Home Maintenance for Dummies
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (13 March, 2000)
list price: $21.99 -- our price: $14.95
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Reviews (7)

very good...
i'm looking forward to owning my first home after reading this. i'll be applying well over 50% of what i've read here.

Somewhat helpful, yet still disappointing
Having purchased my first house last year, I thought this book would be great with dealing with the problems that arise when living in a house. I'm very disappointed with it though.

Some examples:
It has a whole section on plumbing fixtures, going in to detail about how to clean a faucet. But it doesn't mention a word about how to deal with a dripping faucet! I'd think this would be a pretty basic thing to add to a book... you can't expect that people buying this book would automatically know how to replace a washer.

It goes into detail about fireplaces and how to maintain a fireplace. Except it fails to mention gas fireplaces at all. As far as the book is concerned, they don't even exist. Am I supposed to clean it the same way as a normal fireplace? Do I have to worry about cleaning the chimney if its a vented fireplace? What yearly maintainance and safety precautions must I consider? Help me out a bit here people...

Yet the book seems to have plenty of time to go over landscape irrigation and swimming pool maintainance, which, although perhaps useful, seem to be more appropriate in one of their other books; e.g. "Landscaping for Dummies".

Overall, the book could be considered "a good start". But given what the book is lacking, I think most customers would be better off borrowing it from the library for free...

I think I must be too dumb.
The authors assume way too much reader knowledge for this to be a true guide for dummies.Also, the For Dummies format does not allow for much illustration.So a lot of what they describe goes way over my head.It does help me understand what I need to say when I call a pro.That's actually a big help for one as home-maintenance-challenged as I.Don Aslett's excellent books are more my speed, though he does tend to write the same book over and over again. ... Read more

Isbn: 0764552155
Sales Rank: 82074
Subjects:  1. Amateurs' manuals    2. Do-It-Yourself    3. Dwellings    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Home Maintenance And Repair    6. House & Home    7. Maintenance and repair    8. Remodeling & Renovation - General    9. Repair    10. DIY    11. House & Home / General   

Home Comforts : The Art and Science of Keeping House
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (04 November, 1999)
list price: $35.00 -- our price: $23.10
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Editorial Review

Virtually everyone enjoys a crisply ironed dress shirt, clean sheets on a well-made bed, and a savory home-cooked meal. Yet housekeeping today stands as a somewhat neglected, if not maligned, job. But as author Cheryl Mendelson points out in Home Comforts, keeping house well can be a rewarding position--it allows you to provide for the physical and emotional comfort of loved ones. It's also not an easy job--there's much to be learned about properly managing a home, and Mendelson has set out to provide a guide to doing just that.

Mendelson, a homemaker, lawyer, and mother, learned about housekeeping from an early age from her grandmothers, one Appalachian, the other Italian. The two grandmothers taught her that although different ways of keeping house can be appropriate, there are generally smarter, faster, and more creative ways of housekeeping that make it less of a chore and more of an art. In a practical, authoritative tone, Mendelson discusses the ins and outs of homemaking, such as washing dishes, recommended cleaning methods for various surfaces, housekeeping for those with pets or allergies, and emergency preparedness and safety procedures.

Mendelson's well-researched book includes meticulous sections on food (for example, which foods belong in the fridge versus the pantry, food storage times, picking the freshest fruits and vegetables, and keeping your kitchen and food sanitary) as well as laundry (caring for various fabrics, how to read--and read between the lines of--clothing care labels, and removing stains). Mendelson covers a lot of ground, and as she herself points out, readers shouldn't feel required to do everything mentioned in the book--simply pick the activities that seem appropriate for your particular home. This is a comprehensive reference book that should serve homemakers well and induce a greater appreciation for the effort and specialized knowledge that go into keeping house. --Kris Law ... Read more

Reviews (198)

A lifesaver for the clueless housekeeper
This book changed me from a clueless, frustrated homemaker into a capable home manager.I cannot recommend it enough.It is good for every person who is tired of trying to keep house and not understanding why they fall short.It explains things that our grandmothers were taught and we were not.Many women raised in the 70s and 80s like me were just not taught how to be homemakers. Yet, many of us now find ourselves with homes to keep and no idea how. The author of this book understands and fills in the many gaps in our homekeeping knowledge.It just isn't cool to talk about why the laundry comes out grey or why we can't seem to get dinner on the table. But it is important to the well-being of our families to find the answers to questions like these and more. This book explains everything I wanted to know but was not sure who to ask.It is like advice from a wise grandmother.I would never part with my copy but I will be sure to get one for my daughter when she starts out on her own.I wish someone had done the same for me.

