by Jenny Barnett

In the old days, housekeeping wasn’t a chore chart, it was a rhythm.
A flow of effort and intention that followed the seasons, the weather, and the weight of real life.

No one rushed it.
No one glamorized it.
But it was sacred work just the same.

And for those of us on the modern frontier, bringing back the old ways of tending home isn’t about being quaint, it’s about choosing presence over pace, and roots over rush.

Monday is for Washing, Friday is for Sweeping

There’s something grounding about having a rhythm to your homekeeping, even if it’s just loosely followed.

The old-world approach:

• Monday: Wash day (linens, clothes, rags)
• Tuesday: Ironing and mending
• Wednesday: Kitchen cleaning
• Thursday: Sewing, baking, or tasks from the list
• Friday: Floors and dusting
• Saturday: Catch-up, errands, prep
• Sunday: Rest

The point isn’t perfection. The point is ritual: letting your week breathe with purpose instead of being buried in never-ending to-dos.

The Tools That Make It a Joy

You don’t need a drawer full of gadgets. Just a few solid, beautiful tools you won’t mind reaching for daily.

1. Sustainable Cleaning Products

I love Mrs. Meyer’s, I use them year-round for everything from laundry to shower drains. I particularly love (and keep a small stash of) their signature fall scents, especially apple cider and acorn spice, because they make cleaning feel less like punishment and more like nesting. No harsh chemicals. Just warm, clean energy.

Quick Tip: If you’re an extra busy housekeeper, Mrs. Meyer’s Baking Soda Cream Cleaner and Vinegar Gel Spray Cleaner work just like Mama’s homemade mixtures, plus they have a sweet apple blossom scent!

2. Textiles That Work Hard & Age Well

Invest in quality towels, aprons, and dust cloths. Fig Linens offers natural-fiber goods that get better with use. Keep them on hand and in rotation, don’t just save the good stuff for guests.

3. Hooks That Keep It All in Reach

A forged iron hook by the back door or stove keeps aprons, towels, and outerwear ready for the day. We use this mini lily hook from Old West Iron. It’s small but mighty.

4. A Broom Worth Praising

I use a silicone dust broom that works on hard floors, rugs, furniture, and, bless it, dog hair. It scrubs without scuffing (and, truly, this broom is so gentle that I squeegee my high windows with it) and stores neatly behind the wood rack.

Seasonal Cleaning: The Frontier Way

Before there were “spring cleaning challenges,” there was just life with the land.

• Fall: Wash blankets, swap bedding, seal windows, rotate pantry
• Winter: Deep clean rugs, polish wood, descale kettles
• Spring: Dust rafters, air out rooms, scrub root cellar
• Summer: Maintain, mend, and rest between the rush

This isn’t about spotless perfection, it’s about care and readiness.

Housekeeping as Heritage

The truth is, keeping house isn’t just about tidiness.
It’s about respect for the space, for those who share it, and for the life you’re choosing to live.

It’s about teaching your kids to hang up their towel instead of tossing it.
About wiping the counter even if no one’s looking.
About noticing when the shelves need dusting, and doing it with grace.

Around here, we don’t just clean. We tend like a garden, like a fire, like something worth keeping.

Let your daily rhythms grow deep roots.
Because every swept floor and folded towel is part of the life you’re building.

— Jenny