1 comments about The Not So Big House.

1. I LOVE THIS BOOK; DREAMY AND PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR THOSE WHO WANT A QUALITY HOUSE NOT A QUANTITY MINI-MANSION.

2 comments about Garage Solutions (Do It Yourself).

1. A very dissapointing title from Taunton. Basically a series of near-advertisements for systems you can buy and simply install. The few do-it-yourself projects look like summer-camp woodshop material.



2. This was a great book to show the people what I wanted to organize my garage. The book arrived quickly and was in excellent condition.

No comments about Clean-Up Time (Toddler Tools Series).

5 comments about Speed Cleaning 101: Cut Your Cleaning Time in Half!.

1. This book is so exciting to me, the Title itself is motivating. I read of it in a magazine, immediately went to Amazon! Sure enough, there it was. I ordered it and in a few days spent time reading it (still reading). It is so encouraging to finally find something that WORKS without making you feel defeated before you start.This book tells me what I need to make it simple,enjoyable and excited because I know if I follow this method I can have a clean, uncluttered houseall of the time...without the panic on hearing the doorbell ring and find my neighbor standing there waiting to be invited in. When we visited our son and family recently, I took the book to read on the way up and back, when his wife saw it , she wanted one. so I gave her mine, then regreted it all the way home, thinking "what if I can't find another? Not to worry, I did .Now, I'm busy reading more and doing more in less time.
   I highly recommend this book to homemakers, professionals, or any one that isn't presently using this method. Try it , you will like it!



2. What's charming about the book is the author's positive attitude and humor. She gives great advice on what products to use and general techniques. However, this book is not a step-by-step manual. It seems written for people who have already housecleaned their whole lives and just need some pointers.
   
   Best advice from the book:
   1. Use microfiber cloths
   2. Separate wet from dry cleaning
   3. Work top from bottom, clockwise around the room
   4. Use Lemon oil to chine bathroom/chrome accessories



3. Too many prose...not a quick read. Prefer the Clean Team and the Campbells books. They are to the point and are not afraid to recommend supplies one can pick up off the shelves of the grocery store. So, I bought the Speed Cleaning book//Campbell and the Clean Team.Speed Cleaning



4. I met Laura as she was starting her business, I never gave cleaning much of a thought because I was single. Well almost two decades later I found myself scrambling to get things done as a new stay-at-home mom. The tips in this book helped me gain control of my house without losing my mind. Thanks so much!!!! I highly reccomend this and anything from Real Simple.



5. I was a bit dissapointed with this book. It's not organized well and Ms Dellutri constantly does not give enough information. I found it extremely anoying that she would make statments like: (I'm paraphrasing) "You should use a kitchen spray cleaner that is antibacterial and kills germs in the least amount of time. I found one that kills germs on countertops in 45 seconds." BUT, then she doesn't tell us the brand or where to buy, so I guess she wants us to go off on a scavenger hunt for these products! She makes suggestions like this throughout the book. I've read other books on this subject and other authors suggest brands and products. Even Jeff Campbell (Speed Cleaning) who sells his own rather pricey products on the inernet recommends other brands in his book and suggests alternative products. This is very helpful for the reader. Ms. Dellutri doesn't give detailed instructions either, so someone just starting out is not given details as to the correct method, correct tools, to remove dirt, grime or whatever from surfaces at home. The book lacks methodology, product/brand recommendations, and organization.

1 comments about Penny Pincher's Almanac: Hints & Tips on Living Well for Less.

1. Great book!!! This book gives you a long list of ways of being cheap or frugal. I use this book all the time. It is great to bring to the grocery store.
   It gives some general tips on...
   Coupon clipping
   getting clothes for cheap
   lowering all you bills
   Cheap entertainment
   and more.

1 comments about The Log Home Maintenance Guide: A Field Guide for Identifying, Preventing, and Solving Problems.

1. Gary Schroeder has written a book that will be a goldmine of information for anyone who owns a log home that is more than a few years old. Plenty of practical advice for caring for, restoring, and fixing old log homes. He covers a large variety of topics: log home finishes and finish problems and repair, sanding versus waterblasting versus sandblasting, chinking repair and replacement, insect damage, decay . . the list goes on. Amply illustrated, plenty of color, vivid diagrams. And Gary knows his stuff--he also owns Schroeder Log Home Supply, one of the US's top log home supply stores. If you want practical help with how to diagnose log home problems, and fix them, this is the place to start. You will not learn to be a professional chinking applicator by reading the section on chinking, this book is more of a "log home owner's manual," not an encylopedia of log restoration techniques and tools. (Just as a car's owner's manual does not tell you step by step how to rebuild the transmission.)
   
