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House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You’re In
Discover the joy of cleaning with this cheery and thoughtful guide to tidying up and turning your house into a home.
Patric Richardson is known as "The Laundry Evangelist," but his genuine love for household chores extends far beyond the laundry room. His philosophy is tidying up is a privilege and a task you do for those you love (including yourself), and there are a million ways to infuse joy into the everyday tasks behind maintaining a home.
House Love is his sunny guide to freshening up every inch of the house--from the entryway to the attic, the backyard to the bedroom. Patric shares his best design inspiration, DIY projects, and, of course, cleaning tips, so you can fall in love with your home all over again--or for the very first time!
This book also grants you permission to shake things up. Keep bath salts in a cookie jar? Sure. Display a surprising mishmash of pillows? You bet. Discover your personal design style? He helps you do that too. Plus, Patric's cleaning genius will change your life, with expert advice
Which three cleaning tools are worth splurging onHow to create a powerful (and antibacterial) cleaning spray with lemon and thymeWhat exactly to clean when you only have 10 minutes to spareComplete with fun-to-clean-to playlists, charming recipes, and even step-by-step instructions for cleaning every type of room, House Love brightens up life's most common chores. With this book, you'll learn new and novel ways to transform your home, and Patric's entertaining stories, good humor, and genuine warmth will guide you every step of the way.
Patric Richardson is known as "The Laundry Evangelist," but his genuine love for household chores extends far beyond the laundry room. His philosophy is tidying up is a privilege and a task you do for those you love (including yourself), and there are a million ways to infuse joy into the everyday tasks behind maintaining a home.
House Love is his sunny guide to freshening up every inch of the house--from the entryway to the attic, the backyard to the bedroom. Patric shares his best design inspiration, DIY projects, and, of course, cleaning tips, so you can fall in love with your home all over again--or for the very first time!
This book also grants you permission to shake things up. Keep bath salts in a cookie jar? Sure. Display a surprising mishmash of pillows? You bet. Discover your personal design style? He helps you do that too. Plus, Patric's cleaning genius will change your life, with expert advice
Which three cleaning tools are worth splurging onHow to create a powerful (and antibacterial) cleaning spray with lemon and thymeWhat exactly to clean when you only have 10 minutes to spareComplete with fun-to-clean-to playlists, charming recipes, and even step-by-step instructions for cleaning every type of room, House Love brightens up life's most common chores. With this book, you'll learn new and novel ways to transform your home, and Patric's entertaining stories, good humor, and genuine warmth will guide you every step of the way.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2023
192 people are currently reading
4353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
November 8, 2024
Following the success of his 2021 guide to doing laundry, Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore, Patric Richardson has broadened his focus. Despite loving Laundry Love, I was dismayed when I first saw House Love because it looked like he’d published this just to capitalize on the success of that first book. I decided to read it only after listening to a podcast interview of Richardson, where he said enough to pique my curiosity. Now I’ve finished House Love and can say my first impression was right. If House Love is attracting readers it’s because it’s riding Laundry Love’s wave of success. It has some strengths but doesn’t stand out in its over-saturated sub-genre.
Laundry Love is an authentic guide, and because so many people aren’t washing clothing correctly or treating stains as effectively as they could, that book fills an actual need. House Love lacks the a-ha! moments that make Richardson’s first book essential. It’s mostly a cheerful inspirational book that gives readers permission to decorate their home in a way that makes them, not Joanna and Chip Gaines, happy. It isn’t without guidance, but with no-brainer step-by-step directions for how to clean a room, it isn’t guidance most readers need.
The most informative takeaway has to do with cleaning products. Richardson hates commercial cleaners—for good reason. They’re toxic to human health and to the environment, and even those labeled “green” often aren’t actually green, as this claim isn’t regulated, so manufacturers can say whatever they want (similar to the lack of regulation on the “all-natural” claim). His cleaning toolbox consists of basic but effective items, and he shares the simple recipes for his cleaners. Several ten-minute tidying sections don’t offer any tricks, but they can motivate readers who have an all-or-nothing tendency when it comes to cleaning. If you move fast you can tidy a lot in ten minutes.
