5 comments about Is There Life After Housework.

1. This book is the most useful book on cleaning I have read. The author owns a cleaning business and shares tips on how to very efficiently and effectively both clean and de-clutter your home. He also discusses ways to keep the house from getting dirty to start with. I've used his tips for years now and have just re-read my copy of this and refreshed my memory [and got even more ideas!].

   The author also writes very humorously, so it is an easy and fun book to read. Nothing too heavy but full of great ideas and suggestions. He is writing to an older generation perhaps, his ideas about housewives seem a bit out of date, but otherwise it is an enjoyable and extremely helpful book.




2. If you've ever wondered how to remove a stain, clean your carpet, or de-lime your shower, it's because you don't have this book. I bought Aslett's book a few years ago and still keep it handy as a reference guide to cleaning procedures. His recommendations on getting the house to clean itself have saved me hours of housework.



3. This book is full of interesting material and helpful hints to relieve the pain of housework.



4. Never again wonder if that stain will come out. This reference book will show you how to get that stain out.



5. I always enjoy reading Don Aslett books. He is an excellent writer with a keen ability to keep the reader interested while imparting cleaning and organization wisdom. Having owned and managed businesses I thought I knew quite a few professional secrets, but Don was able to teach me even more secrets and give me the little push I needed to step things up a notch. One thing I find quite funny is that he only mentions wearing shoes while cleaning once in the book, which is so important, even at home. It can save you from slips, plus your feet will not be tired at the end of the day if you wear proper shoes. However he mentions time and time again to use a lambswool duster to remove cobwebs. I found that to be enduring and cute as obviously cobwebs are a pet peeve of his.
   
   This book is ideal for people wishing to do a better job cleaning their house in less time, semi-professional and professional cleaners, as well as those looking to enter the cleaning business. The final chapter is so eloquent and from the heart it made the book worth so much more than just a cleaning book. Filled with humor, wisdom, and tried and true cleaning methods, this book is sure to delight all readers who care about a clean environment.
   
   One thing I should add is that there is a newer edition of this book. For the few extra dollars, I would recommend the newer version for more up to date information.

5 comments about Build It Right! What to Look for in Your New Home.

1. There is a lot of good information in this book, but there is also a lot missing as well as some misleading information. I'd recommend this book to someone that was planning on building or remodeling with the caveat that they also read from other sources or better consult with established professionals in each and every trade on the project.

   The strong points of this book include good discussion of doorway layouts, spacing in kitchen and baths, things to look out for that could be problems and good questions to ask or things to consider when planning. Pointing out problems and potential problems that a homeowner may face in the future makes this book worth the money, after all, if after reading this book an owner solves or prevents just one simple mistake, the book has paid for itself many times over.

   The weak points of this book are why I suggest reading elsewhere or consulting with professionals. I am an electrician by trade so I read the chapter on electrical first. It wasn't that any of the information was really bad or mistaken, but simply that I felt it didn't mention a lot of things that could and should be brought up when planning.

   The author makes a point (several times) about having three conductor wire run to any potential ceiling fan location. While this isn't bad advice, it's incomplete. Many of the top of the line fans use remote control switching and don't require an extra wire. The best fans I have installed use a remote that is battery operated and the ceiling fan itself is wired to a two conductor wire that isn't even switched. If an owner picked up one of this fans they would now have a switch on the wall that did nothing or worse a switch that if turned off would cancel out the auto temperature function of the remote.

   While pointing out the importance of having an extra outlet outside for things like Christmas lights, he fails to mention the nice addition of eve high outlets wired to a timer.

   There are many reasons to consider timer switches, especially for outside wall and path lights. The best is a 7 day 24 hour electronic timer that fits in the space of a regular switch. These can be programed to go off at various times through out the night, a nice feature when on vacation or simply for added security.

   The use of lighting controls, dimmers, timers, etc. is barely touched on or not discussed at all. While these systems can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, all but very meager budgets such at least consider the options available because for some applications the extra money can be justified.

   The use of dimming xenon lighting for undercabinet use instead of fluorescent is not discussed. I believe it is a much better option.

