Home Comforts : The Art and Science of Keeping House

Inspiring and hilariously daunting. I turn to this book several times a year for reference (what, pray tell, am I to do when my elderly cat becomes incontinent on a prized cushion? How long may shrimp be left on the counter?) and for inspiration as well.

If you belive that something worth doing is

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worth doing well, and particularly if your upbringing wasn't focussed on domestic science, then this is a worthwhile read.

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A fantastic reference that goes far beyond dry lists and praises for baking soda. Mendelson's detailed advice on nearly every aspect of house-keeping is comforting to read and makes the tedious seem enjoyable.We intend to buy this book (rather than keep the library copy ;-)

Definitally reccomended. An awesome resource of homemaking instruction...I bought it for myself at the age of 13, and use it all of the time, even though I am not out of highschool yet, and homeschooled to boot.

It's very detailed. Too detailed, perhaps. And it's best to skip the intro if you don't want to be totally nauseated by her deep obsession with housework. Just use it as a reference book for when you're not sure how to clean wicker furniture or the best way to defrost your fridge. It's much better

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that way.

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"When you keep house, you use your head, your heart, and your hands together to create a home..." is from the Preface of Cheryl Mendelson's book Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House. This is one of the most thorough books I've seen on making a house into a home.

worth it for the section "When is Good Enough Good Enough". Mendelson's intent in this book is not to make us feel guilty or compulsive about Keeping House, but how to do it in a way that is effective.

I liked the introduction to this book and the general idea, but I felt that the content switched between common sense and stuff I'd never do and thus wasn't that helpful to me. It is very thorough though and if you're new to housework, it might have much valuable information.

What a cool idea for a book. Part practical advice, part philosophy. I loved it!

Handy reference...a little over the top

A great resource for every home.

Very interesting: the hows and whys of making a home that comforts and restores. The author deliberately made it inclusive, which means it can be a little overwhelming (I'm not sure how often I'm really willing to dust.) But encouraging and inspiring nonetheless.

This is the ultimate reference for everything having to do with making one's home comfortable, liveable and clean. Mendelson is thorough without ever being dry, and the book is laid out with useful side bars to keep reading easy. The level of detail and high standards of cleanliness may be

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intimidating, but her general philosophy really spoke to me: the more you can keep up with maintaining your home on a day-to-day or regular basis, the less things will pile up to the point where it's truly daunting. I have been working to implement her system to my own standards and have been really happy at how my house has improved. Highly recommended.

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This volumptuous tome is a House wives' haven when it comes to running an effective, successful home. It is well-written and illustrated and gives you valueable advice on how to run virtuously every aspect of housekeeping. This was by far the best book I've ever purchased on the topic. Very

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thourough and informative.

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This would be a five-star book if it wasn't for the extremely irresponsible suggestion that it is better for a pet's mental health to be allowed to roam. Call me a bad kittymommy, but I'm a little more interested in my cats' *physical* health than that.

Otherwise, it's an invaluable reference, an

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inspiration, and, yes, a good read.

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This book tells you, perhaps, more about housekeeping than you wanted to know, but it's a useful reference and guide for the perplexed.

one of the best books on homemaking, the how and the why