One of the book’s better traits, something that does set it apart, are Richardson’s suggestions for unusual but smart alternative uses for items we tend to use in a single rigid way. There’s no right or wrong (beyond not hanging the TV above a working fireplace and not comparing one’s house with photos from design publications). Rather than making the case for minimalism or maximalism or whatever home design, he encourages readers to follow their bliss. Gray walls, gray floors, and gray furniture are safe choices, but design this way only if it makes you feel genuinely joyful. If you want walls in a lively color, paint them the color. Display the artwork that takes your breath away—not just in the home’s common areas but in your bedroom and bathroom, too. Hang a disco ball in your laundry room if you want to. We’ve evolved to favor conformity, so breaking the mold like this can feel uncomfortable, but Richardson’s encouragement and celebration of nonconformity makes it sound fun. The bottom line is, your home should make you feel happy. Richardson isn’t all talk here; he describes many of the joyful things he’s done in his own home and some of what creative friends have done.
With this do-whatever-makes-you-happy philosophy, House Love stands in sharp contrast to Laundry Love, which is a how-to that doesn’t—can’t—celebrate such leeway. But unlike Laundry Love, House Love isn’t a must-read. Laundry Love is one to buy and refer to often. House Love is a one-time read borrowed from the library for a shot of motivation and inspiration. It’s refreshing but isn’t fresh. It doesn’t help that certain parts echo the superior—and very fresh—Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, which examines the way color, shape, furniture configurations, and other design elements affect the psyche. The how-to cleaning and tidying advice is comically basic and obvious, seemingly included to establish Richardson’s reputation as a cleaning wizard. He’s not, though. His background is in textiles and their care. He’s an expert in this area and even holds a “laundry camp” through his boutique in Minneapolis. So a laundry how-to book from this man is a natural next step. He’s admired interiors since boyhood, and he does seem to have an eye for design, but he’s just a regular guy with good taste and a love of natural cleaners, not an expert. A series of blog entries are a better fit for House Love.
Laundry Love is an authentic guide, and because so many people aren’t washing clothing correctly or treating stains as effectively as they could, that book fills an actual need. House Love lacks the a-ha! moments that make Richardson’s first book essential. It’s mostly a cheerful inspirational book that gives readers permission to decorate their home in a way that makes them, not Joanna and Chip Gaines, happy. It isn’t without guidance, but with no-brainer step-by-step directions for how to clean a room, it isn’t guidance most readers need.
The most informative takeaway has to do with cleaning products. Richardson hates commercial cleaners—for good reason. They’re toxic to human health and to the environment, and even those labeled “green” often aren’t actually green, as this claim isn’t regulated, so manufacturers can say whatever they want (similar to the lack of regulation on the “all-natural” claim). His cleaning toolbox consists of basic but effective items, and he shares the simple recipes for his cleaners. Several ten-minute tidying sections don’t offer any tricks, but they can motivate readers who have an all-or-nothing tendency when it comes to cleaning. If you move fast you can tidy a lot in ten minutes.
One of the book’s better traits, something that does set it apart, are Richardson’s suggestions for unusual but smart alternative uses for items we tend to use in a single rigid way. There’s no right or wrong (beyond not hanging the TV above a working fireplace and not comparing one’s house with photos from design publications). Rather than making the case for minimalism or maximalism or whatever home design, he encourages readers to follow their bliss. Gray walls, gray floors, and gray furniture are safe choices, but design this way only if it makes you feel genuinely joyful. If you want walls in a lively color, paint them the color. Display the artwork that takes your breath away—not just in the home’s common areas but in your bedroom and bathroom, too. Hang a disco ball in your laundry room if you want to. We’ve evolved to favor conformity, so breaking the mold like this can feel uncomfortable, but Richardson’s encouragement and celebration of nonconformity makes it sound fun. The bottom line is, your home should make you feel happy. Richardson isn’t all talk here; he describes many of the joyful things he’s done in his own home and some of what creative friends have done.
With this do-whatever-makes-you-happy philosophy, House Love stands in sharp contrast to Laundry Love, which is a how-to that doesn’t—can’t—celebrate such leeway. But unlike Laundry Love, House Love isn’t a must-read. Laundry Love is one to buy and refer to often. House Love is a one-time read borrowed from the library for a shot of motivation and inspiration. It’s refreshing but isn’t fresh. It doesn’t help that certain parts echo the superior—and very fresh—Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, which examines the way color, shape, furniture configurations, and other design elements affect the psyche. The how-to cleaning and tidying advice is comically basic and obvious, seemingly included to establish Richardson’s reputation as a cleaning wizard. He’s not, though. His background is in textiles and their care. He’s an expert in this area and even holds a “laundry camp” through his boutique in Minneapolis. So a laundry how-to book from this man is a natural next step. He’s admired interiors since boyhood, and he does seem to have an eye for design, but he’s just a regular guy with good taste and a love of natural cleaners, not an expert. A series of blog entries are a better fit for House Love.
