1940s Housewives’ Thrifty Tricks Can Be Modern-Day Life Savers

Coffee. Meat. Milk. Cheese. Everyday foods like these were all strictly rationed during World War II, which made cooking a bit of a challenge. But housewives of the 1940s rose to the occasion wonderfully. They became pioneers of thriftiness, learning to do a whole lot with very little. So here are the best beauty, housekeeping, and entertaining tips you can still use today while sticking to a tiny budget.

1. Line-dry your clothes — and make sure they last longer

The housewives of the '40s didn’t have tumble dryers. In fact, they had gentler methods for drying their laundry. And for people who wanted their clothes to last for as long as possible, gentle cleaning was the name of the game. We all could benefit from taking care of our clothes with the same degree of care.

All you need to do is hang your garments out to dry, rather than relying on the tumble dryer. Your wardrobe will last longer, which saves you money. And naturally, you’ll save on your utility bill, too.

2. Sate your sweet tooth wisely

Even though circumstances required '40s housewives to ration their resources, they still indulged in desserts. And they found ways to whip up their favorite confections without using all of the sugar that a recipe would normally require. For example, an apple pie recipe from this era called for only one teaspoon of sugar and the same amount of honey.

So, take this tip for your next baking batch. Rather than dumping a ton of sugar into the mixture, try swapping it out for whichever alternative you have on hand. Or, cut down on the sweet stuff and keep your pantry fuller for longer.

3. Why buy when you can borrow?

Women in this era had learned during the Great Depression that they had to use less and save more. One great way of doing so was by borrowing from others wherever possible. Buying books and movies, for example, can be seen as a waste of money if you can check out the same titles from your local library.

Or, you might need a tool or supply for a one-off project. Again, picking up an item to use it once would be an unnecessary expense when you could just borrow it from someone you know.

4. Save big on trendy glass jars

Mason jars are particularly en vogue, especially the vintage colorful variety. You can actually get a similar look by simply hanging on to your empty glass food containers. Even if they don’t look too similar to Mason jars, there are so many ways to repurpose empty containers. You can use them to organize a toolbox, craft-supply closet, or bathroom drawers.

Pop leftovers into glass containers, and you don’t have to buy Tupperware ever again. And, of course, with a bit of creativity, you can repaint and redecorate your saved-up jars to use as candle holders, cups — whatever you want!

5. Don’t foil the war — or recycling — effort

Civilians on the home front during World War II didn’t fight battles, but they did contribute to the country’s efforts. They gathered aluminum foil — right down to the shiny stuff wrapped around chewing gum — so that it could be repurposed. They also came up with ways to reuse the foil sheets outside of wartime.

Inspect your aluminum sheets after using them — still-clean pieces can easily be stored and reused. You can also ball up a bit of used foil and use it to scrub pans instead of purchasing boxes of steel wool fluff.

6. Hold the front page — and the rest of the paper, really

Newspapers in the 1940s opened up a slew of possibilities — there was much to be done with the pages after reading them. You might not want to try all of the era’s go-to methods for repurposing the dailies. For example, they used it to insulate their walls, and we have better, safer materials for that today.

What you can do is deploy your newspaper sheets to clean glass for a streak-free shine or protect your fragile belongings before a move. Add it to your compost bin to bulk up your fertilizer.

7. Save your stale bread

You reach for the bread bin and one touch tells you all you need to know — your loaf has gone stale. 1940s housewives, of course, found ways to reuse stale bread. Rather than tossing that hardened hunk of carbohydrates, they had two main solutions: to break it down into breadcrumbs or to chop the bread into cubes and cook up some croutons.

No matter how you repurpose your rolls, keep in mind that you’ll still get all of the nutritional value that fresh bread has to offer. Just don't ingest the bread if it's already moldy... obviously.

8. S.O.S. — Save Our Soap

You know how annoying it is when a bar of soap whittles away into a small sliver of suds. You might be tempted to toss that sanitizing shard into the trash can, but a '40s housewife hack can help you get the most from your soap. You’ll need an old pair of pantyhose or stockings. Stuff the soap shards into the foot of the garment, tie off the section, and cut it off.

