Once upon a time, you had to make sure everything from your shirt to your windows was in perfect condition; and that was before you even left the house. Times sure have changed since then. Let’s take a look at those hygiene rules that everyone followed but have disappeared and why we let them slip.
Ironed Outfits for Every Occasion
You wouldn’t dream of leaving the house in anything less than perfectly pressed clothes back then. People used to iron just about everything, whether it was jeans or T-shirts, and not just work clothes. Of course, today, most people would rather buy some wrinkle-free fabrics to avoid the hassle of ironing.
Ironed Linens
Similarly, ironing bed sheets & pillowcases was a real thing. But now that bed-in-a-bag sets are the rage and the fabrics are crease-resistant, ironing bed sheets is just annoying. Almost everyone would rather fill that time with extra sleep or do about anything else than get out the ironing board now.
Seeing Your Own Reflection in Windows
Clean windows used to be special and showed your house was always in mint condition. Everyone washed the windows inside and out to keep them streak-free. These days, not so much. We’re more inclined to wait until we can write “Wash me” on them before getting out the Windex.
Shiny Shoes
Shoe shining was a ritual if you were going to work. Now that more people are working from home and casual styles are the rage, dress shoes are only for weddings or interviews. We are usually happy with a wipe or leaving our sneakers a bit muddy. We are so used to comfort over fashion in our everyday life that shoe polish stays in the closet.
The White Glove Test
Who doesn’t remember the white glove test? It was the norm to dust every day and some of us went as far as rubbing a gloved finger across floors to find some dust. Now, we like to dust as little as possible unless our mother-in-law is staying over. A wipe with a rag during a commercial break is about as intensive as it gets.
Lawn Perfection
There was a time when you had to mow and manicure your yard on Saturday mornings. This time around, especially during drought seasons and due to our more eco-friendly habits, many are replacing that dreamy grass with wildflowers & xeriscaping. Instead of stripes and borders, we care about biodiversity and bees now.
Squeaky-Clean Hair
Washed hair used to be the daily way. Now, we understand that washing daily can strip hair of oils, so we skip a day or three; less is more is the new motto and our scalps love receiving less attention. It brings our hair’s natural texture to life without the damage of everyday washing.
Immaculate Car Interiors
A clean car used to be an indication of a tidy life, so we never let rubbish, dust & dirt get in our cars. Now, a few years on, we spend more time in our cars, and it stays less clean. We try to vacuum up the fast-food containers every now and then, but if the groceries fit and the dog is comfortable, then we’re good.
Sweeping Up
Sweeping floors every day was standard practice when you wanted to keep the house tidy. But with our schedules so busy today, lots of us have swapped daily sweeps for weekly vacuum runs. Really, we’re just trying to find a balance between being clean enough and having time to actually live in your house. A few crumbs under the table never hurt anyone.
Porch Pride
Our porches were the envy of the neighborhood, always swept and painted. For the most part these days, as long as the porch light stays on and the front door doesn’t squeak too much, we’re OK. The front porch is no longer the gathering place it once was. Even so, it’s still the perfect place to get coffee in the morning or relax on a Sunday night.
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