It was a messy job but we got extra pocket money for it.
Once it was a week old the newspaper was used to stand the shoes on while they were polished, all in a row, wellingtons stood on guard and mother and father’s galoshes. When they were clean and dry they were removed to the shoe cupboard and the polishing paper was rolled up into paper sticks to light the coal fires.
The cleaner sheets were cut up into squares and triangles and then rolled up to make spills which were put into the spill jar on the mantelpiece to light either the gas oven or cigarettes. There were very few matches used.
Crushed up newspapers were used to clean the windows and some of the old fashioned cutlery. There was no stainless steel then. It was a messy job but we got extra pocket money for it.