10 Chores Kids Always Got Stuck With in the ‘70s

If you grew up in the ‘70s, chores weren’t optional — they were a given. Parents didn’t hand out allowances for doing them either. You were expected to pitch in because that’s how the household ran. Looking back, a lot of those jobs weren’t fun, but they stuck with you. They taught responsibility, patience, and sometimes a little creativity to make them go faster.

Here are the chores kids couldn’t escape, no matter how much they tried to hide in their room.

Raking Leaves

Before gas-powered blowers were common, kids got handed a rake and a stack of paper bags. Every fall afternoon turned into hours of scraping leaves into piles, only for the wind to scatter them again. The only fun part came when you jumped into the piles — until your parents yelled at you for making another mess. Bagging those leaves by hand was dirty, sweaty work, but it was a rite of passage.

Hanging Laundry on the Line

Many homes didn’t use dryers regularly in the ‘70s, either to save money or because line-dried clothes were the standard. That meant kids carried heavy baskets outside and pinned shirts, sheets, and towels onto the line. If you didn’t clip them tight enough, you’d be chasing clothes across the yard. Rainstorms were the biggest enemy — if one rolled in, kids had to sprint outside to rescue the laundry before it got soaked all over again.

Washing the Family Car

Washing the car was less about shining it up and more about keeping it respectable for Sunday drives. Parents expected kids to haul out the bucket, fill it with soapy water, and scrub every inch with a sponge. Miss a spot, and you’d hear about it. Drying it off with old towels was part of the job, too, even if streaks always seemed to linger. Many families didn’t go to car washes, so this was a weekly chore.

Weeding the Garden

Backyard gardens were everywhere in the ‘70s, and weeds were every kid’s enemy. Parents would hand you gloves and a bucket and point to the rows of beans, tomatoes, or squash. You’d spend what felt like forever yanking up dandelions and crabgrass under the hot sun. Complaining didn’t get you out of it — you were told “it builds character.” And honestly, it probably did. But it also built a lifelong dislike of weeding.

Sweeping Porches and Walkways

A swept porch was a sign of pride. Neighbors noticed if your entryway was covered in leaves, dirt, or grass clippings, so kids were constantly sent out with a broom. Front porches especially had to stay tidy since visitors often dropped by unannounced. Walkways were another chore — keeping them clear made a house look cared for, and parents weren’t about to let kids slack on that detail.

Shoveling Snow

If you lived up north, shoveling snow was a winter reality. Parents didn’t hire anyone; they sent the kids out with shovels. Driveways, sidewalks, and sometimes even neighbors’ walkways had to be cleared. It wasn’t unusual for kids to spend hours out there, bundled up, moving heavy snow by hand. Complaining didn’t help — the snow wasn’t going anywhere. If anything, parents often reminded you how “good exercise” it was.

Taking Out the Trash

Before today’s rolling bins, trash cans were heavy metal, and kids were expected to lug them to the curb. They rattled, smelled bad, and often had raccoons or dogs get into them overnight. Picking up trash that had been scattered around the yard was part of the job, too. It wasn’t fun, but it was non-negotiable, and you knew it had to be done before the garbage truck came rumbling through.

Polishing Furniture

Every Saturday, out came the can of Pledge and a rag. Parents didn’t want dusty tables or dull wood paneling, so kids were assigned to polish furniture. It wasn’t a quick swipe — you had to make sure every surface shined. Many kids grew to hate the smell of polish because it meant their weekend had turned into cleaning duty. Still, it was one of those chores that taught attention to detail, whether you liked it or not.

Cleaning Ash from Fireplaces

In homes with wood-burning fireplaces, kids often got the dirtiest job: scooping out ashes. It was messy, smelly, and usually left soot on your clothes, but it had to be done before the next fire. Some parents made kids carry the bucket of ash outside and scatter it in the garden since it worked as a soil additive. Either way, it wasn’t a job anyone wanted, but you couldn’t get out of it.

Sweeping the Garage

Garages in the ‘70s weren’t spotless spaces with epoxy floors. They were dusty, cluttered, and usually had cobwebs in every corner. Kids were expected to sweep them out regularly, pushing dirt, leaves, and sawdust back out the door. It was one of those chores that never stayed done — within a week, the mess would be back. Still, it was considered part of keeping the house in order, and parents didn’t let it slide.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.