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 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.
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.
What powers the brush roll in a classic manual carpet sweeper?
Pushing spins the wheels, which spin the brushes and flick crumbs into a built-in dustpan.
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.
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.
What quick job did a manual carpet sweeper handle best in a busy home?
Families kept a sweeper handy for crumbs and lint because it needed no cord or setup.
What did home launderers sprinkle on line-dried clothes before ironing?
Lightly damp fabric pressed out wrinkles faster, so sprinkle-top bottles helped evenly mist the clothes.
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.
Why did sunshine help whiten sheets hung on backyard clotheslines?
Ultraviolet rays in sunlight break down stains and yellow tints, which left white cotton looking brighter.
Which laundry load traditionally received drops of blue laundry bluing?
The blue tint made dingy whites look brighter without the wear of strong bleach.