December 29, 2023
I liked this! Patric seems like a genuinely nice person who's passionate about making your space yours. I especially enjoyed the 10-minute cleaning/refresh and feel like I got some solid tips from this.
February 16, 2024
Funny read about cleaning your house. Some good tips, lots of hilarious anecdotes
January 28, 2025
Absolutely criminal that this book doesn’t have pictures because I need to see this man’s house. Although, he does live ~20 minutes from me so maybe I can do some window shopping...
I’d say the beauty in this book lies not in having any groundbreaking insights, but rather telling you it’s okay to break the rules to make your home a better place for you. His specific recommendations may be hit or miss for you, but it’s sure to give you a redecorating itch.
I’d say the beauty in this book lies not in having any groundbreaking insights, but rather telling you it’s okay to break the rules to make your home a better place for you. His specific recommendations may be hit or miss for you, but it’s sure to give you a redecorating itch.
January 14, 2024
I have never joyfully cleaned anything in my life, so I was interested in what Patric Richardson could tell me. While I appreciate his enthusiasm, I didn't find a guide to cleaning or organizing in House Love. Many of the ideas seem like common sense and lean more towards decorating than cleaning. His basic premise that cleaning is a privilege is interesting, but as someone who is always trying to minimize clutter, I will not be buying more pillows or matching bottles for my bathroom. Richardson has added some family stories and playlist suggestions to this slim volume, but I think the best thing about House Love is the author's fervor and enthusiasm. I wish I knew how to get some of that, but I'm afraid cleaning will always be something of a chore for me.
December 21, 2023
Edited: 12/21/2023.
Yesterday I finished reading this book and left a rating of 3 stars and the brief review below. After 24 hours I've begun to feel that my initial review was too harsh. This book was one that I sat down and simply finished in the span of 24hours, which meant that it was easy to follow, but also that it was compelling enough for me to continue reading. I should have given it credit for that.
Perhaps it's related to the close timeline of holiday entertaining on the horizon, but while many of the solutions offered in the book were basic and built upon information and skills I already had, I found myself continuing to think about them ever since I finished the book. One of the nice aspects of the book is the basic 10 minute cleaning scenario given for each room in the home. Often for me the tasks involved in truly cleaning a room become overwhelming and so disruptive to the household as a whole that I seldom engage in more than the basic vacuum and dusting. To be honest I appreciated the organization of the book and the sets of clear steps of what to tackle and how. There are portions of my home that I do keep tidy because of daily routines that I've created over the years. I don't even realize that I've done so most of the time! This book gave me some inspiration to create further routines in other areas of my home that I have yet to tackle.
Initially I'd said that this book wasn't that informative or useful, yet I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Perhaps I was wrong. I'm raising my review to 4 stars. :-)
ORIGINAL REVIEW: While I did learn how to remove furniture indentations from carpet, overall I didn’t learn a lot of things I didn't already know. With that said, I did find the book inspiring and it did make me consider each room in my home and consider its current and future function and appearance.
Yesterday I finished reading this book and left a rating of 3 stars and the brief review below. After 24 hours I've begun to feel that my initial review was too harsh. This book was one that I sat down and simply finished in the span of 24hours, which meant that it was easy to follow, but also that it was compelling enough for me to continue reading. I should have given it credit for that.
Perhaps it's related to the close timeline of holiday entertaining on the horizon, but while many of the solutions offered in the book were basic and built upon information and skills I already had, I found myself continuing to think about them ever since I finished the book. One of the nice aspects of the book is the basic 10 minute cleaning scenario given for each room in the home. Often for me the tasks involved in truly cleaning a room become overwhelming and so disruptive to the household as a whole that I seldom engage in more than the basic vacuum and dusting. To be honest I appreciated the organization of the book and the sets of clear steps of what to tackle and how. There are portions of my home that I do keep tidy because of daily routines that I've created over the years. I don't even realize that I've done so most of the time! This book gave me some inspiration to create further routines in other areas of my home that I have yet to tackle.
Initially I'd said that this book wasn't that informative or useful, yet I haven't stopped thinking about it since. Perhaps I was wrong. I'm raising my review to 4 stars. :-)
ORIGINAL REVIEW: While I did learn how to remove furniture indentations from carpet, overall I didn’t learn a lot of things I didn't already know. With that said, I did find the book inspiring and it did make me consider each room in my home and consider its current and future function and appearance.