Then, pop the soap-filled tights next to any sink and rub them between your hands under the tap, and voila – clean hands from soap you would have thrown away.

9. Don’t ditch your dull pots and pans

Your pots and pans have taken on a much duller appearance — but don’t recycle them just yet. Some pioneering housewives have a hack that'll cost you way less than replacing your kitchen’s cookware. All you have to do is pick up some rhubarb and chop it into small pieces. Place it in the offending pot or pan and boil it for 10 minutes or until it morphs into a glue-like liquid.

After that, just rinse out the remains, and the bottom of your cookware should be restored to its formerly shiny self — all for the price of some rhubarb.

10. Every shred of fabric can be reused

Nowadays, you might donate a garment you don’t wear anymore or toss a ripped piece of fabric into the trash. This wouldn’t fly in the 1940s when housewives used and reused every last scrap of fabric. Any leftover scraps from a sewing project would be saved up until a housewife had enough material to make a quilt. She’d twist rags into rugs — and use larger chunks of discarded fabric to make rags.

You can do the same with your old clothing today. In fact, many green-minded homemakers have transformed their linen into rags and used them instead of paper towels.

11. Let your garden grow

Housewives of the 1940s learned to make the most of their wartime rations, and many of them found another genius way to supplement their daily diet. They started cultivating gardens in their backyards so they could have more than just the food allotted to them. This helped civilians by reducing their need for canned food, allowing those resources to go to American troops overseas. Gardening allowed housewives to slash their grocery bills, too.

The number of urban farms has increased rapidly in the last decade or so, which means that our generation has realized what a rewarding — and budget-conscious — hobby this can be.

12. Turn your wilting vegetables into Waste Not Soup

A '40s housewife go-to can help you avoid wasting produce you’ve already spent your money on. They’d make what they called “Waste Not Soup,” tossing all of their soon-to-wilt veggies into a pot with beans, spices, stock, and bits of meat. Simmering it all together turned these unwanted greens into a delicious, filling meal.

You can do the same with vegetable skins or animal bones. Throw them in a pot and let them all simmer for a few hours. When it’s done, you’ll have meat or vegetable broth — a base for other soups or a very cheap, albeit nutritious, meal. 

13. Butter your bread with ease — and save money in the process

Wartime rations allocated about a pound of butter per week to every family. That may sound like a lot until you realize that butter served as the primary cooking and baking fat, as well as the go-to bread spread at the time. So, 1940s housewives had to come up with ways to make their butter go farther.

They blended one pound of butter with three-quarters of a cup of oil and a pinch of salt. The resulting combination will glide right onto your bread, extend the life of your butter, and taste just like the real thing — a win-win-win.

14. The original Meatless Monday

War-time rations didn’t provide housewives with a fridge full of ingredients. Instead, they had to make do with a suggested meal plan, which included ideas for 21 days' worth of eating. How many of those dishes contained meat? You’ll probably be surprised to learn that it was only one-third of them. So, hearty vegetarian meals became a staple during World War II, with cheese and beans standing in for meat.

Studies have shown that vegetarian and vegan diners spend up to 40 percent less than their omnivorous counterparts, so it could be worth adding some meatless dinners to your plan for the week.

15. Use this vegetable for an all-natural lip stain

Housewives in the 1940s faced a conundrum when it came to their beauty routines. They couldn’t find lipstick anywhere as more and more non-essential items got rationed. But the media kept pushing the message that they needed to continue to look their best — "beauty is a duty” was one such popular refrain.

So, they came up with a very cheap hack that you can try, too. They would stain their lips with sliced beets, which left behind a beautiful dark purple stain. Luckily, ladies today can decide what beauty and self-care means for them.