   I also noticed some problems in other trades. The use of insta hot water heaters is mentioned as a good way to save energy in the kitchen because the hot water doesn't have to travel to get there. I am not sure what the author was basing this information on, but it isn't correct. First off he implies that an insta hot can supply water at the sink but he doesn't mention that there are two kinds of systems. One is the insta hot that keeps about a gallon of near boiling water for use in making coffee, tea and instant soups and oatmeal. While this is great for people on the go or someone that doesn't want an elderly member of the family turning on the tea kettle and perhaps forgetting it; it is not an energy saving device. The second kind of insta hot is a small unit that doesn't store any water, it just heats up the water as it passes through the unit. It is really only designed for one purpose only hand washing. In the discussion on supplying extra or insta hot water for bathrooms, the author mentions that planning for the space and supplying electrical or gas are the considerations. But what about venting the unit if it is gas? This is a big consideration and would make adding a second unit not very cost effective. The best solution would simply be to add a circ pump and if necessary increase the size of the water heater. The way the information is laid out in the book would probably just confuse the non-professional.

   The biggest problem I had in my reading of this book was when I read the author describe linoleum as the floor of choice in the kitchen. I nearly quit reading right there and then and threw the book in the trash. To his credit he does mention that in certain parts of the country tile is the way to go and if you live in those parts it's ok to go with tile. I happen to live in Southern California where linoleum is the flooring used in apartments and condos and cheap o tract homes. I can't believe anyone would recommend linoleum over tile. Tile stands up for years and if one breaks, which is unlikely, it can be replaced with another tile. If linoleum rips, which it's easy to do when moving appliances around, it is not as easy to fix as replacing a tile and regrouting, it will have to have a seam and seams tend to come apart after time. Plus linoleum over the years tends to get dull with wear while tile can be cleaned and resealed, linoleum is a print on paper and once it wears out or is ripped or scratched it can't be taken back to it's pristine state. While I personally hate the current trend in fake wood floors (laminates) because I think they look fake, I think a compelling argument could be made to use them over linoleum. The author of this book obviously doesn't mind linoleum, which is fine, but he fails to make a case for the other options as well as he could have and should have so that the reader could make informed choices.

   Finally I would like to say that despite my misgivings and the problems I found, I'd like to reiterate that anyone going into building or buying a new home wouldn't be hurt by reading this book and even a simple suggestion or solution to a problem would pay for the cost of the book, but don't stop with just this book. It leaves too much out.




2. Read this book with a notepad by your side and take notes on every chapter. The main focus is to show you how to build a home that is convenient for you with the knowledge that sometimes this can be inconvenient for the builder. It talks about hundreds of little details that most people aren't aware of when designing a home. Room sizes in relation to furniture, light locations in relation to tables, materials, door swings, vents, heat lamps, and on and on and on...



3. Hey Michael Bird - learn what linoleum is before talking about it like it is vinyl. There is a big difference.



4. I've been nothing but impressed with this book! It gives you a complete comprehensive guide of what and what not to do when building a home. The author discusses HVAC types, stove vents and their installation, where to place the light switches, types of doors and why and a complete breakdown of the kitchen from cabinets to dishwashers just to mention a few topics. (He covers it all) The things you honestly wouldn't think about and items often missed or ignored by a builder. If you are planning on building your home give this a read, it could save you a ton of money and certainly squash quite a few common mistakes that make a big difference after you move in.



5. This book is about the pieces-parts (as the commercial used to say). There are little sections on just about every piece in the house: plumbing, countertop material, HVAC, security etc. It also talks quite a bit about proper design, such as: which way a door should swing,; when to use pocket doors; where to put the dishwasher (better yet: where NOT to put the dishwasher); how to vent the dryer; what size kitchen hood to use; etc.
   
   As I mentioned, he writes one or two pages on nearly every visible or finish piece in the house (notable exceptions: framing materials and foundation). His primary focus is functionality and user-friendliness of the house, followed by quality and durability of the materials.
   
   Buy this book BEFORE you decide on a floorplan. It will help you spot design flaws. As you move through the building process, refer to it often as you are required to make decisions on materials, surfaces and appliances. A great reference source but not a "how-to" or "construction timeline" book.

