Home Comforts

Has anyone read Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House by Cheryl Mendelsohn? I've owned it for a while, but I did a lot of cleaning today (and still feel like I didn't get even half of it done), so I was thinking about it. I think everyone should have copy in their home. It is a wonderful reference book, although I have to admit it gets a little overwhelming at times. Sometimes when I look at her list of what you should be doing daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally, I start wondering if it is possible to have a full-time job and keep a clean house! Plus, who really cleans their fridge once a week, as she insists it it necessary to do?

There are quite a few chapters on laundry, so if you ever wondered how to launder a particular item or how to get a stain out, this is a book you should be reading. She also gives a lot of personal background and housekeeping history to keep it from getting too dry. Read it and clean!

Photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy.