43 Folders

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_Home Comforts_: Illustrated housekeeping pr0n

'Home Comforts Cover' I’ve been reading this book, Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House. It’s like really beautifully illustrated “Housekeeping Porn.” Or maybe what the man page for an immaculate apartment might look like. Anyhow, it’s a freaking tome (>800pp.), and it’s brimming with stuff that totally turns my crank.

There’s something deeply gratifying about detailed line drawings on how to fold your underpants, cheerful advice on choosing the right light bulb, and an entire chapter devoted to effectively ventilating your house. But, some deranged fold of my lizard brain gets most turned on by nine detailed pages on how to wash your dishes.

Set items properly in the draining rack so that water does not pool in them. If you are draining on a towel laid on the counter, set bowls, cups, and glasses so that they tilt slightly. You can do this by making a slight fold in the towel or by setting something relatively flat at its edge, such as a clean plastic cutting board.

I think my wonderfully tidy (and endlessly patient) girlfriend has probably resigned herself to the fact that I only get really interested in something when it involves some kind of fancy system with charts and documentation. So, as far as I’m concerned, this is definitely win-win.


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grubi's picture

Oh, dear god, yes. My...

Oh, dear god, yes. My girlfriend and I are completely reorganizing the entire house (very damn room), and THIS IS THE BOOK we should get to help find more efficient methods of doing things, since efficient rooms and efficient processes are likely to go hand-in-hand.

Gonna get this one, for sure.

Medley's picture

I read and reviewed this...

I read and reviewed this awhile ago. I like this book - the only negative might be that it’s set up more as a reference book than as a how-to manual. So, to get to the details, you often have to wade through a bit of history and discourse. But, it’s certainly a great reference.

Stephan's picture

As an engineer this book...

As an engineer this book really sucks me in, it has great reference material, it is just the index is lacking for finding the nugget you are looking for at the moment. I recommend it to anyone setting up housekeeping, mainly because hardly anyone knows how anymore, but to to worry about doing all of it because there is too much at any given time.

Funder's picture

My poor husband thought I...

My poor husband thought I was totally insane when I insisted we buy this book nearly two years ago. He was even more confused when I read it cover to cover. Can’t recommend it highly enough, if you’re the kind of person who yearns to know the whys behind everything. It won’t magically turn you in to a tidy person, but you’ll sure know a lot more about “the science of keeping house.”

Michael Williams's picture

How Clean Is Your House?...

How Clean Is Your House? is (or sounds like—I haven’t read your recommendation) a slightly more lightweight British version of a the same book. It’s based on a Queer Eye-like UK TV show.

The mildy Aspergic part of my brain particularly enjoyed the tip to wash glasses first, then saucers, then cutlery, and so on through increasingly dirty crockery and pans. And the Cool Tools bit loved tips like “A quick way to put a beautiful shine on your shoes is by rubbing them with a banana skin on black shoes or the pithy side of a lemon on brown shoes.” Their (sadly shambolic) website has more of these sorts of tips (click a name on the left and then “Tips from this show”).

Nick Brogna's picture

I am so dissappointed, apparently...

I am so dissappointed, apparently you can’t get this book from Amazon anymore. I ordered it on the 15th and waited… and waited… and waited. And no I just got the email that Amazon cancelled my order as “Though we had expected to be able to send this item to you, we’ve since found that it is not available from any of our sources at this time. “

Any other places to get, perhaps? Amazon has absolutely spoiled me.

Merlin Mann's picture

Did you try this one?...

Did you try this one? Appears to be in stock.

Here it is on ISBN.nu

TheMiddle's picture

It's a Monk Howto Guide Is...

It’s a Monk Howto Guide

Is your clean house OCD this bad?…

Safe As Milk's picture

he's singing my song... Merlin at...

he’s singing my song…

Merlin at 43 folders is tapping my OCD keys again. This time it’s a giant (800 page) book about housekeeping… Is this what I have become? A once proud slovenly do-nothing I’ve been reduced to a trend-dieting, Mac-using, neatnik wannbe?…

About Merlin Mann

Merlin Mann's picture

Bio

Merlin Mann is an independent writer, speaker, and broadcaster. He’s best known for being the guy who started the website you’re reading right now. He lives in San Francisco, does lots of public speaking, and helps make cool things like You Look Nice Today. Also? He looks like this, answers questions, and has something like a life.

Merlin’s favorite thing he’s written recently is a short essay called, “Better.”

 
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