1 comments about The Woman's Book of Household Management: Everything a Woman Ought to Know.

1. This is a charming and complete look at household management in early 20th century England. Quite amazing, really. Unfortunately, I happen at this time to need a 21st century look at household management for a project about widowhood, so I was out a few bucks for my carelessness. However, if you want a highly detailed encyclopedia of all that was entailed in upper class housewifery in 1911, this is your manual. You will gain respect for our predecessors and their gargantuan task of maintaining the proper home.

5 comments about Controlling Dust In The Workshop.

1. This book could save you life. Dust can be very dangerous. This book will more than pay for it's self when you decide to collect that dust instead of breathing it. The book is aimed a small commercial or home workshop. My family joked and laughed at me for buying a book about dust. After looking over the book, my son said it is interesting, and he was glad i bought it. I am just about finished with the instalation of a dust collection system in my shop. I used a lot of great input from this book. Peters recommends metal pipe over PVC. I have a friend who has a nice PVC system, and will be replacing the PVC with metal. In the past I had a large commercial DC system that worked very well. I expect this smaller system will work well too.



2. This is the most clearly written book I could find on dust collection. The author makes it very clear that dust is dangerous to your long term health and then concisly states through pictures and words how to help you make woodworking a life long experience. I highly recommend this as a first and maybe only book on dust collection.



3. I like this book because for one the photos are very clear and in color. All too often woodworking books come with drawn pictures or black and white photos, which I hate. One of the best things I like about this book is Rick Peters shows you how to make simple dust collection hookup for each of your machines. I already made 2, which work great. The only thing I disagree with is the fact he tells you not to use PVC for your ducting. I live in a humid climate so static electricity is the least of my worries. This topic has been debated to death, and I guess Rick is on one side of the debate, but PVC is so much easier to work with and more readily available. Plus it is [less expensive]. All in all this is a fine book.



4. I ordered this book before setting up my 1000 sq/ft shop. It really cleared up a lot of things. I was considering buying 2 of the popular (Jet or Delta) bag collectors... one for each end of my shop.

   However, after reading the book, I decided this would be a cheaper way to go, but not a better way. I ended up buying a cyclone unit and using all metal ductwork. More expensive, but safer and much more efficient.




5. When someone asks you a riddle, it is complex in trying to find an answer. Once you find it, or someone gives it to you, it seems so obvious, you may blurt out, "I knew that" Well that is what the author has done with every aspect of controlling dust in the workshop. This guy knows it so well, that he has reduced it to simplicity. No guesswork in his approach. He states it, and that is the end of it. It is a highly recommended read. No nonsense, simply put, this is the way to put the best dust collection system together.
   Here is what I decided to do, after reading the book. Although the author recommends a cyclone dust collector, I am purchasing the JDS Dust Force, with the 1 micron kit, (be sure and get the optional 1 micron kit) and a Woodstock International separator. The price of doing it that way is one third of the cost of the a cyclone unit. Home made units can be made, and he points the way on how to do it, but I would prefer to not have to build one, since I have enough projects to do already. His penchant for the cyclone unit, is that chunks of wood, or even worse metal, won't be dancing off of the fan blade, which could cause a spark. The only thing that arrives at the cyclone filter is a little powder. Additoinally their isn't any vacuum loss with a cyclone, due to resistance. Well the JDS Dust force delivers more air at 1200 CFM, so the small amount of resistance created by the Wookstock International pre separator is of no consquence. Additoinally it prevents anything other than fine powder getting near the fan blade and filter as well.
   Since the popular Oneida 2HP cyclone unit only gives you 1100, and their 1.5HP is rated for 750 as I recall, and at three times the cost.
   This book gets into everything you need to know, to set up a complete system. In addition to the book, I noticed at the Onieda-air.com site, they had a sample room layout, with the proper pipe sizes etc. Proper sizing and layout, will give you the right amount of performance, and in proportion for the varying needs of different types of tools.
   I guess I am getting a little wordy. Buy the book. It will save you way more than the purchase price in your quest for the dust free shop.

