Editorial Review

Virtually everyone enjoys a crisply ironed dress shirt, clean sheets on a well-made bed, and a savory home-cooked meal. Yet housekeeping today stands as a somewhat neglected, if not maligned, job. But as author Cheryl Mendelson points out in Read more

Reviews (219)

Simple answers to housekeeping questions
This is a great reference book detailing the best way to tackle everything from cleaning schedules to meals to laundry. Curious as to what your freezer temp should be? How long kiwis last? How to sew on a button? What's the best way to clean your toilet? I have yet to think of a housekeeping question that this book can't answer.

My standard Wedding and House-Warming Gift
I found this book by mistake when I was trying to learn to be a stay-at-home mom after being a "career woman" for 7 years.As wonderful as my mother is and was in raising me, some things cropped up that even she was unaware.Ms. Mendelson answered so many questions for me.
best book ever!
This is easily the BEST. BOOK. EVER.
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Home economics    6. House & Home    7. Repair    8. House & Home / Repair    9. Household hints   

Reviews (2)

An Organized book
Emilie Barnes' book Cleaning up the Clutter, is a conglomeration of ideas you may find in some of her other books but they are organized into a cohesive system that is easy to get your arms around. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a system of organization for their home.

Great read for home organization.
My sister gave me this book as a gift and I have really enjoyed reading it and putting into practice the clutter-cutting ideas. This has especially helped me to organize my chores into daily chunks so that the whole is not so overwhelming. Also, it has helped me create a system for mail sorting that is very helpful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who desires to create a peaceful and organized home. There are ideas for menu planning, storage organization, and general home chore scheduling. As a stay-at-home wife and mom, it has been extremely helpful and encouraging for me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Family/Marriage    3. General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House cleaning    7. Housekeeping    8. House & Home / General   

Reviews (5)

Wow cleaning is not only easy it's fun
If you're like me you may not enjoy cleaning, but Paula's easy tips and tricks actually make this chore fun!I am a wife and mother of two, so finding the time to cook, clean, decorate, etc. is quite a challenge.Maybe that's why I found Paula's book so helpful.She has chapters on everything from cooking up a cleaner kitchen where she offers advice on food preparation that requires less cleanup.And at the opposite end of the spectrum is what she shares about the way cleanliness and chore sharing can build a better household and relationship.I truly found this a quick, helpful and easy read.I recommend it to anyone wanting to tackle one of life's biggest challenges-cleaning!

There is light at the end of the tunnel
Perhaps one of the best parts about this book is that you don't feel like you're reading a cleaning manual. Paula intermixes stories, both personal and not, throughout the book, so it's completely possible to read it cover to cover and not feel like you've been "learning" - but, of course, you have! My favorite chapter is "Let there be light." It is amazing how by doing a few simple things, such as changing your lightbulb wattage, can make a HUGE difference.

Sound advice from the guru of clean
For a self-proclaimed packrat, this book was a lifesaver to me. Within the first 25 pages, Paula gives the reader the "rubbish inquisition" - questions like, "if there were a flood, would I try to save this?" and "does it make my life easier?" Making room for all of my husband's stuff in our new apartment has ben infinitely easier now that I can let go of all my STUFF - and I owe it all to Paula. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. Home Management    5. House & Home    6. House cleaning    7. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic Resource
I have thoroughly enjoyed going through this book.I have not been able to try everything, but what I have tried works. The book is written so that it is easy to follow.There are hundreds and hundreds of "recipes" and tips which can be used to remedy any number of situations around the house/yard/garden.The best thing is that most of the ingredients were already in my kitchen cabinet - at least for the things that I've wanted to try so far.I also appreciate that this book provides alternative methods to the use of hazardous chemicals/pesticides.Additionally, this book provides a wonderful offering of recipes for self-care (pampering) such as lotions and tonics, and hair and skin care.Even if you've never even THOUGHT about making your own "stuff," this book will introduce you to any number of concoctions that you can have fun experimenting with.I highly recommend this book... have fun seeing what works for you! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Gardening    4. General    5. Health    6. Healthy Living    7. Home Management    8. Home economics    9. House & Home    10. Miscellanea    11. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (3)

Very straightforward advice
This author's advice is direct and simple and seems very good for getting the reader started immediately on organizing.Highly recommended.

