In April — the Big Cleaning. Not with a vacuum (no electricity). By hand. Entire house. Every room. Every corner.
Process
Walls — lime whitewash (mix lime, water, salt). Floors — scraper, brush, soap. Windows — vinegar and newspaper. Curtains — wash in tub. Mattresses — in the sun (kills mites). Stove — chimney sweep (soot = fire).
Two Weeks
Whole family works. Children from 5 — wash floors. From 10 — whitewash walls. Mother — directs. Father — repairs (broken floorboard, squeaky door, roof hole). By May, house is like new. Until next April.