3 comments about Robert's Guide for Butlers and Household Staff.

1. I worked at Gore Place as an intern in college, where Robert Roberts worked. Many don't realize that this is often credited as the first book published in the US by an African-American. Insight into the labors of a butler in the early republic, of interest to those who are curious about lives of Af-Ams of the era, even though his race is never mentioned in the book.



2. I bought this book both as a training guide for my own servants and as a bit of historical research into butlers. Published in 1827 originally this book is a look into the lives of an upper class American family through the eyes of their butler. He covers everything you can image from claening to serving meals to appropriate dress to a philosophical discussion of the roles of servant and employers.



3. Do you know how to clean plate and silver wear? How to set up the dining room table? Make sure the tea set is ready for the mistress of the house? Which hard coal is the best one to use? How to prepare fish, fowl or mammals to be carved? How to make the best beer, lemonade and cooling cinnamon water?
   Well, this book is the answer to your dreams.
   Just don't use quick silver.

4 comments about House on a Budget: Making Smart Choices to Build the Home You Want (American Institute Architects).

1. This book was very disappointing. After buying and enjoying "The House You Build," I looked forward to another book by Duo Dickinson. The houses and pictures used in this book are practically all the same as in the other book. How can such a fine company as Taunton publish such a copycat work? The text content is very similar also.



2. As it states on the back of this book's title page, "House on a Budget was originally published in hardcover in 2004 by The Taunton Press, Inc., as The House You Build".
   
   It's a great book, just identical to The House You Build. Read the reviews of that book to see other opinions.



3. 
   HOUSE ON A BUDGET: MAKING SMART CHOICES TO BUILD THE HOME YOU WANT is now in paperback, retitled from The House You Build, and comes from an architect who offers his background and advice on creating a custom home on a budget. There's a gap between production housing and high-priced custom homes, and HOUSE ON A BUDGET fills this gap, offering the pleasures of a custom home with the tips from an architect on working with unconventional sites and the latest custom fixtures and additions. It's a 'must' for any library strong in homeowner's and builder's guides.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This book is the only easily read book which outlines the cost of land, building, and planning, but it is not all that helpful because of the limiations of each example. Many of these examples are simply not applicable to everyday building projects or sites; however, this book is a good place to start and determine what you particular costs may be.

2 comments about In the Kitchen with Heloise.

1. Just like her other books, Heloise gives great and easy-to-mimic solutions to everyday problems/occurances. She tackles it all! For example, she gives an honest health-related reason why you should not seperate an egg using its shell, then gives you a new way of doing it (using a slotted spoon). That is just one of the many, many hints that she gives and I have tried and now pass on to others to use! In short: great book, can't say enough good things about it.



2. this book is wonderful. I love the recipes, but it's also the hints about cleaning up and getting things done fast that have really helped me. The good info on food buying and storing will really help me save money. My kids like the quick fun food hints and I love the way she shares info. She's your friend, and I can understand the hints she is telling us. Plus, I laugh at some of them too. I am giving this to all my friends for Christmas. It's just the best and what a bargin.

No comments about Jlc's Construction Tips & Techniques.

2 comments about How Things Work in Your Home: And What to Do when They Don't.

1. This book is a collection of hard to find information on fixing nearly everything in the home. Always my first choice for a housewarming gift.



2. Has all the basics for repairs in pictures and words.

3 comments about Real Estate Sales from Hell: What You Don't Want To Do When Buying or Selling Homes, Repos, Probates and Short-sales.

1. As a real estate agent and investor, I thought I had heard, seen and read it all! Bob shares some of the horror stories you only hear of in an easy to read and follow format. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down! I will recomend this as a must read for all of my clients! Great job Bob!



2. ...only worth your money if you a novice. Otherwise, don't waste your $$.



3. A very good and enjoyable book about some real estate deals that went down as funny ones, great deals, lucky deals, devilish deals. You will learn a few things about the real estate market if you are brand new to the market and enjoy hearing about other's mistakes if you are a pro!
   Real Estate Sales from Hell: What You Don't Want To Do When Buying or Selling Homes, Repos, Probates and Short-sales