"Satan,get thee behind me!"
If you're anything like me,you've been fighting clutter all your adult life.Reading about how to control clutter to me is like reading recipes is to my wife.After all this reading we'll look at each other and say,"Let's go to the Mall,and then out to eat."Although newspapers and magazines are continually carrying articles about clutter,they're as common as those on energy conservation.The best book I've come across, several years ago, was "Clutter's Last Stand" by Don Aslett(see my review of December 29,2005).Despite my best intentions and efforts Clutter still stands.
Hilarious and Helpful
Bill Adler, Jr. is hilarious.If you don't get anything but a good laugh from this book, it's worth it.He has a great sense of humor and he knows how to make decluttering fun and lighthearted.He gives good tips and a different insight which you may or may not agree with(choose and use those which you think will work for you).I have read a lot of material ondecluttering and organizing and this book was still helpful, enlightening, and just plain fun to read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House cleaning    7. Orderliness    8. Storage in the home    9. Home & House Maintenance    10. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (10)

These books are actually fun to read, and the ideas are easy to implement!
I have two of her productivity books, and recently saw her speak. I can only say this- she knows her stuff! Her systems are lifesavers and best of all she lives by the systems she teaches. Her books are the most fun read of any 'organizer'type books I have found (I have shelves of them that I started but never finished because they bored me or made no sense).
Help for overwhelmed moms and dads
This book is a great resource for anyone who is overwhelmed by the stuff of life. I'm a work-at-home mom, but I'm extremely organizationally challenged. Because my "work" and my "home" all involve a multitude of jobs, I'm constantly sidetracked and distracted. I run around a lot, but often have little show for it. I did like "Leave the Office Earlier", but "Find More Time" was really what I was looking for as it covers everything that clogs up my brain and helps me sort it out with easy to follow tasks. I saw myself in the section about how "to-do's" are often "projects" and don't get done because they require too many steps. Now, my challenge is to implement and USE the ideas offered by Laura.

Extremely helpful
I have both Find More Time and Leave the Office Earlier and I find them both different and extremely helpful! After reading Find More Time, I began to finally realize: I will never get it all done. This was a harsh reality, but what I discovered was that I don't need more hours in the day---I just need different habits.Ms. Stack's book helped me realize I DO have the time, but I'm not always using it well.Through some small adjustments in the way I organize my time, errands, paperwork, and space, I'm become more efficient in several ways and have tweaked several old habits to make them more effective.Being more productive at home has even helped me find more "me" time, and with two young children, that's tough to do!For the first time in a long time, I'm putting my head on the pillow at night with a sense of accomplishment. One last thing, there are some great tips that are easy to implement right now. I love the tip of putting the kids snacks on lower shelves within the refrigerator and cabinets so they can serve themselves, it has made us all feel empowered!
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. Home Management    5. Home economics    6. Housekeeping    7. Psychology    8. Self-Help    9. Stress Management    10. Time Management    11. Self-Help / Stress Management   

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Decorating - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Feng Shui    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Body, Mind & Spirit / New Age    8. STUDY AIDS - Advanced Placement   

Reviews (12)

Basic Info
I was a little disappointed with the information in the book - it was pretty basic, not much innovative or new material.Just good common sense ways to tackle the clutter in your house.Also a little too much into the "psychology" of clutter instead of practical advice.If you have never read anything else on getting rid of clutter this book would be helpful to you.

Just throw outyour stuff and save your money
Since I am a clutter-aholic, I have read oodles of organizing books and de-cluttering books and this one is the least inspired.He seems to be just filling space with each topic, rather than offering any new insights or ideas.For this particular topic, I recommend the Messie's Manual for a beginner and Julie Morgenstern's Organizing from the Inside Out for some practical tips.The best part about Clutter Control is a guide on page 137 giving suggestions of how long you should keep certain kinds of documents.I ripped out page 137 and threw the book away.The latest organizing book I've read is David Allen's Getting Things Done.It is awesome for paper clutter, one of my worst problems.I seem to be making progress!
Saint Jeff
Jeff Campbell, guru of The Clean Team, and author of the books *Speed Cleaning* and *Spring Cleaning,* chides and guides the reader to declutter one's domestic existence - the better to clean around, my pretty!Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. House cleaning    4. Self-Help    5. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking    6. House maintenance   

Reviews (10)

A must read for "collectors"
I LOVE this book.So much I read it twice and am currently reading another of his books.So far this one is my favorite.Some of it is "fluff"but he makes you see that it is a joke keeping all the stuff you probably should throw out.It makes you laugh and say yep I do that!Since reading this book, I haven't been able to totally dejunk my home; however, before purchasing anything - I really think about the item and where I would put it in our home.

