How To Create an Old-Fashioned Homemaking Routine

Do you dream of having a cozy and clean home, but it seems so out of reach? Today I’m sharing why an old-fashioned homemaking routine works, and how you can create your own!

What if I told you that despite being busy, you could stay on top of your home AND cook from scratch meals for your family every day? What if an old-fashioned homemaking routine could give you that slow and simple life you’ve been craving? I’m excited to tell you that it can, and it is TOTALLY possible!

I often think of Proverbs 31:27 that says, ” She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.” I try, with the Lord’s help, to keep a neat and tidy home. One thing I’ve learned through the years is that having an old-fashioned homemaking routine in place is key. If you’ve ever wondered why they were so important to the women in days gone by, I can tell you: they work.

The art of homemaking is often neglected today. We have filled our schedules with so many other activities keeping up with the home is often pushed to the very bottom of the list. I do believe that taking care of our home, and our families honors the Lord.

What’s the difference between a routine and a schedule?

I’m glad you asked. In a nutshell, a routine is the flow of your day. You do certain tasks in a certain order and about the same time every day. Routines allow a lot of flexibility in your schedule. This is especially important if you have children at home or homeschool.

Routine helps you create habits. Habits help you not have to think so hard about what should happen next.

A schedule, on the other hand, is more regimented and time oriented. They usually work better for someone who works outside of the home, or for families with very tight, busy schedules. If you are a highly disciplined person a schedule will be the perfect fit for you.

I’ll be honest and admit that schedules aren’t my thing. I’ve tried many times to make a schedule work with no success. That’s where a simple old-fashioned homemaking routine comes in.

What does an old-fashioned homemaking routine look like?

If you’ve read the Little House on the Prairie Series you may remember Ma Ingall’s homemaking routine.

Wash on Monday
Iron on Tuesday
Mend on Wednesday
Churn on Thursday
Clean on Friday
Bake On Saturday
Rest on Sunday

Maybe churning and mending won’t be part of your old-fashioned homemaking routine, but it’s fun to think of days gone by. Here’s what my routine looks like:

Bake on Monday
Projects on Tuesday
Extra washing on Wednesday
Planning on Thursday
Errands on Friday
Family Fun on Saturday
Rest on Sunday

So, obviously there’s a few differences in mine and Ma’s routines, but you get the idea. On Mondays I bake our bread for the week, usually make a batch or two of granola, and anything else I’ll need baked for our menu that week. Tuesday I always use for projects I want to get done. Such as reorganizing closets, painting furniture, deep cleaning a room, etc. On Wednesday I wash all of the bedding, and any throw rugs or curtains that need it. Thursdays I menu plan, create a to do list for the next week, and write out a grocery list if needed. Fridays I run errands!

With this simple homemaking routine, I also follow my cleaning routine which has all of my cleaning tasks broken up by the days of the week. You can get the printable version here: My Favorite All Natural Cleaners + Free Printable Cleaning List

Creating your own routine

It’s really as simple as choosing tasks to do on each day of the week. If you don’t enjoy following a daily cleaning routine, set aside one whole day to clean your home from top to bottom. Think of something like this:

Mondays = Cleaning Day
Tuesdays = Laundry Day
Wednesdays = Baking Day
Thursdays = Outside Chores Day
Fridays = Errand Day
Saturdays = Project Day
Sundays = Rest Day

The good thing about a routine is that it can be changed. Try creating one and give it a test run for a week. If it isn’t right, you can always make adjustments.

My 2 rules for homemaking

I know rules aren’t most people’s favorite things but setting these standards for myself really keeps me accountable. I think one of the hardest things about staying at home full time is staying motivated. These simple “rules” always help me stay on track.

Get up and get dressed. I’ve been doing this for years now, and I can tell it’s by far the most motivating thing I can do. When I stay in comfy clothes, I have zero motivation. Putting on “real people clothes” (that’s what my son called jeans when he was 2 ha!), fixing my hair, and a little makeup goes a long way for motivation. If you want to argue that putting on your good clothes to work around the house will cause them to stain, then I challenge you to find a beautiful apron. You can’t get much more old-fashioned than that. Minimizing your wardrobe will save you TONS of time…you can read about that here: How To Minimize Your Wardrobe in 30 Minutes or Less! Why I’m doing The Project 333 Minimalist Fashion Challenge
NO matter what, do the daily 8. Doing these 8 simple things won’t take you long, I promise, but when they’re done, they make a huge impact. What are the daily 8, you ask? Here you go:

Make your bed
One load of laundry from start to finish
Run and unload the dishwasher
Sweep the kitchen and entryway
Wipe down the bathrooms
Tidy the kitchen
5-minute tidy of the living spaces
Take out the trash

Old-Fashioned Homemaking Wisdom

Put it away, don’t put it down. If you’re done with it, don’t set it aside. Take a few extra seconds to put it where it belongs. This goes a long way to keeping a home tidy.
A place for everything and everything in its place. Benjamin Franklin was on to something when he said that, wasn’t he? Everything in your home should have a place of its own. If not, it’s clutter!
A clutter free home is easier to clean than a cluttered home. If you haven’t decluttered in a while, take some time to tackle that this month. You’ll be so glad you did. A clutter free space is so much easier to clean!
Have the kids help. Emmy may only be two, but she can help me switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer, and she loves to “dust”. Find some age-appropriate chores, and get the kids involved!
Create a routine and stick to it! Consistency is key. If you stay disciplined to follow your new routine for a week or two, you’ll see some big changes in your home.

Set yourself up for success…

One of the best things you can do is set yourself up for success by having a simple morning routine and putting your house to bed every evening. I shared how I do both of those things last year. You can check out those posts here: My Simple Morning Routine & FREE Printable Why You Should Put Your House to Bed Every Night

I think that old-fashioned homemakers before us knew how special waking up to a tidy home, an empty sink, and a hot cup of coffee was. They knew the importance of routines and sticking to them. I, for one, am very thankful we can still learn from them.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by today. I appreciate you!