June 14, 2025
I adored this book! I very rarely actually own books but this one is mine and I’m excited to go back and highlight, mark it up, and dog ear my favorite pages! It’s full of so many good ideas, practical advice and unique decorating tips. There were multiple times I had to stop reading and think to myself, oh shit I’ve never cleaned THAT before 😅 (see: mattress)
Only complaint is some chemical fear-mongering, however he has moved me little bit to his side because now when I walk down the cleaning aisle, I always think to myself, do we really need a separate cleaning product for each thing? (Floor, walls, toilet, bathtub, carpet, car, windows, etc) I find myself consolidating a little bit now where I hadn’t before.
Also loved his rant about companies greenwashing. I don’t think consumers truly understand how unregulated these claims are and I think we should all read the fine print and research before we buy.
Only complaint is some chemical fear-mongering, however he has moved me little bit to his side because now when I walk down the cleaning aisle, I always think to myself, do we really need a separate cleaning product for each thing? (Floor, walls, toilet, bathtub, carpet, car, windows, etc) I find myself consolidating a little bit now where I hadn’t before.
Also loved his rant about companies greenwashing. I don’t think consumers truly understand how unregulated these claims are and I think we should all read the fine print and research before we buy.
July 16, 2025
After I finished “Laundry Love” earlier this year I knew that anything else Patric Richardson wrote would be an instant buy for me, so I snapped this one up quick! This and LL would be perfect in a wedding shower gift… I LOVE how simple and fun these books make it to be housekeeping and doing laundry. There’s a ton of advice, lists, how tos and “must dos” out there, but I think all anyone needs for a good start is these two books. The writing is so engaging and funny and encouraging. The products and methods recommended are sustainable and affordable! Patric will never tell you to clutter up your sink or laundry closet with expensive, specialty cleaners when all you really need is, apparently, vinegar and water (I already tested it next to a “green” cleaner I had on hand and yes, it worked better and cost a FRACTION of the price with literally 10 less ingredients). I can’t recommend these books enough. I have been so inspired to do things the LL and HL way and I’m loving the results!
April 20, 2024
Patric is such a fun guide to going through your home, room by room, and making it your own.
January 27, 2025
From the author of Laundry Love, which updated the ways I do laundry, this book gives you myriad ways to make your house a home along with ways to keep it clean. I was encouraged by the fact we have implemented several of the suggestions in our home, and I'm working on implementing several others that will work in our home. Each book also ends with some great recipes!! This one has playlists as well for quick ten-minute cleans. I consider both books invaluable and keep them handy to reference as needed.
April 1, 2025
So listening on audio was maybe not a good choice because he’s kinda annoying to listen to. Also it’s just odd to listen to a guy talk about cleaning your house.
But it wasn’t a bad read, especially for this time of year. There are a few useful hacks in it. I love how resourceful this dude is. He is kind of obsessive though, and I don’t relate 1) because of my personality and 2) because of my stage of life.
Who has time to clean their porch wind chimes?! He seems to have way too much time on his hands to clean all these random things. But whatever. It was okay. I liked laundry love better.
But it wasn’t a bad read, especially for this time of year. There are a few useful hacks in it. I love how resourceful this dude is. He is kind of obsessive though, and I don’t relate 1) because of my personality and 2) because of my stage of life.
Who has time to clean their porch wind chimes?! He seems to have way too much time on his hands to clean all these random things. But whatever. It was okay. I liked laundry love better.
December 28, 2023
I marked House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You're In a read but reading it is going to be an ongoing process. I decided to first read the Less is More chapter.
it appealed to me because that was my intention when we moved into our newly built 1,900 square foot house. Gradually I lost my vision and now I need HELP. There's even a chapter on the garage. Do you realize that 25 percent of people don't park their car(s) in their garage? I love this book!
it appealed to me because that was my intention when we moved into our newly built 1,900 square foot house. Gradually I lost my vision and now I need HELP. There's even a chapter on the garage. Do you realize that 25 percent of people don't park their car(s) in their garage? I love this book!
April 29, 2025
I've seen the hype about this author on our local television stations and talk shows. While some of his information and tips are interesting, most of the context is common sense. Read it with a grain of salt.
January 4, 2025
Positive viewpoint on why keeping house matters. I keep referencing it for tips.
February 25, 2024
Love Patric's books, tips, and outlook. I found the cleaning tips most helpful and have incorporated many into my laundry and cleaning tasks.
April 28, 2024
Unfortunately, do not have a home so a lot of this didn’t pertain to me. I really enjoyed the ‘HL Tips’ and skimmed through a lot of the color commentary.