"Everything you get takes looking after."
Don Aslett has done more than anyone else I know of to help us clear up the clutter. I read his book, Clutter's Last Stand" many years ago.I dig it out every once in a while and thumb through it to help me "Get Back on the Wagon".You'll find a review on it amongst my reviews dated December 29,2005. By the way ,a good decluttering principle is followed here;Amazon keeps and stores these reviews---not me!
Amusing fluff
I bought this book before moving to another house. It *IS* a funny, easy-to read diatribe about how to bring yourself to throw things away. It *IS NOT* a comprehensive method about how to organize your space and house. If you want to get organized, have a practical, functional and nice-to-live-in home, buy Julie Morgenstern's "Organizing from the Inside Out". However, if you want to have a laugh and gain confidence about dumping the dusty junk in your cellar or attic, this is the book for you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Family/Marriage    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House & Home    5. House cleaning    6. Marriage, family & other relationships    7. Self-Help / Personal Growth / General   

Reviews (1)

Helpful book
I found this book very informative & helpful.There are a lot of good ideas.It is easy to read & follow.Highly recommend it.
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House cleaning    7. Time management    8. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (7)

Go Clean House!!!
These ladies are awesome.I sat down and read the whole book when I received it.You can tell when reading how awesome these ladies are!They have the best advice for all kinds of household cleaning.After reading I just wanted to start cleaning (even though I was in bed, and it was about midnight.)If you want to learn how to keep your place even cleaner then it hopefully already is...BUY THIS BOOK! You will be happy!

My house is cleaner after purchasing this book
Sometimes it doesn't necessarily take step-by-step directions to get something done...inspiration has a lot to do with it.While this book is filled with more pictures (of the hosts and microscopic pictures of filth) than I would have assumed, it inspired me to pick up a cleaning rag and get my house sparkling.I found quite a few tips and tricks, but many were learned from watching the show.The layout looks similar those of popular magazines, as each section deals with a different area of the house (bathrooms, living rooms, windows, carpets, etc...)If you've been cleaning your home for a few years, then this book may not be all that helpful.I would highly recommend this to someone starting out....possibly a bridal shower or wedding gift for either the new bride OR groom.

Great fun and totally useful too!
I had to have this book because every Monday night at 10:00 I'm glued to Lifetime.This show is so much fun and I think I have a plutonic crush on Kim and Aggie.I've always been accused of being a little obsessive about cleaning - and since How Clean is Your House? it's only gotten worse! So of course I had to get this book.It has so many useful tips in it.I have a whole day planned for the weekend for using some of their techniques for cleaning my apartment. I can't wait!
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    2. General    3. Home Improvement / Construction    4. House cleaning    5. Reference    6. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (3)

Easy Does It!: Cheap & Simple Ways to Solve Common Household Problems
I have used this book on an as needed or reference basis.It gives several ideas and solutions for each problem I have looked up.The solutions I chose worked and were helpful.

A Must Have !
I came across this book at a friends house and found myself sifting throught it. It has ALOT of useful information on so different many topics. It has useful tips on everything from how to clear a drain with cheaper products to how to save money on gas...I had to order a copy of my own ASAP, you should to!

Can't Live Without This One
This is the title that every person needs to own!!It has wonderful commonsense information about a huge amount of everyday household problems and topics with easy solutions.For instance, in reference to a mouse problem in my house, it gave me at least 4 different ways to deter the little critters.All of the ways consisted of items which I already had in my cabinets, but didn't know would solve the problem.The diversity of topics absolutely amazed me and encouraged the immediate placement of this title on the most accessible shelve in my bookcase.I know that it will be indispensable!!The price is perfect too.Thumbs up! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Healthy Living    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House & Home    7. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    8. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (25)

Stylish and practical
I have two young children, a packrat mate,a home-based business, and a newly purchased, super tiny apartment. Need I say how easy it would be to drown in a sea of clutter?
great book!
i have been working on the "clutter" in my home, and this book had good ideas and helpful pictures to go with them. i am on a tight budget, but was able to take ideas and mostly just use things i already have, just adding some baskets and bins here and there. i recommend it!

