Swimming for my life

I've been very into cleaning with natural products every since I saw that I could get my copper-bottom pots clean with just vinegar and salt on How Clean is Your House. No more caustic – and expensive! – chemicals, and beautiful pots. It's 'cheap and cheerful', as Aggie and Kim would say. So I was excited to find this little book that's chock-full of natural cleaning tips.

I'm not going to argue about chemical cleaners being toxic or harmful to your health. I don't like them, but even if you don't think they're *bad* for you, they are expensive and tend to smell atrocious. Those are two reasons right there to go the natural route, when you can.

This book has sections on each of the main cleaners (borax, baking soda, lemon, vinegar, and salt) and a recipe section at the end for combining them. Sure, a lot of us already know that baking soda deodorizes a 'fridge and lemons can perk up your disposal, but there are many, many, many other great tips that you probably wouldn't have thought of (I, for one, thought Borax was only good for killing ants, freshening laundry, and making a really cool gooey putty to play with. Boy was I wrong!).

The very best part of this book? Unlike a lot of cleaning books, where you spend hours reading and not doing anything, this book inspires you to clean. You read a tip, think "Really? No, it can't be… I gotta try this!" and before you know it, you’re up cleaning something just to see if it really works (and all the ones I've tried have, remarkably well).

I would highly recommend this book. It's fun, clever, and most of all – actually helpful.

"No self-respecting businesswoman would go to her office devoid of make-up"

If that line makes your blood boil as much as it made mine, I would suggest staying far, far, far away from this book. I picked it up because I heard it was the jumping-off point FlyLady used for her system, and I am doing some research/blogging about cleaning/organizational systems. What I found here was a book written in the late 70s that's so sexist it feels like it was written in the 50s.

The basis of the system - a home 'tickler file' for chores - is sound enough and is what many executives use in their offices. The problem is that they spend very few pages even talking about the system, and give very little guidance on setting it up. Frankly, a tweet that said 'set up a tickler file for your chores' would have been just as helpful. And a lot less aggravating to read.

And, yes, obviously the book is written for housewives, and not so much for people working outside the home, though the tickler file system can work for anyone - you just set up your times different. For instance, their rule "Never leave the house before you've done all of the duties in the everyday card file" is a bit unrealistic for someone who has to be at work at 7 am (or earlier!). Unless you enjoy getting up at 3 in the morning, in which case... okay. Otherwise, modifications are certainly in order.

Ah, but they don't seem too keen on you making any tweaks to their system, as they say "It is important you make up the cards exactly like the examples we have for you." Why? Why shouldn't I make them the way it makes sense for me? Is the entire system going to collapse if I like to write the time I estimate it'll take me in the upper *left* corner of the card under the frequency? Really? Of maybe I want to put the description on the *back* of the card so I have more room? Is this going to render the whole thing moot?

I would not read this book to really get organizational tips. I also wouldn't read this book if you're the type who doesn't like the 1950s housewife schtick and might be offended that someone would expect you to get yourself up before your family, make yourself *all puuuuurdy* for the day, and them putter about with your feather duster being the 'perfect wife'.

( That's my Amazon review, if you want to read a more detailed review (and I understand if you'd rather poke yourself in the eye with a sharp stick than read more of this tripe) click here )