I was sent this big bright book DK's Express Housekeeping to review and as a contrast I decided to look at a very old book given to me by my Granny on cleaning the home. Its called The Woman's Book - Contains Everything a Woman Ought To Know.
Its dated 1921 and is a large book with all manner of household cleaning methods along with other subjects such as Business, Dress Citizenship etc.
I just was thinking how times have changed and this book is 90 years earlier than the book I am reviewing and thank goodness I am in this century.
A quote from the Woman's Book on spring cleaning.
"As the cold days of winter are over and the promise of fine weather bids fair to be realised Put aside a few days (a few days!!!!) for this task and a feeling of satisfaction and air of content will be felt throughout the house!, the thoughts of the busy housewife turn towards the inevitable "Spring Clean" There are certain "people" who look upon this yearly cleaning as an unnecessary fetish, their point of view is most erroneous and they show little knowlege of the art of housewifery."
Love it!!
The method for ironing a shirt in 1921 takes four pages of the smallest print ever and when reading I believe it would possibly take about an hour to read and then do.
In 2011 the quote
"At last! There's no need to spend half your life cleaning your home. With the expert tips, tricks and time saving strategies in this book, you can get it all done with speed and efficiency - most of the tasks in the following pages take less than 10 minutes (10 minutes!!! I like this one better) to do."
The lovely clear photographs and four easy steps this time for ironing a shirt done in a few minutes appeals to my sense of freedom from drudgery by far!
I was impressed with the tips to declutter, how to clean stains.
My favourite word of all comes up in the book a few times and its DELEGATE, giving tips on why and how to.
All in all I know which book I will be choosing to dust!
Do you dream of being a domestic goddess but the reality is more of a domestic disaster? Don't despair! Express Housekeeping shows you how to blitz your home in no time at all. From cleaning and stain removal to decluttering your wardrobe and efficient recycling, this illustrated, essential manual reduces the toughest jobs to minimum effort chores - allowing you to have more time to relax in the comfort of a pristine home.
Express Housekeeping highlights how to achieve the perfect clean with minimal cost and maximum speed and efficiency. This easy guide is organised into clear chapters with checklists highlighting the essential jobs to do, whilst detailed spreads offer clear text and visual step-by-steps, giving practical advice on how to de-clutter even the messiest of homes.
With expert tips and time-saving techniques, readers will learn tricks of the trade, including how to get stains out of beloved items of clothing, essential organising, coping with children and pets and top tips for running an economical household. Introductory spreads show you how to put together essential cleaning kits, with advice on how to make an amazing home-made cleaner from readily available household ingredients, such as white wine vinegar and water, for an appealingly greener and thriftier alternative.
Whether it's a spring clean or the rapid return of a polished and presentable living area, Express Housekeeping has all the practical advice that you will need to achieve a satisfyingly spotless home.
Price: £12.99 Publishes: 1st March 2011
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