Beautiful and functional storage solutions...A must for Every Household
Like the other reviewers, I love this book!If you love your stuff, want to keep it, but need great ideas on how to "contain the clutter" and beautifully display your rooms, this book is for you.Each chapter contains several ideas for organizing the different areas of the home.It covers many decorating styles and tastes.It's all about functional yet beautiful furnishings that work for your lifestyle.I can't say enough--buy the book and you will see what I mean. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Decorating    3. Decorating - General    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. Interior Design - General    7. Interior decoration    8. Interior design    9. Storage in the home    10. Home furnishing & decoration   

Reviews (8)

Well done overview
My first reaction to this book was one of disappointment.I thought it was too general and too short.However, since I've read it, I keep finding myself referring to it and implementing ideas I found in it.Many of the things I already do and I found this book affirming.I like her phrase 'Start where you are'.After reading her overview, one can always look for more information to cope with specific problem areas, like clutter.

A Well-Ordered Book!
Don't let the size of the book fool you - just because it doesn't take an encyclopedia sized book to get her ideas across does not mean they aren't profound, easy to internalize, and life changing.
One of the BEST books on the subject
As a psychologist, researcher and lecturerthe author shares
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Decorating    3. Healthy Living    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Home Management    6. House & Home    7. Psychology Of Special Subjects    8. Spirituality - General    9. Home & House Maintenance    10. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    11. Popular psychology   

Reviews (4)

Recommend this book for a true Messie
This book does help with you discover the root of the problem.Following an 'blue print' from a non-messie does not change the way I think & process information about my world.I find Sandra Felton's books come from the point of view of a former messie & I can relate to her better than someone who has always been organized.If you are a messie, this is a good book to read.

Updated Messies Superguide
Yes this is the updated version of the Messies Superguide.And I'm so grateful. My Superguide was so well used, it was losing pages!Here and there, there is updated info.
Worth reading if you're messy
When I moved into my first apartment I was faced with a terrible dilema. My mother had always kept our house in good shape, that is of course for myself and my sister's room who were in a continual state of disarray. Therefore I learned to enjoy a clean house without actually learning to do it myself. I was miserable in my own apartment! Thankfully for Christmas my mom got me Living Organized as well as Smart Organizing and The New Messies Manual by Sandra Felton. Living Organized is great for pointing out habits that need to be replaced that lead to disorganization, especially for those of us who are easily distracted, and Smart Organizing is more about what to do once you're aware of your behavior. I haven't made it to the third one yet, but am saving it for if I slip back into my old ways. It must be working because when my sister came to visit last night she said "wow, your place is so clean and organized." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - General    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House cleaning    7. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking   

Reviews (1)

Breathing easier now.
This is one of the best, easy reading books on indoor air quality I have found.It leads the reader through a understandable "mountain" of technical information with clear and insightful direction.Not only does Doctor Sommersall throughly explain the problem he explains what can be done about it.
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Comparative Religion    3. Consumer Health    4. Healthy Living    5. Religion    6. Atmospheric pollution    7. Household hints    8. Popular medicine   

Reviews (7)

It's packed with ideas and insights and not to be missed.
Jamie Novak is a professional organizer and tells how to get organized; from the three basic steps to reducing clutter to letting go of junk and understanding how home layout can contribute to clutter. A room-by-room organization considers everything from whether to keep photo negatives to how to store them, how to incorporate a drying rack into a limited room size, and much more. It's packed with ideas and insights and not to be missed.
Real Ideas for Real People living in the Real World
As the author of this book I am bias. But I hope you'll read this anyway because I want to tell you why I wrote the book. For over 15 years I've worked as a Professional Organizer helping people pare down to just what they use and love. While we cleared the clutter I would find a pile of books to be read (usually on the nightstand) and in the pile there were always a few books on how to get organized.
1000 Best Quick and Easy Organizing Secrets
I found the book extremely easy to read and easy to see how the suggestions could be incorporated into our everyday lives.
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Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. Home Management    4. House & Home    5. Orderliness    6. Reference    7. Storage in the home    8. House & Home / Cleaning & Caretaking    9. Self-Help & Practical Interests   

Reviews (4)

A great reference book
This book is compact and contains extremely useful information about cleaning some very commonplace things that you're never really sure how to clean.