Highly Recommended
It sounds trite, but this book has changed my life. Growing up I was lucky enough to have a mother who kept a very clean and comfortable house, unfortunately I never paid any attention to how she did it and I considered all housework a drudgery. Fast forward to the present day - here I am a woman in my late thirties with two young children and who hadn't a clue how to keep house. It seemed I was constantly just trying to "keep up" and whenever we have company I was frantically running around trying to get the house in order. It wasn't until I received this book that I realized that not only is keeping a clean and organized house NOT a drudgery, but there is a methodology to it. I didn't know you scheduled a cleaning day every week, or a marketing day, or anything like it. This is probably obvious to many people, but I used to only do the laundry when it was piled so high it wouldn't fit in the hamper or we ran out of clean clothes! Thisbook has changed my family's life for the better. Not only do we get to enjoy living in a clean and comfortable house every day (no rushing around when company is coming over!), but I find I have more free time to do other things. Yes, my house still gets messy. My four year old spreads his toys all over the living room carpet. I don't really consider that mess though, I mean that's just living. I also know that underneath those toys he gets to play on a clean carpet.

This book has taught me how to wash everything from clothes, dishes, to floors. It's really an invaluable reference, plus it's just plain inspiring. It goes over every detail about how to keep a home, not just cleaning, but how to really create a place where you feel rejuvenated. I remember when this book first came out it was considered antifemminist, the fact is it's just the opposite. This is a feminist book. In a gender neutal manner it shows how to keep house. I consider myself a feminist and I'm glad to see someone finally showing the value of something that has been considered "women's work" all these years. She explains why this kind of work is so important for our physical and mental health.

My only real criticisms of the book are similiar to other reviewers. She gives parenting advice occasionally which has no place in this book. (She's against the family bed, which as an attachment style parent myself, I disagree with her.) Also some of the advice goes a little too far. The thing that sticks out in my mind is her notion that you should never use the kitchen sink for anything but food preperation. That means no washing your hands in the kitchen sink. This is kind of silly I think. Maybe for people living on a farm who's hands might be soiled with manure I could see this, but for the average person today it's not something I would follow. My criticisms are minor though. I use this book as a reference constantly and I think even a person seasoned in the art of keeping house would find it useful.

5 stars -- but with reservations
Although I find this book thoroughly worth the purchase price, I was surprised to find it less of an enjoyable read than I had expected. It is textbook-like in its physical size, and in the sheer amount of material covered, and therefore -- like a good textbook -- would benefit from a neat summary at the end of each chapter, a few more easy-to-reference charts, an attempt to separate out the "must know's" from the "might be interested to know's." That, or a good working over by a strict editor (am I correct that there was none?). The reader has to slog through so much (albeit pleasant) chat and anecdote that it's a fairly tedious read. One might argue that it's a reference work and not a novel, and therefore not intended for a read, however there's truly valuable detail buried in all the verbiage.

I'd greatly welcome the "Cliff Notes" on this book, frankly.

Past that, my compliments to the author for having attempted to right a wrong in bringing housework back to the level of a worthwhile occupation requiring significant knowledge, skill, and loving attention to detail. And although I can't help but wonder at her fixation with microbes, I admit I'd rather spend time in a home which errs on the side of over-fastidiousness than under.

I do pity those lost souls who were not raised with the advantage of a mother or grandmother for whom these many finer points were a way of life. Ms. Mendelson has made me aware of what a blessing it is to have a sixth sense about the myriad details of the various jobs she covers, thanks simply to a childhood spent doing those jobs side by side with women in my family who did them "properly." Again, however, especially for the uninitiated, it would be valuable to have the book organized in such a way as to faciliate several depths of absorption of the material. Easier said than done, no doubt -- but I fear the content might be overwhelming to those who would benefit from it the most.

(A note: the layout, font, and illustrations are handsome and well-chosen and greatly enhance this book.)