16. Disposable diapers? No way!

We imagine that '40s housewives would be aghast at the concept of disposable diapers. These ladies never would've paid for one-time-use anything, so it’s no surprise that they had a thrifty — and environmentally friendly — way to wrap up their little ones. Cloth diapers required a bit of physical labor since '40s moms would have to scour, clean, and sanitize them before reusing them.

In the end, though, they made the most of limited resources and provided modern-day moms with an environmentally friendly alternative. Plus, reusable diapers end up being cheaper over time, especially if you have more than one child.

17. Testing their (pot)luck

Sometimes, surviving life on rations required '40s housewives to put their heads together and pool their resources. They’d throw potlucks so everyone could have a full meal. We still have potlucks today, but they’re usually thrown by community groups. Most of the time, they’re scheduled as a way to make meal planning easy — if everyone brings one thing, there will be plenty to eat.

But consider pooling together with friends and having a 1940s-style gathering, where you combine your ingredients to make food for everyone. That way, your fridge’s contents won’t go to waste, nor will anyone else’s. 

18. Making the most with meatloaf

You crack open your fridge and notice that you have some ground beef left. But it’s not enough to make any of the recipes in your arsenal. What to do? You could draw inspiration from resourceful '40s housewives who solved this conundrum with one dish: meatloaf. In the 1940s, homemakers made meatloaf and casseroles as a way to stretch their resources or hide the flavor of otherwise unsavory ingredients.

They used breadcrumbs, onions, and ketchup to bulk up the meat. Keep it in mind when your fridge is looking bare, and you could save yourself a trip to the grocery store.

19. From rags to ringlets

As we’ve learned already, '40s housewives would never throw away a ripped piece of fabric. Instead, they would use the fabric to achieve perfect curly hair. Grab one-inch sections of almost-dry hair and hold rag strips from an old t-shirt or pillowcase perpendicular to your hair. Start by wrapping the ends of the strands around the fabric.

Then, roll the fabric up the section of hair toward the scalp. Knot the ends of the cloth, then repeat until your head is covered. The next morning, unfurl each piece to reveal an effortless retro curl.

20. Bulk up the last of your coffee grounds

If you really wanted to live like a '40s housewife, then you’d have to start rationing your coffee. Crafty women came up with a viable substitute for coffee, one that some people still drink today. Housewives would fold chicory root into their coffee to make the grounds last as long as possible. Chicory root has a similar rich flavor when brewed in a morning cup of joe.

There’s no caffeine to be found in the bean-free alternative, so if you need to cut down on your intake — or cut down on spending at the local coffeehouse — try this housewife hack.

21. Wax wooden furniture with shoe polish

Older generations often had to get by on their resourcefulness, and people had to be especially creative in the '30s and '40s when money was extra tight due to the Depression and World War II. That's why household cleaning hacks like this next tip exist in the first place. If your wooden furniture is starting to look a little worse for wear, then grab an unexpected product: shoe polish!

One Good Thing claims that shoe polish can revitalize wooden tables and chairs at home. Yep, the product can double as a makeshift wax.

22. Cleaning with the seasons

Certain housekeeping jobs can seem pretty daunting, especially when you’re planning to complete them one after the other. But it doesn’t have to be that way! According to One Good Thing, people in the past would map out their “cleaning projects” throughout the year, lining them up with an appropriate season. This way, your home gets a deep-clean right when it needs it most.

Think about it: what better time to clean your windows than in the spring, the time of year you'll be opening and closing them the most? Guess we finally know where the term "spring cleaning" came from...

23. Unclog a drain with vinegar and baking soda

The next time your drain gets blocked, why not try out this vintage trick? Jennifer Rodriguez, who works for Pro Housekeepers as the Chief Hygiene Officer, told Best Life, “Take a tablespoon of baking soda and pour it down the drain. Follow the baking soda with a full cup of white vinegar.” Then, tip a helping of hot water in there a few minutes later.

That should clear the obstruction. If you think that sounds too easy these days, just imagine how miraculous it must have seemed when in-house plumbing was still the hot new trend!

24. Clean brass with ketchup

How about this for a shock? According to Schulhof, ketchup makes for an ideal cleaning solution when it comes to brass implements. Just rub the tasty condiment across the surfaces with a smooth rag before washing them under a hot tap. That last step is key — it’ll stop the brass from getting sticky!

Apparently, this saucy cleaning tip was a favorite of housewives back in the day, mainly because it was a much more convenient and affordable alternative to cleaning brass with commercial products.

25. Toothpaste and window scratches

Window scratches can be a real pain, but they're usually unavoidable when you have rambunctious kids, unruly pets, or a klutzy spouse. And once a scratch adorns your window, it can be very hard to ignore! But as it turns out, toothpaste might be the ideal tool to get rid of them. We’re talking standard tubes here, as opposed to a gel.

To start with, carefully rub the product over the affected area. Then, mop it up with wet and then dry paper towels. The glass should look good as new.

26. Preventing grease stains

Should there ever come a time when you get grease on a wooden surface, speed is absolutely vital (and trust us: this time always comes sooner or later!) As per One Good Thing, you need to immediately douse the area with cold water. This simple move causes the oil to solidify. If you’re quick enough, it won’t stain the spot!

The next time your grandmother visits, she'll marvel over your unblemished furniture.... and she'll never know how close you came to having an ugly grease stain on your coffee table.

27. Pillowcase trick

Struggling to stuff your pillows into pillowcases? According to One Good Thing, our grandparents would’ve been big supporters of this next hack. All you need to do is invert the pillowcase, hold it taut with your arms, and then slide it over your bare pillow. It really is that simple, folks.

Hacks like this were possibly developed at a time when uncertainty plagued the country, and if anything — even common chores — could be a bit easier, then they'd take it! Say goodbye to the frustration.

28. Fight rust with lemonade powder

If you’re looking to eliminate rust from your metal garden chairs and tables, this old-school trick could get the job done. The secret to rust-free metal furniture is already in your pantry. You just need lemonade powder! Molly Maid’s Sarah Brunette informed Best Life, “Rub the mixture on the surface and the citric acid from the drink powder will eat away the rust.”

Pretty neat, right? Your grandma's insistence that today's newfangled cleaning chemicals are a waste of money just may be true, if this hack is any indication.

29. Cornstarch and glass streaks

It's a tale as old as time: in the process of cleaning your house, you somehow make an even bigger mess! For example, it’s easy to create glass streaks when washing your windows. But a specialist from Fantastic Cleaners named Mihaela Davidova claims that you only need three common ingredients to kiss this problem goodbye. Apparently, a mix of cornstarch, white vinegar, and water can prevent these streaks from appearing.

“The cornstarch granules are very fine, making it naturally abrasive but safe to use on delicate surfaces,” she told Best Life. “You’ll be able to scrub off any streaks and imperfections.”

30. Rag bins

Instead of shelling out money on packs of paper towels at the store, there could be a cheaper alternative sitting in your closet. Yes, One Good Thing notes that unwanted clothing makes for excellent rags. They’re just as useful as a roll of paper towels! Your grandparents are sure to give a nod of approval if they spot a rag bin in the corner.

It's exactly how their parents used to clean dirty surfaces when money was tight due to economic troubles. Plus, using rags instead of paper towels can be much better for the environment!

31. Car wax on the air vents

Air vents can get very dusty if you’re not too careful. And cleaning it all off isn’t that simple, either! You can take some preventative action by using this vintage hack. According to One Good Thing, car wax will stop layers of grime from growing in the openings.

Think about it: just as car wax keeps your car looking shiny and clean, it should have the same effect on your air vent! Just add a small amount to the metal slats of the air vent, and voila!

32. A weekly “wash day”

Does it feel like your washing machine is always on throughout the week? Well, why not make things easier for yourself by mapping out a single “wash day”? After all, your grandparents probably followed a similar schedule. One Good Thing notes that it’ll eliminate any confusion about the state of your laundry — and prevent territory wars with other members of your family.