Keeping Your House in Tip Top Condition
Consumer Reports is a division of Consumers Union, a non- profit organization that was established in 1936. This group is known primarily for its magazine publication and for its testing and rating of consumer products. But it also tests other consumer- related services and how to best maintain the appearance of consumer goods. That's how this book was created. It's the accumulation of years and years of experience and testing, conducted by the Consumer Reports Technical Division.
so-so
I learned a few things from this book. The thing I did find helpful in it is the directory of how to clean virtually avery surface. The basic cleaning tips taught though are very minimal and are things that most people already know. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    3. Do-It-Yourself    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. House & Home    6. House cleaning    7. Reference   

Reviews (18)

Quiet Wisdom
I have only read the first of two books in this volume, but I am impressed with the combination of quiet wisdom dispensed in a plain-writing style. The style may not resonate with a woman who wants to be flattered as hard-charging or not to be confused with a housewife; I think the book is a small gem. Benjamin Franklin, another pragmatist not without humor, would have understood its tone. (BTW, I am a 59 year-old bachelor.) At her best, Felton offers compassion to those who have been intimidated into fear of making any decision or any move, counsels against compensating by inflating simple jobs into big plans that are never executed, and gently shows how to break things down into managable size. She offers useful and humorous warnings against "another good idea that doesn't work." As an older book, the book shows no awareness of how Felton's tools could fit into a small electronic PDA, but a reader who prefers a PDA to paper can figure that out.

Bogus and disappointing...
As an apparently "messie" college student, I received this book from my mother after years of hearing her complain about how messy I am.I was actually eager to spend some time flipping through it (I first saw it on the bargain rack at Barnes and Noble...I wonder why), but once I did, I was largely disappointed.This book is written expressly for the 1980's housewife, with its humor and voice only directly relevant for this group.In the first part of the collection, Felton tries to pigeonhole messy people (seeing the word "messie" feels like hearing nails on a chalkboard for me) into profiled categories (i.e. "The Clean Messie") and spends the rest of the book throwing out bogus and unfounded advice based on her misperceptions of the psychology of messy people.The second part of the collection is just as much of a mess itself, with more of Felton's bogus advice as a "former messie"."Messies Anonymous"?"The Mount Vernon Method?"Oh please.If you want to become more organized in this day and age (rather than 20 years ago), this isn't the book for you.

It Will Change Your Life!!
I never thought of myself as a "Messie", I just thought I was just behind on a few things! Sandra Felton in her wonderful writing style makes you want to sing out loud and expect more from yourself and your home. This book is not for you if you want to learn how to clean but it is for you if you want to organize your home and life. Her system on organizing your cleaning and day to day life are quick painless and ultimately change your messie ways forever! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Home Improvement / Construction    3. House cleaning    4. Motivational & Inspirational    5. Self-Help    6. Time management    7. Sale Books   

Reviews (8)

Fabulous and Lovely!
This book gives charm to chores, yet is meticulously detailed and easy to use. I highly recommend it both for home reference and as the perfect housewarming gift!

Disappointing!
This book should be entitled "The Obsessive-compulsive's Guide to Keeping House".The lists of tasks to do daily, weekly and monthly were more than a little overwhelming. If you did all the things this book says you need to do to keep a clean, orderly home then you will have little time for anything else.There are some good ideas in here, but they are overshadowed by the to-do checklists.Also the pictures in this book are of rooms with a very sterile, minimalist look to them.Boring.The rooms are indeed clutter free and spotlessly clean, but lack character and warmth.A little like living in a hospital.
It's like a Bible if Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
How did you learn to keep house?From your mother?From your maid?Well some of us didn't pay attention to our mothers.And some of us didn't have maids.Read more

Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Family & Relationships    3. Family/Marriage    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. House cleaning