   Disclosure-- Gary's business sells my book, the Log Construction Manual , so he is a customer of mine. I am also a customer of his -- I buy some tools and supplies at Schroeder's. I would guess that for years he's been getting questions from log home owners about how to get rid of carpenter bees, repair decay, seal gaps, and so on, and he's collected his advice and experience in this volume. And that makes it worth owning.

4 comments about Smart Organizing: Simple Strategies for Bringing Order to Your Home.

1. I found this book very informative & helpful. There are a lot of good ideas. It is easy to read & follow. Highly recommend it.
   
   Ellen



2. In the last month since I have been reading "Smart Organizing" my use of time and space have been revolutionized by appling the 20/80 principle that Sandra Felton discusses her book. The principle states that 80% of the results we get in our lives are from focusing our effort on the most important 20%. Each day when I have felt overwhelmed by the list of things to do in my limited time, or things to buy with my limited money, or things to store in my limited space I have asked myself, what is the most important 20% to do today with my time, money or space. It has been wonderful to see the results! I am making steady progress in organizing my space, time and money and feeling so much better about my decisions. This book also focuses on specific areas of the house, plus suggestions for taking care of laundry, meals, and even messy cars. Very helpful in finding motivation to change and suggestions of how to change. Thanks, Sandra.



3. Rather it is about maintaining unequal relations between men and women. This book disappointed me because it suggests on several occasions a link between a neat house and god's approval. And the scenarios portray a male-dominated household with a woman keeping it neat. Totally retrograde. I'll find other reasons to declutter my house--and with those reasons, other methods and authors. I feel misled because none of the descriptions emphasize the Xtian focus.
   
   Christian readers might well like it, but I just believe the book should really be more forthcoming about its status as a Christian publication.
   
   I would have given it zero stars if I could.



4. I would recommend this book to anyone who cringes at the idea of having friends over for dinner and anyone who wants to transform their "house" into a "home".
   
   This book is not just about housekeeping but about how to put the least amount of effort into any project and get the biggest effect. It stresses the difference between being a perfectionistic housekeeper and one who is effective. Perfectionists put off cleaning because they don't have time to do everything perfectly; effective cleaners put 20% effort into a project, and reap 80% benefit for their efforts.
   
   Learning to be an effective organizer is a skill that can be applied to time management, budgets, and just about any other aspect of life. I highly recommend this book.

5 comments about Joey Green's Amazing Kitchen Cures: 1,150 Ways to Prevent and Cure Common Ailments with Brand-Name Products.

1. I had seen an ad about this book with some of the remedies listed. I went and bought it just to see what I could find in there. As I started reading it, I saw ones my MOM used.
   
   Say you're cooking and some grease gets on you, try Colgate toothpaste(regular). Canada Dry Ginger Ale is great for upset stomach (generic brand works just as well) for clearing up congestion. There were quite a few old family remedies in this book that I've used before. The author also lists interesting facts about the companies whose products he lists. He also explains in many of the remedies why they work.
   
   The book is really helpful, but don't feel you can only use the brand names he lists. For example, the one about using Canada Dry Ginger Ale - I've used generic brands for years and you will get the same result. The Colgate one - I've used gel types and that works too. I'll probably be going through this book again and again. It's a nice reference for the price :)
   
   I recently picked up another copy for a relative. Her kids found the book and SHE didn't see it again for a week. I didn't realize the kids would be so fascinated with the book. It's really a great way to have kids explore how things work. Again, a great reference.



2. It is very similar to other Joey Green book that I purchased in the same order, and I wish I knew that in advance.



3. mazing kitchen cures. I think it's a great book. It has helped my son with his son as he cant' afford a doctor visit every time the child gets a minor illness. like a cold. The suggestions really work.



4. This book is great! A friend of mine was reading this book at work and I looked at it and was instantly intriged. I had to get my own. So I went to Amazon and got one. I use it when I get sick mostly. I've had family and friends call me and ask how to I get rid of this cold, flu, sore throat and etc. I tell them give me a sec, I get the book and read to them. They say its great too. It really has come in handy and saved me tons of money, because I don't have to go to the doctor for everything. Definately think everyone should own a copy OR get a friend to buy it. LOL



5. haven't read the whole book, skimmed through it. it's a good reference book to have around the house. lots of quirky things to use to cure things or to even clean with that you would've never thought to use before.

5 comments about The Royal Guide to Spot and Stain Removal.

1. I have been so impressed with this little book that I originally found at my grocery store in the book section that I am online to buy some for friends and family as they all keep hounding me on how it was again that I got out "that" particular stain or "this" particular stain. I have gotten dried on chocolate stains out of childrens clothing and a whole bottle of hersheys syrup out of beige carpeting with her all purpose spotter. If you have kids - GET THIS BOOK! (a permanent fixture in my laundry room)



2. This is a great reference book. Always there and its so compact. It helps me get my familys tough stains out too@



3. So small and compact. Great reference book!



4. So small and compact. Great reference book!



5. Compared to the other books I received in this order, this one was very small with yellowed pulp type pages. The book's content may still be fine but the book itself looks very dated.

5 comments about The Homeowner's Guide to Mold.

1. If you are looking for an authoritative guidebook on mold, this is it. I wish we had read this book before we bought our house, but I'm grateful we read it afterwards. We bought our "dream home" on 5 acres, only to find after living there a few days that it had a nightmare mold infestation that made my family ill. Michael Pugliese's Homeowners' Guide to Mold is an outstanding practical guide to dealing with a mold problem--from small, do it yourself fix-ups to professional remediation (like we had)!
   
   It helped us understand just what we were facing and recommended steps we needed to take to fix the problem. This guide is thorough, easy to read, and goes beyond "just mold." It addresses what questions to ask, water problems, testing and cleanup, finding remediators, insurance, and prevention of mold recurrence. In addition, the guide is generously illustrated with color photos, and concludes with a resources section that deals with companies, products, and government agencies, so you know where to look for materials, laboratories, remediator qualifications, or further information.
   
   The author also includes an informative website for additional questions and information. This is really an impressive, educational guidebook. It reflects a lot of experience and knowledge put into a clear and concise format that anyone can understand. Michael Pugliese has helped us tremendously.



2. I bought this book looking for info specificaly to avoid building mistakes that could lead to mold. There is really no info on building techniques, this book is written for what to do after mold is already there. It's a disapointment for me as I have two old stone structures to renovate and 'prevent' mold. This book will be helpful to you, however, if you have a mold situation already.



3. I bought this book at Home Depot. I am a certified microbial Consultant (glorified mold-inspector) by the American Indoor Air Quality Council.
   
   I thought the book was well written and contains sound advice as far as removing and cleaning mold. It's nice to finally see someone tell people that bleach is not effective for mold remediation.
   
   I can tell the author has a lot experience as a mold remediator. There are some things I disagree with in the section on testing for mold. Petri dishes (self test kits) are useless for the homeowner. They are very inaccurate. They may tell you have mold problem when you don't and miss a mold problem that exists.
   
   Reading test reports is not always that simple either. The author has done a better job of explaining testing than most other books on the market.
   
   The other disagreement I have is with the EPA guidelines on quantifying "how big is your mold problem". The problem with these guidelines is that they are based on the amount of mold you can see. Most mold is hidden. The EPA adapted them from the state of New York in the beginning when there were not other guidelines around.
   
   Very interesting appendix on estimating how much it cost to have a professional do the mold remediation for you. It's nice to see some numbers. Usually the estimates from remediators vary greatly. Maybe this can be used a baseline to do a reality check on the estimates you get.
   
   I (Dan Stih) am the author of Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health.



4. This is a terrific book, and the best investment on MOLD that I could ever have made. I found it while searching for information on the hazards and identification of mold and how to safely remove it. It is an easy read that provides a wealth of information and guidance. I had a small mold problem and after reading the book, going to the author's website and a couple of phone calls to Mr. Pugliese, I successfully removed the mold at a mere fraction of the cost of professional remediation. I highly recommend this book to every do-it-yourself homeowner who may encounter a mold issue.



5. This book is clear and direct with just the right amount of necessary information if you are buying a house or need to remediate a mold problem.
   Unfortunately I read this book after having an inadquate remediation. He emphasizes that the contractor who is doing the remediation should never be the same firm that is doing the pre and post-testing--a clear conflict of interest. I found it helpful that the real magic humidity number is 47% or less in order to discourage mold growth. And yes, he actually did spend time on the phone with us regarding our particular situation!