Every time you groan over a lost sock or shrunken skirt, remember how easy you have it compared to your great-grandparents, who probably washed clothes by hand!

33. Replace fabric softener with white vinegar

Okay, now this might sound crazy at first, but bear with us, folks! Some fabric softeners can leave a bit of a mess behind on your washing (ironic, no?). If that frequently happens to you, white vinegar might be the perfect alternative. Joanne Archer informed Best Life, “[It] will strip all of the detergent build-ups from your fabrics, making towels fluffy and soft again.”

It shouldn't leave a smell, either, which is definitely a plus. Who knew that the solution to our dull and matted laundry was in our pantries? Our grandparents, probably...

34. Toilet bowls and Borax

It’s highly likely that your grandparents called upon Borax when doing their laundry in the past. Surprisingly, though, that vintage product could be ideal for sprucing up a much different item in your house: your toilet! Just scatter a helping of the powder inside the bowl before adding some vinegar. Let it sit overnight, then wipe the mixture off and pull the chain (or push the flusher... you get the idea).

The results are said to be amazing. Don't take our word for it, either; your grandparents could tell you all about the cleaning power of Borax.

35. Use Crisco to help squeaky hinges

If you’re being pushed over the edge by squeaky hinges at home, this old-fashioned hack will come as a mighty relief. One Good Thing claimed that a small scoop of Crisco can eliminate the noise once and for all. Just rub it into the problematic areas and you’ll soon be greeted by blissful silence.

Who needs WD-40 when you can use the Crisco you already have in your kitchen cabinet? And since the Crisco's already out, why don't you fry up some chicken?

36. Cut sponges in half

Ever wondered why your grandma sliced her sponges in half? It’s pretty simple, actually. Not only did doing so give the product more longevity in the kitchen, but it also stopped germs from forming so easily on the wet sponge. You see, a big sponge doesn’t dry all that quickly, which encourages the aforementioned nastiness (i.e. mold, bacteria, germs... you get the idea).

So, it might be an idea to adopt Granny’s approach today! Just think of all the money you'll save in a year simply but cutting your kitchen sponges in half.

37. Prevent shower curtain mildew

We’re just going to come out and say it — shower curtain mildew is absolutely disgusting. The mere mention of it turns our stomachs! Yet with some clever thinking (and some advice from Grandma), you can make it a problem of the past. Yes, One Good Thing suggested trimming around two inches off the foot of the cover, which should prevent it from clinging to the bathtub.

And voilà. No more mold! Plus, you no longer have to deal with the utter annoyance (and hazard) of a soaking wet floor due to an errant shower curtain.

38. Clean vases with Alka-Seltzer tablets

Thanks to their shape and size, it’s extremely difficult to give vases a proper scrub. How did our old relatives do it? Back in the day, vases and other tchotchkes were all the rage, and they were all odd shapes and sizes. Thankfully, our great-grandparents developed an old-school trick that may ease our current frustration.

Best Life reported that Alka-Seltzer pills can be a big help. Place a couple inside your vase and then pour a bit of water in there as well. Within roughly 60 minutes, all the grime should be lifted.

39. White vinegar and sticker residue

Is there anything more annoying than trying in vain to clean sticker remnants off a surface? It’s the stuff of nightmares! Mind you, a simple solution is said to exist. Mihaela Davidova informed Best Life that white vinegar can eat away at the stickiness and allow you to peel it off.

Yes, the brilliance of white vinegar strikes again! You should really be able to impress your elderly relatives with this one; chances are they've been staring at the same sticker marks for ages if they've never heard of this hack.

40. Clean mirrors with black tea

While it might look easy initially, cleaning a mirror can actually get pretty tricky. A vintage hack could simplify things for you, though. To begin with, make yourself some black tea. Once it’s ready, pour the beverage into a container with a spray nozzle.

Glass Doctor’s Brad Roberson told Best Life, “Let [the] tea’s tannic acid do the work you don’t want to.” We're always going to support a hack that makes cleaning easier and gives us a tasty beverage in the process.