Some ideas to implement in the future:
1. A stair basket
2. Increasing your home IQ:
1. Security system
2. Smart video doorbell
3. Radon/smoke detectors
4. Smart appliances
5. Room specific HVAC system
3. “Recycle those clear, simple vases that flowers are delivered in and instead keep only a few special vases that you can have out all the time, with or without flowers”
4. Fabric napkins!
Some ideas to implement in the future:
1. A stair basket
2. Increasing your home IQ:
1. Security system
2. Smart video doorbell
3. Radon/smoke detectors
4. Smart appliances
5. Room specific HVAC system
3. “Recycle those clear, simple vases that flowers are delivered in and instead keep only a few special vases that you can have out all the time, with or without flowers”
4. Fabric napkins!
January 30, 2024
Another delight from the author of Laundry Love, one of the best books I read last year. It expands his teachings and musings from the laundry room and closet to the whole house (and beyond, he even covers yards, decks, and lanais). He provides lists for deep cleaning when you have the time and power cleaning when you don’t, along with two (upbeat and mellow) playlists tailored to each room that last about 10 minutes for quick bursts of cleaning. He also talks a ton about decorating and finding your own style and vibe in your home, which I loved. His examples from his life and his friends’ were interesting and humanizing.
I just love his personality, his spirit, and his sweet Kentucky accent, which shines in the audiobook. I could listen to him read stacks of legal documents and it would be as comforting as a lullaby or a sleep meditation. I love this man and will read anything he puts out.
I just love his personality, his spirit, and his sweet Kentucky accent, which shines in the audiobook. I could listen to him read stacks of legal documents and it would be as comforting as a lullaby or a sleep meditation. I love this man and will read anything he puts out.
May 19, 2025
(24/2025) 3.5🌟Self-Help(Non-Fiction) | 226 pages
“𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮.” 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙.
I myself have a pet peeve that I find annoying whenever I am doing it- that is to doom-scroll influencers with beautiful home before bedtime then I get miserable with myself, wondering, how can some people have such immaculate homes? It’s like their homes are cleaned every single minute and here I am toiling myself 24-7 and my home still look like how it is.
Mistake number one : STOP COMPARING, and I only need to be convinced when someone prominent like this author to say that - to be convinced.
I love staying at home. Being a homemaker I stay at home all day long. Home is my sanctuary, a place where I can be sane, and I need my home for my sanity. It’s where I could get the me-time of my life. My personal office cum library is my safe space, and where I spend (and others) a lot of time in. It’s cosy, comfortable, cold (because it is at the top floor and whenever the wind blows through the sliding doors…ah) and dreamy (to me). However, I can’t be deep cleaning everyday, can I?
The author, who has published another cleaning book, 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦, has now decided to focus on a broader cleaning aspect, the whole house. I love the book, especially non-fiction books, which can be written and published in a lighthearted manner, it’s like we are sitting in a cosy living hall, listening to our besties gossiping about life -that was how I felt while reading. The language is easy, the style is witty and the tips are a huge safe on the bank accounts.
The author, who lives by strictly through his 50-50 water-vinegar cleaning solution all the way, brings to us cleaning techniques and tips from our entryway right through the outdoor space (though some might not be that applicable to us Asian homes having no basement or garage) with interesting anecdotes and inspirations. I am particularly interested with the laundry room and outdoor chapters as I am planning to do a tiny renovation for these spaces in my home. My house has a mini courtyard inside where the light and fresh air come in, which after reading, I am very much interested to include a water feature in the future. The author also advised not to rush when doing improvisation, that is slowly but surely. Find things, furniture, decorations that we really like, not what we think other people would like. The reason why he has a disco ball in his laundry room, LOL! Also the reason it took him several years to find certain things to be included in his home.
The only bummer I would find from books like these is they have no visuals and colours to accompany my reading for visualisations and ideas. However, I promise the tips given are amazing!
At the end of the book, the author has listed appendices which include suggestion cleaning calendar which follows accordingly by month throughout the year, as well as (according to him, stain-inducing!) recipes which were inspired by the various spaces in his home. I also love the fact that he suggested two different cleaning ways; the deep and thorough clean or the ten-minute clean when we do not have that luxury of time. Also, how he would also suggest at the end for us to take the time-out after cleaning with some witty ideas! The author also includes some upbeat and mellow playlists for us to listen to while cleaning. 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 by 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘤é is one of them!
Read this if you need the nudge, motivation and inspiration to make your home a better place to live in for you, not for other people. Thank you #timesreads for this review copy in exchange with my opinion.
ps: my favourite areas in my home are my office/library and my kitchen. The kitchen is the command centre for my household. How about yours?
