated drops can leave blue spots; mixing them into plenty of water helps distribute the tint evenly.
Which laundry load traditionally received drops of blue laundry bluing?
The blue tint made dingy whites look brighter without the wear of strong bleach.
In the traditional weekly housework schedule, which day was washday for clothes hung outside?
Tuesday often served as ironing day, when wash dried on Monday clotheslines got pressed.
Which brand name became the generic term for glass home-canning jars?
John Landis Mason patented his screw-neck preserving jar in 1858, and the name stuck.
Why must low-acid vegetables like green beans use a pressure canner?
Pressurized steam tops 240 degrees, while a boiling-water bath stops at 212 degrees.
Which weather best freshens laundry drying on an outdoor clothesline?
Sunshine helps whiten white fabrics, and moving air carries away moisture and musty odors.
What color is Mrs. Stewart's liquid whitener for white laundry?
A faint blue tint offsets the yellow cast that makes aging white sheets look dingy.