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Mendelson, a homemaker, lawyer, and mother, learned about housekeeping from an early age from her grandmothers, one Appalachian, the other Italian. The two grandmothers taught her that although different ways of keeping house can be appropriate, there are generally smarter, faster, and more creative ways of housekeeping that make it less of a chore and more of an art. In a practical, authoritative tone, Mendelson discusses the ins and outs of homemaking, such as washing dishes, recommended cleaning methods for various surfaces, housekeeping for those with pets or allergies, and emergency preparedness and safety procedures.
Mendelson's well-researched book includes meticulous sections on food (for example, which foods belong in the fridge versus the pantry, food storage times, picking the freshest fruits and vegetables, and keeping your kitchen and food sanitary) as well as laundry (caring for various fabrics, how to read--and read between the lines of--clothing care labels, and removing stains). Mendelson covers a lot of ground, and as she herself points out, readers shouldn't feel required to do everything mentioned in the book--simply pick the activities that seem appropriate for your particular home. This is a comprehensive reference book that should serve homemakers well and induce a greater appreciation for the effort and specialized knowledge that go into keeping house. --Kris Law --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Library Journal
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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I am a working woman with a secret life: I keep house. Read the first page
Concordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
the gift of a century for certain! *10* stars,
By . "scarlet9" (OH United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (Hardcover)
My sister bought this book for me a few years ago as a Christmas gift, and errantly enough I often made the mistake of simply checking the index and thumbing to the appropriate pages when needed. This week, in a fit of un-hominess related to flat-mate changes, 30-something grad school home-neglect, etc., I went to my bookshelves looking for some solace. For the first time -- I looked at the table of contents and there I found the secrets I had been looking for all along: Chapter 1 - My Secret Life. I started reading the book from the preface onward immediately.Though I am a child of the early 70's, I was raised by parents born in the 30's, subjected to post-war/50's cleaning rigors through the week and every weekend. At heart, like my own grandmother, I am a putterer - 100% contrary to my callisthenic style chore-upbringing. For years, I have secretly reveled while doing all of my housework as close to bedtime as possible, sometimes hours after all "normal" people were long in bed. The truth is I honestly like doing housework -- I simply do not like doing it first thing out of bed, nor according to any clock. I love going to sleep knowing that there are far better reasons to wake up in the morning than some mess left over from today. To finally find a book written by someone who genuinely loves to keep house, this was a sleeping joy sitting on my bookshelf I am sorry I never started reading cover-to-cover long ago. Though I am sure I will probably find a point within a few chapters where I decide that it will be relegated to more of a reference, I now know that when I have a little free time here or there, want to steal myself away to relax with a cup of tea between loads of laundry -- I have just the tome to which to turn to learn more and more about how make house into "home". Cheryl Mendelson brings her secret love of housework into her writing brilliantly and sometimes humorously. After years of looking at housekeeping as a chore while I tried to keep up with the clockwork callisthenic style of my childhood and feeling guilty for wanting to relax my way through making my home just that, I finally found an author who approaches her subject as something to revel in rather than revile -- an author who validates the secret wisdom of my own grandmother as absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. At first realization that Mendelson left "JD" off the cover, an eyebrow went up as to how many pages would pass before the respect and humor turned into a dry-as-heck legal brief, as enthusiastic as a math professor reciting his grocery list, but it doesn't really happen. Anyone can pick up a little 100-page quickie on how to make chores more efficient or effective, written by people who hate to "waste time" tending to household needs. While Mendelson does indeed write about many things effects the same ends, her style exudes respect and truly communicates that one does these things to convert the house into a well balanced, efficiently run, harmonious home. A place to "come home" to, rather than a demanding place that simply adds to the worries of the outside world. Save your pennies and ignore those little "hints" books -- this one single volume is worth its weight in gold.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best housekeeping books,
By
This review is from: Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (Paperback)
One of the best and most comprehensive housekeeping books I know. I brilliant reference book for every house. What the Joy of Cooking is to the kitchen Home Comforts is to the entire house.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I hate housecleaning, but loved this book,
By
This review is from: Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (Hardcover)
Driving home one day I heard an interview with Cheryl Mendelson. I was taken away with her ideas on housekeeping. My views have been forever shaped by this book. This book goes into great detail about every aspect of house keeping, and quite frankly more than I ever considered. Her cleaning methods are detailed. I fell in love with the theory behinds things like do we dust or vaccuum first? How to best seperate clothes before you put them in the washer. Her topics range from keeping your house clean, you laying out your kitchen cabinets for your ease, to how to make your home comfortable in many ways. This book is perfect for both the beginner house keeper as well as the seasoned person. You may even be able to settle arguments such as the proper way to fold things by reading this book. What I loved most about her book is that she wasn't trying to push high standards on you, but she shows you schedules, lists, and what should be done, and why. We all live in a busy world now, with many of us raising families, as well as working. This book can help to relieve some of this frustations with showing you how to organize your home to make it more comfortable for you.
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