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Marvel Avengers Blue Circle 5 Piece Full Bed Set - Includes Reversible Comforter & Sheet Set - Bedding Features Captain America & Iron Man - Fade Resistant Microfiber (Official Marvel Product)
Original price was: $68.98.$56.97Current price is: $56.97.
The Lost Art of House Cleaning: House Cleaning
$9.50
Karen Hall –
A Quirky But Useful Little Book
I just got this book this afternoon, and read through it in an hour or two. Normally it would tick me off if I paid $10 for something and read it that fast … but in this case, not so much, because it was information I was looking for, and the author packed that information in – I definitely got what I wanted. And now I can move on to making use of it, without wasting a week reading through a lot of redundancy and personal stories I don’t care about.Many reviewers commented on the grammar and typographical errors. They were right. Rather than sounding like “a book,” I’d say that it was kind of like reading a letter or email from a friend – chatty and informal. So, while it’s odd to find that in a book, it didn’t really detract from getting what I wanted out of it. And this author IS funny. The book’s undoubtedly entertaining, on top of being useful.Not to mince words, I suck at cleaning. But I hate having such a dirty house. I was fed up and wanted to do something but, knowing I have little ‘willpower’ in this area, was looking for one of those ‘streamlined cleaning techniques’ that would help me get through it as painlessly as possible. I believe this book solved that problem. Is a lot of it common sense? Possibly. But regardless of how common or sensible it is, I wasn’t doing it. Sometimes simply being reminded of the simplicity of methodical cleaning methods is enough to really make the difference. Now, rather than looking at a room and just feeling overwhelmed, I feel like I can do this, it is possible, and I have a clear “path” to follow to get it done. I feel it is much more likely now that I will get and stay on top of my housecleaning.I also loved the recommendations on products and tools – this was a huge burden to me, as I have amassed a closet full of cleaning products hoping something would make it easier (they haven’t), and the sheer volume of what to choose was overwhelming me every time I thought about cleaning. Now I can streamline down to a few things and know I have what I need. Simple.So though I haven’t put the information into practice yet (headed out shortly to pick up the minimal supplies to start my war on dirt), I can tell the information I got from this book will make a big difference in how I think about cleaning my house, and I believe make it much more doable for me.If you want a better cleaning routine with clear instructions without a lot of fluff, useful supplies to get, and a couple good doses of humor and motivation, I think you’ll like this book.
Kindle Customer –
The Book Saved Me from Embarrassment!
An excellent book! It’s already paid for itself! The contractor finished work on the interior of our house less than 24 hours before out of town company arrived, but I used a few time saving techniques from this book and the house looked better than it would’ve looked otherwise. WOW! The Path is a sensible cleaning plan, the products recommended are reasonably priced, and the techniques streamline the entire process. The one thing with which I disagreed (only one thing) is where we’re told to grab a “butter knife” to clean something since everyone has one of those…nope! Not gonna use a $10 knife we use when a common $3 putty knife would be more appropriate. That’s the only area that I found disappointing. This book is totally worth the price and is entertaining at the same time! You won’t regret buying and reading this book!
M. Anita Clayton –
Very helpful
I did like the fact that the instructions were clear and understandable. I would suggest that she update the pictures, they seem a bit old, but they did convey the concepts. It was good for me. I grew up on a working farm down a dusty lane in the country. Along with the farm both of my parents worked outside the house. It was impossible to keep things clean especially with a mother who suffered greatly from asthma and a dad who smoked like a chimney. I think by the time I came along my mom had just given up in a way. I did learn how to wash clothes, cook, clean kitchen’s and baths and do light dusting, but didn’t learn the other things that were brought out in this book. Very helpful. I was able to buy some of the items mentioned in the book on Amazon. The rest I found locally. I think I will give this to my grand daughter and other children before they go out on their own. Thanks Jan!
Grace du Ciel –
Who knew?