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #2025reads #MayReads #MayTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #maytheforcebewithyou #itsgonnabemay #houselove #patricrichardson
“𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮.” 𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙.
I myself have a pet peeve that I find annoying whenever I am doing it- that is to doom-scroll influencers with beautiful home before bedtime then I get miserable with myself, wondering, how can some people have such immaculate homes? It’s like their homes are cleaned every single minute and here I am toiling myself 24-7 and my home still look like how it is.
Mistake number one : STOP COMPARING, and I only need to be convinced when someone prominent like this author to say that - to be convinced.
I love staying at home. Being a homemaker I stay at home all day long. Home is my sanctuary, a place where I can be sane, and I need my home for my sanity. It’s where I could get the me-time of my life. My personal office cum library is my safe space, and where I spend (and others) a lot of time in. It’s cosy, comfortable, cold (because it is at the top floor and whenever the wind blows through the sliding doors…ah) and dreamy (to me). However, I can’t be deep cleaning everyday, can I?
The author, who has published another cleaning book, 𝘓𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦, has now decided to focus on a broader cleaning aspect, the whole house. I love the book, especially non-fiction books, which can be written and published in a lighthearted manner, it’s like we are sitting in a cosy living hall, listening to our besties gossiping about life -that was how I felt while reading. The language is easy, the style is witty and the tips are a huge safe on the bank accounts.
The author, who lives by strictly through his 50-50 water-vinegar cleaning solution all the way, brings to us cleaning techniques and tips from our entryway right through the outdoor space (though some might not be that applicable to us Asian homes having no basement or garage) with interesting anecdotes and inspirations. I am particularly interested with the laundry room and outdoor chapters as I am planning to do a tiny renovation for these spaces in my home. My house has a mini courtyard inside where the light and fresh air come in, which after reading, I am very much interested to include a water feature in the future. The author also advised not to rush when doing improvisation, that is slowly but surely. Find things, furniture, decorations that we really like, not what we think other people would like. The reason why he has a disco ball in his laundry room, LOL! Also the reason it took him several years to find certain things to be included in his home.
The only bummer I would find from books like these is they have no visuals and colours to accompany my reading for visualisations and ideas. However, I promise the tips given are amazing!
At the end of the book, the author has listed appendices which include suggestion cleaning calendar which follows accordingly by month throughout the year, as well as (according to him, stain-inducing!) recipes which were inspired by the various spaces in his home. I also love the fact that he suggested two different cleaning ways; the deep and thorough clean or the ten-minute clean when we do not have that luxury of time. Also, how he would also suggest at the end for us to take the time-out after cleaning with some witty ideas! The author also includes some upbeat and mellow playlists for us to listen to while cleaning. 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 by 𝘉𝘦𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘤é is one of them!
Read this if you need the nudge, motivation and inspiration to make your home a better place to live in for you, not for other people. Thank you #timesreads for this review copy in exchange with my opinion.
ps: my favourite areas in my home are my office/library and my kitchen. The kitchen is the command centre for my household. How about yours?
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February 12, 2024
I'm a big fan of Patric since his show on Discovery+. I originally turned it on one night when I was bored, so curious about how there could be a show about laundry and why anyone would watch it. I quickly was captivated by Patric's personality and his ability to perform *magic* on stains while also being so down to earth.
His book Laundry Love was great, it helped me understand laundry and appreciate it. I now enjoy laundry and have simplified it so much. Whenever I have a weird stain, I open that book and look right away for his tips on how to attack it.
House Love is a book in a similar vein. This book is a bit more on the inspiration side, with cleaning being secondary; but his types for decorating and making your home feel cozy are so important. In a world with shows that glamorize the sterile white house, Patric is here to inspire you to create a house you enjoy living in. One that captures you and brings out your personality. It's refreshing.
Buy the book for the excellent cleaning tips but make sure to immerse yourself in his excellent storytelling and creativity. You won't regret it.
His book Laundry Love was great, it helped me understand laundry and appreciate it. I now enjoy laundry and have simplified it so much. Whenever I have a weird stain, I open that book and look right away for his tips on how to attack it.
House Love is a book in a similar vein. This book is a bit more on the inspiration side, with cleaning being secondary; but his types for decorating and making your home feel cozy are so important. In a world with shows that glamorize the sterile white house, Patric is here to inspire you to create a house you enjoy living in. One that captures you and brings out your personality. It's refreshing.
Buy the book for the excellent cleaning tips but make sure to immerse yourself in his excellent storytelling and creativity. You won't regret it.