... Read more

Isbn: 068481465X
Subjects:  1. Cleaning & Caretaking - General    2. Cleaning & Caretaking - Household Hints    3. Hobbies/Crafts    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Home economics    6. House & Home    7. Repair    8. House & Home / Repair   

The Money Pit
by Tom Hanks Shelley Long
Director: Richard Benjamin
Average Customer Review:
VHS Tape (10 March, 1998)
list price: $9.98 -- our price: $9.48
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Editorial Review

Steven Spielberg produced this underwhelming 1986 effort at a slapstick spin on Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. The pre-Oscar Tom Hanks stars with Shelley Long as a married couple whose efforts to finish construction on their home are sabotaged by costly and sporadically funny accidents. The unfinished domicile becomes a metaphor for their troubled relationship, as evidenced by Long's character's attraction to a madman violinist (Alexander Godunov). Hanks is the only reason at this point to check this film out. Richard Benjamin (My Favorite Year) directs but with no flair or distinction. --Tom Keogh. ... Read more

Features

• Color
• Closed-captioned
• NTSC

Reviews (63)

So accurate, it could clasify as a "documentary"!
Overall this picture is a must watch for anybody considering major home renovations, or just needing to laugh out loud.

Working with contractors on a scale such as this movie portrays can be an experience of a lifetime. The accuracy of the characters and the shenanagins that can occur was so real, that this picture could also be considered a doumentary. It had to be based on someone's personal experience.

A good preview for anyone looking to purhase and rehab a "fixer upper" aka handyman specials. Entertaining and Educational!

stan@landlordsdontgobroke.com

if you wanna laugh your [....]
rent this.You will be having some serious belly laughs.Tom Hanks and Shelly Long buy a house that turns out to be a TOTAL lemon.Everything goes wrong.I love this movie because even tho things constantly go wrong for the main characters, the movie doesn't become a totaly unhappy drag like all those Ben Stiller comedies, especially 'Meet The Parents'.I hate flicks like MTP because they seem just so mean spirited.Flicks like that become hard to watch, for me, because while all these tragic things are going wrong, there are not enough GOOD, STRONG JOKES, to ease the suffering I as the audience am experiencing along with the main character.There has to be a balance.The Money Pit gets it just right.It's got strong, genuinely funny dialogue, awesome, hilarious slapstick, pratfalls, and a really satisfying ending. Plus, you remember the Long Blond Haired Bad Guy from the first Die Hard flick?He's in this as an orchestra director / Shelly Longs ex husband and he is HILARIOUS.Anybody should rent this flick.

Such a hilarious movie!
I have seen this movie several times and it is ranked one of my top 10 all time favorites.Tom Hanks does an excellent job expressing himself.I laugh out loud every time I watch this movie.His laugh is so contagious especially in the bathtub scene, one can't help but to laugh along with him.This movie is an excellent film for the whole family, one that stands the test of time.Buy it, watch it, memorize it! ... Read more

Asin: 6300185249
Subjects:  1. Feature Film-comedy   

Dremel 3962-02Variable-Speed MultiPro Tool Kit
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $131.90 -- our price: $64.00
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Editorial Review

While there are a number of rotary tools on the market made by a host of different manufacturers, the Dremel Moto Tool is the one they all strive to copy. Dremel's MultiPro variable-speed model is great for a huge range of projects, from home improvement tasks to hobbies and crafting. It has a continuously adjustable speed range from 5,000 to 35,000 rpm, which allows the user to effectively work with materials as soft as balsa wood and as hard as ceramics. The kit comes with an assortment of accessories and a handy carrying case. Others may copy it, but Dremel has been making rotary tools so long they've come close to perfecting the idea. --Brian Trinen ... Read more

Features

• Sharpen, drill, polish, sand and more
• Variable speed 5,000 - 35,000 RPM
• High quality ball bearing construction
• 75 assorted accessories
• Storage case with removable bit storage tray

Reviews (10)

Hate to burst the Dremel bubble..
Two problems..

Although I rarely use mine (maybe once every two months), sometime during the first year I started having to fight my charger so it would charge the tool.

Secondly, The variable switch stopped working.So now I have only one speed..High.

I plan on shipping it back to get it fixed, but since I rarely use it, it hasn't been a top priority..

When you pay for a expensive tool, you expect it to be dependable and not stop working right in a few months when you're not using it.

I guess I should have stuck with Lowes's house brand...

Accept no substitutes...
Was looking at a cheapo $14 one at the store but after looking at the market place and best bang for the buck, I used up some remaining gift certificates to purchase one of these.

Perfect for moding a computer case, trimming down some tiles and basic woodwork.

Accept no subsitutes...
Was looking at a cheapo $14 one at the store but after looking at the market place and best bang for the buck, I used up some remaining gift certificates to purchase one of these.

Perfect for moding a computer case, trimming down some tiles and basic woodwork. ... Read more

Asin: B00004UDJ4
Subjects:  1. Dremel    2. (Dremmel)    3. Rotary Tools