The Lost Art of House Cleaning: A Clean House is a Happy Home

by Jan M. Dougherty

The art of housecleaning has been all but lost. Until now.Jan Dougherty has owned a residential cleaning company for six years and has come to the conclusion that the art of housecleaning has all but been lost. “I believe I may be the only survivor who knows how to clean and therefore I have a duty and responsibility to pass on my wisdom (and share the pain) before it’s too late. Most people don’t like cleaning their house because they simply don’t know how.” Jan will show you that with three inexpensive products and a few tools how you too can clean your house and everything in it. She will explain “The PATH”, which is a method to get in, get it clean and get out of a room. Whether you’re doing maintenance cleaning or deep cleaning; “The PATH” is always the same.Her style is funny and entertaining. So even if you don’t want to clean your house you’ll have a good laugh.This is not a book of helpful hints. There are enough books out there that will explain how to clean puke or coffee or puked up coffee. This is a book on how to clean the house and everything in it. After you’ve finished cleaning a room it will sparkle, after you’ve finished cleaning the whole house the shine will be seen from the space station. Moms send copies to your children, if they read it you may not have to spend your next visit cleaning, like you always do. Kids send a copy to your mom, maybe on her next visit she’ll get more done before she leaves. Read it for entertainment! Read it for inspiration! Read it because it really solves the mystery of “How to clean”. “Follow me my child and I will show you The PATH”. Jan Dougherty “The Head Rag Dragger”

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, How To, Reference

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2011

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave me the motivation I needed to do a deep clean of my home! I found it funny that I enjoyed reading a book about cleaning (probably because I'm not having to do the actual cleaning yet). A quick read, with sections clearly labeled so you can skip if it wasn't applicable to your home. I like her method "The PATH" and I look forward to putting it into practice. Her method can be quite time consuming; she mentions it could take 3-4 hours to clean each room. She does mention how to maintain the room after you have done a deep clean. The only complaint I had about this book was that she used a lot of acronyms that weren't necessary. I would have preferred she just write out the full name for most of the products.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful resource! Excellent methods and simple toolbox to accomplish CLEAN. Although - with six kids, I'd much rather hire this woman than clean the way she cleans...it's too frustrating to see it undone so quickly.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Due to allergies we have to clean house to some degree every week. So I can't believe I waited so many years to read about house cleaning. I learned some things that I should have picked up long ago. For example, that buckets are a total waste of time. Spray bottles are way, way better and faster.

This book provides a simple approach to house cleaning, with lots of little tips and tricks for cleaning specific items. Written by a long-time professional house cleaner. There are lots of typos, but thankfully the writing style is funny and engaging.

You can get what you need out of this book in an hour or less. I expect to get that time back in the coming weeks by simply being smarter about how I clean.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the content very helpful but was really put off by all of the typos and punctuation issues. It seems disrespectful to readers to be so full of oneself that she couldn't even take the time to edit or have it edited. Seriously, a third grader could have picked out all the errors. So many times - "you" instead of "your" - just one example of the many possibilities. I actually wanted to go through and count them. I am confident it would be some type of publishing record. Really horrendous.

And I also saw no indication anywhere of this book being an "International Bestseller" as the title claims. Why so few reviews if an "International Bestseller"?

For content I would give it four stars, for writing - one star.

[Yvonne Suessmuth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Followed this advise for a while but not anymore. I am not sure if Krud Kutter really gets rid of all the dirt. I tried to keep redoing it in our kitchen in Avondale until the rags came up clean but after five times washing the same cabinets and they were still dirty I gave up. There can't be that much dirt on them, right?

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a bit overwhelming. She starts with the "big job" first and I've never cleaned like that in my life. It does have some good tips. Not a bad read, but not a life changer.

[Linda E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good step by step cleaning instructions

Loved this book for the “Nitty Gritty” explanations of how to clean basically anything and everything. No outrageous cleaning methods or supplies. Just your basic “how to” that I will give to my daughters (don’t have any boys) to help them begin homes of their own.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Makes house cleaning so simple.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

So true. It did motivate me. Every time I see something I do it. Now I’m doing cupboards!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I look at "clean" differently now. I like that she wants whatever you are cleaning to feel clean not just look like it. It is a good book for those of us who would rather read about cleaning than actually doing it. Now I am motivated to make my house pretty and put the book to the test. Happy Spring Cleaning!

[JHM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not like house cleaning, but this brief, helpful, funny book has inspired me to dig in and do the deep cleaning I need to.

I should probably wait until I've actually tried her techniques to rate the book itself, but the fact that it was interesting enough to read it through says a lot right there.

If her techniques don't work, I'll come back and edit this review.

[Apryl Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

The book really teaches how to clean. Over the years I have s pent a fortune on cleaning solutions that didn't work. What a surprise to discover this author's experience with much cheaper supplies! Also, her way of ways of planning are ingenious. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great H
"How to clean" book. My mother taught me to clean like this, but I had never used Krud Kutter. I am in love with this cleaning product!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the confusion out of cleaning. I bought the book a few weeks ago and have been loving cleaning ever since.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me three hours to clean my bathroom after reading this and I'm not sure that its up to scratch...but it's better than it was before, that's for sure :)

[Barbara Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned a lot from this book. I bought the supplies they recommend and plan to to a BJ following The Plan!

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who knew a book about cleaning could be such a page turner?

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful. I will keep and refer to this often.

[Ann Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will change the way you clean forever!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of fun to read but not super helpful.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea how many spots I was missing when we clean the house!