March 23, 2024
House. 50/50 Distilled white vinegar-water solution in a spray bottle will clean everything except do not use with granite and stone. Three splurges Patric recommends are cordless tool system all in the same brand so that batteries can be used by any and/or all, steam cleaner is a miracle worker ($150 one is better than the cheaper ones), and stick vacuum (cordless and rechargeable. Horsehair broom is especially recommended for hardwood floors. An orbital buffer is used to polish and clean hard surfaces such as cars, bath tub, wood floors, wood furniture - can be part of a cordless tool system. 99% of his cleaning is done with dish soap (toilets) vinegar and vodka. But in a pinch there is Amodex (removes permanent inks and dyes), Bar Keepers Friend (porcelain sink) and silver polish (silver pieces). Paint your garage wall and floor also. When done with your washer leave it open to dry out so that it doesn't smell. Once or twice a year pour 1 pound Borax and 1 gallon of white vinegar directly into your empty machine and then select your hottest, longest cycle and it was be clean and not smell.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2024
Possibly closer to a 3.5 star read.
I really like Patric’s voice and the stories he shared about the homes of friends and family throughout the years, but I went into this one hoping for more of a focus on ‘organising’ and that sadly doesn’t get the spotlight shining on it very much.
I loved the idea of sustainably choosing the items you bring into your home - only having items which you really LOVE - as well as decorating to match the seasons (as a maximalist who yearns to be a minimalist, this gave me some ideas on how we could switch up the ornaments we have, putting different pieces of our collections out at different times of the year so it’s not so overwhelming).
However, this is more of a book to dip in and out of rather than reading continuously, as a lot of the advice does get repeated and some of the steps are very basic. If you’re someone who likes having and displaying stuff but you just want your house to be cleaner and don’t know how, this has great advice for using eco-friendly methods to clean your space. If you’re looking to organise, minimise or declutter, this isn’t the book I’d recommend for you.
I really like Patric’s voice and the stories he shared about the homes of friends and family throughout the years, but I went into this one hoping for more of a focus on ‘organising’ and that sadly doesn’t get the spotlight shining on it very much.
I loved the idea of sustainably choosing the items you bring into your home - only having items which you really LOVE - as well as decorating to match the seasons (as a maximalist who yearns to be a minimalist, this gave me some ideas on how we could switch up the ornaments we have, putting different pieces of our collections out at different times of the year so it’s not so overwhelming).
However, this is more of a book to dip in and out of rather than reading continuously, as a lot of the advice does get repeated and some of the steps are very basic. If you’re someone who likes having and displaying stuff but you just want your house to be cleaner and don’t know how, this has great advice for using eco-friendly methods to clean your space. If you’re looking to organise, minimise or declutter, this isn’t the book I’d recommend for you.
April 23, 2025
I truly enjoyed reading this book! It’s one of the few non-fiction reads I’ve picked up that focuses on home tips. I usually read more towards self-help or healing books, so this was a refreshing change of pace.
The book is packed with practical and insightful tips, especially on cleaning and organizing home. Since our new home is almost ready, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. So, every tip feels incredibly useful and relevant.
One of the standout tips for me was about the entryway. It made me reflect on how both we or our guests feel the moment we walk into a home. Of course, we want to feel welcomed and calm, surrounded by a positive aura right from the door. That’s why designing and maintaining a warm, inviting entryway is such an essential part of creating a beautiful home.
If you have any book recommendations related to home deco, cleaning, interior design, or anything in that realm, please share them with me. I love reading this kind of book!
The book is packed with practical and insightful tips, especially on cleaning and organizing home. Since our new home is almost ready, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. So, every tip feels incredibly useful and relevant.
One of the standout tips for me was about the entryway. It made me reflect on how both we or our guests feel the moment we walk into a home. Of course, we want to feel welcomed and calm, surrounded by a positive aura right from the door. That’s why designing and maintaining a warm, inviting entryway is such an essential part of creating a beautiful home.
If you have any book recommendations related to home deco, cleaning, interior design, or anything in that realm, please share them with me. I love reading this kind of book!
September 9, 2024
I thought the book would skew more strongly towards cleaning & maintaining a home (like a fool, I judged the book by its cover) when it's actually a picture-less decor inspiration book with some cleaning tips thrown in. No pictures to inspire decoration ideas, insufficient cleaning tips to be considered a home maintenance book, too much of the author's unique experiences and memories to be widely applicable but not enough to be a memoir. This book can't decide what it actually is and thus does nothing well. Despite the author's lip service to environmentalism, the best step towards eco-friendliness is REDUCE. This book is a long list of consumerism & shopping wishlists. Does the author assume that the reader has unlimited funds? Just an overall disappointment. This book does not stand up against comparable titles.
