Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living has become my go to book. Mostly to prove to my husband that I am “normal”. My husband has always thought me to be crazy…sometimes more crazy is involved than I care to bring up here. It started one day after we were just married and he came home to find the oven and refrigerator in the center of the room and me in Princess Leia buns armed with a mop, scouring sponge and vacuum.
“What is going on?” he asked sternly with his arm on the phone ready to call the folks with the rubber room.
“I just finished vacuuming the cabinets and refrigerator coils now I’m wiping down the walls behind them.”
“Next thing you’ll be vacuuming windows” he said sarcastically only to discover….
“I already did those today” was my reply.
He shook his head and left the room.
My cleaning habits have always been a thing of confusion for him. In arguments he declares he can clean the entire house in an hour…hour and a half tops! I point out that he cannot properly clean the entire house in that time.
From the moment I discovered the book Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living, I have had a partner in crime. Divided out in to four sections Clean It, Wash It, Fix It and Cook It, the basics of domestic live are covered. It’s an easy read filled with humor I appreciate (brilliant sarcasm).
From the cover design to the pages it has the 1950s feel when June Cleaver ruled the world. It was an era where women stayed home and were proud to be housekeepers and prided themselves on keeping their home pristine and running seemingly effortlessly.
The first item that I had to share with my husband was on page 40. I am a vacuuming fool. There are plenty of us in this home. We leave our shoes at the door, to help prevent tracking the garden through the house. I also vacuum thoroughly three times a day. My husband thinks I’m a nut job. But there for his eyes, on page 40 it reads: “Vacuum regularly: Vacuum deeply, a minimum of once a week, regardless of the size of the household. For each person or pet in the household, add an additional quick vacuum for high-traffic areas.” I vacuum a tad more than that, but it works for me.
Then on page 71 we get into that whole issue where my husband thought I’d lost it. Windows.
“…Before starting on the glass itself, grab the vacuum and ye, you guessed it, the soft bristled attachment, and suck of the loose dust, hair, and fuzzies from the sill, sash and panes.”
I love it when I’m right.
It’s practical and inexpensive tips that keep a house sparkling.
The author, Heather Solos, is a blogger, whose blog, home-ec101.com, began in 2007. Her site took off and she has been featured in national publications like, Woman’s Day Magazine, and on sites like Blissfully Domestic and Type A Mom. Now she has pooled all her info into this book to share with the greater population.
This book is perfect for newlyweds, college students, domestically impaired and anyone who wants a cleaner home without the hassle. Pick up your own copy of Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or your own favorite bookstore.
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I received a copy of Home-Ec 101 through One2One Network in order to facilitate an honest review. No other compensation was received. The opinions, where expressed, are my own and were in no way influenced by the sponsor. Others experiences may vary.