What was housekeeping actually like in 1946 — and would I really want to live without the modern conveniences of 2026?

In this experiment, I’m putting 1946 and 2026 head-to-head to find out.

I’ll be giving two homes a deep clean from top to bottom: making beds, sweeping floors, polishing furniture, cleaning bathrooms, tackling the kitchen, doing the laundry, beating carpets and getting everything ready as though company is coming.

But there’s one very important difference…

In the 1946 home, I’ll be following traditional housekeeping methods as closely as possible — including washing clothes in a dolly tub, using a posser and washboard, hanging everything out on the line, cleaning mirrors with vinegar and newspaper, making my own furniture polish and even cleaning with crushed eggshells.

Meanwhile, in 2026, I have a washing machine, tumble dryer, vacuum cleaner, dishwasher and all the other little inventions that make modern housekeeping considerably easier.

And to make the comparison even more interesting, I’ll be tracking my steps, calories burned, heart rate and time spent cleaning using my Fitbit.

But this isn't simply a battle between old and new.

As someone fascinated by domestic life in decades gone by, I often find myself romanticising the slower, simpler aspects of vintage homemaking. But what happens when we actually put those methods into practice?

Because there is a difference between choosing to spend a sunny afternoon hanging washing on the line and being required to wash an entire family's laundry by hand.

And perhaps the biggest question isn't whether we have more conveniences today, but what we've done with all the time they've saved us.

So, is 1946 really the simpler way of life?

Let's find out. 🧺

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