April 21, 2025
Oh my goodness, I did end up loving this book. I highly recommend this read for anyone who feels like having a Spring Cleaning fling!
I especially like the beginning where Patric goes into specifics about cleaning materials and what works best where. Now with this book, I feel more equipped than ever to really clean my home. In addition, he also paints many pictures on how beautiful you can make your home in terms of design as well. He does this in many bite-sized pieces so that it stays approachable and not overwhelming.
Patric also includes these "10 minute cleans" with a playlist included, AND he guides on where to hit cleaning wise for the biggest impact.
11/10 overall, especially for the fact its a nonfiction book that held my attention.
I especially like the beginning where Patric goes into specifics about cleaning materials and what works best where. Now with this book, I feel more equipped than ever to really clean my home. In addition, he also paints many pictures on how beautiful you can make your home in terms of design as well. He does this in many bite-sized pieces so that it stays approachable and not overwhelming.
Patric also includes these "10 minute cleans" with a playlist included, AND he guides on where to hit cleaning wise for the biggest impact.
11/10 overall, especially for the fact its a nonfiction book that held my attention.
January 13, 2024
This was cute! I am admittedly terrible at house work. I didn't learn it coming up, and it doesn't come naturally. So, obviously, I wanted this book to fix me. Ha.
Did it? Kind of! It gave a lot of tips and tricks for how to make your home cozy and loved-in, and I need that in spades.
It delivers the promise it gave.
Was it all original, life changing stuff? Meh, not totally, but I still took notes, so I'm calling it a win.
What really did it for me for me was the conversational tone that they used. It felt like you were getting advice from a friend, which made the message land a lot better.
Cute! Solid 4.7.
Did it? Kind of! It gave a lot of tips and tricks for how to make your home cozy and loved-in, and I need that in spades.
It delivers the promise it gave.
Was it all original, life changing stuff? Meh, not totally, but I still took notes, so I'm calling it a win.
What really did it for me for me was the conversational tone that they used. It felt like you were getting advice from a friend, which made the message land a lot better.
Cute! Solid 4.7.
June 9, 2024
The Laundry Evangelist, owner of MOA store Mona Williams, author Patric Richardson radiates charm, decency, sunlight and integrity in his second excellent book House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning Organizing and Loving the Home You're In. I've listened to him many times, purchased his laundry flakes and all his advice works and is fantastic. He's pure delight to listen to and even better, he lives in Minnesota. While his status has recently risen on a national level you wouldn't know it. He's always down to earth. His first book Laundry Love is also superb. Patric deserves all the success and adoration he's receiving.
January 17, 2024
This was SO fun! I haven't seen or read anything with the author before, but he really puts the joy in joyful home work. I didn't feel this was a 1000% comprehensive guide to home organization or covered every cleaning situation out there, but it didn't need to. Much more helpful to me were the 10 minute cleaning strategies (with streamlined tools and very wholesome cleaners) with an accompanying PLAYLIST. How fun! I will definitely be utilizing these. I made so many bookmarks along the way, I might just have to find an ebook of this and do the same!
February 2, 2024
I'm not sure this really needed to be a book. I took away a couple of good suggestions, but most of it is common sense. While I appreciate Richardson's enthusiasm, it was quickly apparent that his design style doesn't mesh with my own. (Please stop suggesting that I clutter my house with cutesy knick-knacks that need to be cleaned and swapped out throughout the year.) I also appreciate the push for natural cleaning solutions, something I've been using for decades. The one suggestion that truly made me cringe was putting out bird feeders. (Ugh! I could go on a whole rant about that one!)
June 25, 2024
Meh. I loved his book about laundry. I learned a lot and it was fun reading. So I was eager to read this one and it fell a little flat for me. This book had his same style which I like to a point. Some of his ideas were over the top and things a typical person would never do (imo anyway). Some of it was just common sense. Unlike the book about laundry, I didn’t take away anything from this book that I want to try or change or that I’m not already doing (or like the way I’m doing something as opposed to whatever he suggests). This could be a great book for the right person though.
September 17, 2025
I really enjoyed Laundry Love, even bought it, so I had to check this out from the library to see if it was as good as his first book. Unfortunately, no, but it was a nice read. The writing is engaging and charming and I wish he could be my friend (and invite me over to eat all the things he has recipes for in the back of the book). His purpose in this book is to allow you to make your house your stylish home. I'm working towards that and will even pull out the steamer I last used 15 years ago (to remove wallpaper) and see how it does in my bath. So, he affected me!
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