Why housework is always too much

How was that?

Housework just expanded to fill the time available. The house and furnishings required more cleaning.

Carpets which used to be darkly patterned so as not to show the dirt, became white or cream without any patterns, so that they showed the slightest crumb.'

People now had far more clothes and washed them more often.

They washed themselves more often. They washed their hair every day instead of once a week.

They did not leave their dirty footwear at the door (as Japanese still do) but wore them indoors, on the virgin-pure carpets.

They used more cutlery and crockery (unlike our Uncle Alex who when Aunt Jean was away, fed the family on Weetbix three meals a day, and each child had one bowl and one spoon for the whole day. He thought Aunt Jean put too much value on variety.)

People now buy more than the food they plan to eat in the next few days, and things get left at the back of the frig until they have to be thrown out,

In the past, the children had a few toys to play with. Other toys were kept in the cupboard for when there was need for them in a rainy-day box. Toys did not all clutter the children's rooms and indeed the whole house.

In the past, people had a parlour which was kept clean and tidy for visitors.

Now the new houses are open house. They have no rooms shut to keep the dirt and untidiness hidden. There is one great 'entertaining' open space for all the family and visitors. All the house is open for visitors and all has to be clean and tidy.

Peop;e now have shelves full of specialist cleaners for everything, instead of only five things - vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, laundry soap and silver and wood polishes.