It all starts with a plan. If you’ve never cooked before, a counter full of great ingredients, a knife, a pan and stove will likely yield mixed results. Edible perhaps, but great? Not likely. I never thought about house cleaning that way until I read Jan Dougherty’s super book.We just bought a new house and after having been frustrated to the point of tears over our last place, I was determined to get a plan this time. As it happened, my “Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook,” got packed up with most of our other books and lies somewhere in a box in the storage unit. At first I was dismayed, and then I decided to find another – less weighty – book to help me until those boxes were unpacked and I found the book again.Sorry Martha, but I’m glad you weren’t available. Jan’s book certainly includes how to clean certain items, but unlike Martha’s book, there is a clear blueprint as to HOW. I can’t imagine tackling housecleaning any other way now.Some of the best features of this book:A road map that in no uncertain terms, gives you a method to clean your home – really clean it – with as little fuss and unnecessary steps as possible.A list of three products that will clean every item in your house that are easily accessible and inexpensive and why and how these products do what they do so well.A small inventory of items to do the cleaning with the above mentioned products.I have never been so happy to clean my house. I see the results immediately. I spend way less time than I ever dreamed possible keeping a shiny, clean home. As an example – I now mop my kitchen floor every night after the dishes are done. It’s not in the book, and it might not be on anyone else’s daily to-do list. But I can manage it in under two minutes, so why not? I have all the materials to do it right at hand, and I know my kitchen floor is as clean as the counters, dishes and sink.One of the best things about the book is that with this system, even if you are interrupted, you always know where you left off and what’s left to finish. And you can’t help but do it correctly because it’s so well thought out.Some other reviewers are a little put off by Jan’s use of acronyms, but this is totally in keeping with her style … why type the whole phrase when two or three letters convey the message … work quickly and efficiently and get the task done. She heartily encourages a reward of a lovely beverage after you’re finished, and you can sit, relax and enjoy a home that you just cleaned to perfection. Might not seem like a big deal to some, but if you’re like me, you know exactly what I’m talking about.I can’t recommend this book highly enough for those who are stymied by this seemingly simple task. If you’ve already got a sparkling home, you probably don’t need it. But Jan mentions that even new hires to her professional cleaning company who think they know all there is to know about housecleaning are soon happily converted to her system. How this for perks? Jan makes up a team to clean a house for the first time so that everything – ceiling fans to floor vents – are totally clean in four hours. They start at eight a.m. and are rewarded with a delicious lunch just after noon. Talk about motivation! Thank you Jan! You are a gem!
Natalie –
If you can get past the typos and grammatical errors – this is a fun read. Practical advice and helpful for those who don’t know how to start cleaning, or how to clean properly.
Dr. Tim Parker –
I’m not a huge fan of cleaning, but I love a clean house. To some degree, I suspect I’m fixated on things being clean and neat, hating any stains, spills, messes, or other deviations from the norm. Keeping things clean when it’s just one person is quite easy; add in a family and four big dogs, and things get out of hand easily. Why is it adult kids can open a bag of milk, spill big drops on the floor, yet fail to clean them up? Or manage to put stains on carpets in their rooms in the most unusual places? Or why dogs insist on carrying mouthfulls of food from room to room while they chew? All this means in the end is a mess that needs cleaning. If a quick vacuum was all that was required, I wouldn’t care, but often I’m faced with stains on carpets, tiles, clothes, furniture, curtains and pretty much everything else that I don’t really know how to tackle.That’s where Dougherty’s book comes in. This is not a big volume, but it is extremely useful. The book is well written and easy to read, either start to finish or as needed to handle specific issues. The book starts with a look at the tools and products you should have available, then goes through details on how to tackle each kind of issue. There’s lots of solid advice about what you can do with what you have, when to buy something to handle a particular mess, and when to call in the pros. Need specifics on how to clean ceiling fans, microwave oven roof, or glass top ranges? It’s all here, easily found, read, and followed. There’s not a lot of wasted words here, nor useless information: this is a bible on cleaning, and its the best book of its type I’ve seen. I’ve read it through in a day and a half, but keep referring to it when unusual messes appear.If a clean house is your goal, there’s a methodology proposed here for keeping things in shape, but more than that, there’s the advice on how to tackle various messes. So far, there’s been nothing that has stumped me with this book available. Highly recommended.
Heather Threadgold –
I realise now that I have never been taught to clean; but now I know. The Lost Art of Housecleaning describes exactly how to clean each room (top to bottom, back to front, right to left) in a humorous way; making the book a joy to read. The main product recommended is excellent and makes cleaning so much easier. All in all, a very good book.
mafime –
ich liebe diese altmodischen aber doch sehr praktischen tips. es ist für menschen, die grundlegend über reinlichkeit und haushaltespflege bescheid wissen wollen. allerdings bisher nur auf englich
Hilary Bayly –
What a fantastic book! Everyone knows how to do housework, but we don’t all know how to really CLEAN!!! It has inspired me to spring clean the whole house. Jan’s methods really do cut out all the “faf” and get the job done thoroughly in far less time.