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Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster--and Loving Your Home Every Day
The wildly popular YouTube star behind CLEAN MY SPACE presents the breakthrough solution to cleaning better with less effort
Melissa Maker is beloved by fans all over the world for her completely re-engineered approach to cleaning. As the dynamic new authority on home and living, Melissa knows that to invest any of our precious time in cleaning, we need to see big, long-lasting results. So, she developed her method to help us get the most out of our effort and keep our homes fresh and welcoming every day. In her long-awaited debut book, she shares her revolutionary 3-step
• Identify the most important areas (MIAs) in your home that need attention
• Select the proper products, tools, and techniques (PTT) for the job
• Implement these new cleaning routines so that they stick
Clean My Space takes the chore out of cleaning with Melissa’s incredible tips and cleaning hacks (the power of pretreating!), her lightning fast 5–10 minute “express clean” routines for every room when time is tightest, and her techniques for cleaning even the most daunting places and spaces. And a big Melissa gives guidance on the best non-toxic, eco-conscious cleaning products and offers natural cleaning solution recipes you can make at home using essential oils to soothe and refresh. With Melissa’s simple, groundbreaking method you can truly live in a cleaner, more cheerful, and calming home all the time.
Melissa Maker is beloved by fans all over the world for her completely re-engineered approach to cleaning. As the dynamic new authority on home and living, Melissa knows that to invest any of our precious time in cleaning, we need to see big, long-lasting results. So, she developed her method to help us get the most out of our effort and keep our homes fresh and welcoming every day. In her long-awaited debut book, she shares her revolutionary 3-step
• Identify the most important areas (MIAs) in your home that need attention
• Select the proper products, tools, and techniques (PTT) for the job
• Implement these new cleaning routines so that they stick
Clean My Space takes the chore out of cleaning with Melissa’s incredible tips and cleaning hacks (the power of pretreating!), her lightning fast 5–10 minute “express clean” routines for every room when time is tightest, and her techniques for cleaning even the most daunting places and spaces. And a big Melissa gives guidance on the best non-toxic, eco-conscious cleaning products and offers natural cleaning solution recipes you can make at home using essential oils to soothe and refresh. With Melissa’s simple, groundbreaking method you can truly live in a cleaner, more cheerful, and calming home all the time.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2017
747 people are currently reading
1935 people want to read
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March 21, 2019Honestly, this gets a zero from me.
I saw it listed yesterday on a list of books to help you get your home spring-cleaned ready (yes Marie Kondo's book was close to the #1 book on this list, but I thought this one might be of more interest)...saw that the library had a copy available and had it delivered to the branch closest to my home. This is going straight back to the library tonight. It can totally be filed under a "No Sh*t Sherlock" folder of tips on how to clean your home.
Pages and pages of text only, some shaded into little boxes - are these meant to highlight very difficult concepts such as "How to Clean A Coffee Table"?? 1. Remove everything from the table's surface. 2. Spray with cleaner. 3. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. And I'm not even kidding. That is what it says. Those were the kinds of "tips" found on every page inside. :-( I would have been incredibly angry had I paid money for this book. I can safely and comfortably continue to clean my home as I have always done and without the "expert" or "helpful" tips found in here.
Thank you to libraries everywhere.
I saw it listed yesterday on a list of books to help you get your home spring-cleaned ready (yes Marie Kondo's book was close to the #1 book on this list, but I thought this one might be of more interest)...saw that the library had a copy available and had it delivered to the branch closest to my home. This is going straight back to the library tonight. It can totally be filed under a "No Sh*t Sherlock" folder of tips on how to clean your home.
Pages and pages of text only, some shaded into little boxes - are these meant to highlight very difficult concepts such as "How to Clean A Coffee Table"?? 1. Remove everything from the table's surface. 2. Spray with cleaner. 3. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. And I'm not even kidding. That is what it says. Those were the kinds of "tips" found on every page inside. :-( I would have been incredibly angry had I paid money for this book. I can safely and comfortably continue to clean my home as I have always done and without the "expert" or "helpful" tips found in here.
Thank you to libraries everywhere.
March 10, 2017
I won an Advance Uncorrected Proof in a Goodreads giveaway.
My two positive comments about this book are
- Melissa Maker runs a successful cleaning service, so she must know what she's writing about.
- She offers "recipes" for less-expensive, less-damaging cleaning products, made with easy-to-find products.
And now to the negative!
I have alternate title suggestions: Clean My Space for Dummies. Clean My Space for People Who Have Never Touched a Cleaning Utensil.
I present the following section as support. Unfortunately, this text box doesn't allow me to indent as the book does, and I've had to use [bullet] rather than an actual bullet.
"How to Clean Window Sills
"You'll see below that I have a technique for when the sill needs a lot of work and when it needs a little. Don't over-clean! This is how you do it.
"1. Lift any window covering to expose the window sill.
2. Examine the window sill and track.
3. If very dirty:
"[bullet] a. Use a dry cleaning toothbrush to loosen dirt and debris.
[bullet] b. Vacuum up dirt using the brush attachment.
[bullet] c. Spray with all-purpose cleaner (pg XX) and allow the product to sit for a few moments to loosen the remaining dirt.
[bullet] d. Use a cleaning toothbrush to agitate the product and lift out the dirt from the sills and tracks.
[bullet] e. Use a paper towel to blot up the product and the dirt, being sure not to re-grind it into the sill or track.
"4. If relatively clean:
[bullet] a. Use a cloth dampened with all-purpose cleaner and wipe the sill and track."
Anyone who needs this much information ("Examine the window sill and track." ???!!) may also need help locating the window sills.
I hope Maker's editor has cleaned up the organization - bullets and letters? - and has removed all gratuitous information, such as "This is how you do it."
If you have ever dusted or vacuumed, you do not need this book. Save your money and time.
My two positive comments about this book are
- Melissa Maker runs a successful cleaning service, so she must know what she's writing about.
- She offers "recipes" for less-expensive, less-damaging cleaning products, made with easy-to-find products.
And now to the negative!
I have alternate title suggestions: Clean My Space for Dummies. Clean My Space for People Who Have Never Touched a Cleaning Utensil.
I present the following section as support. Unfortunately, this text box doesn't allow me to indent as the book does, and I've had to use [bullet] rather than an actual bullet.
"How to Clean Window Sills
"You'll see below that I have a technique for when the sill needs a lot of work and when it needs a little. Don't over-clean! This is how you do it.
"1. Lift any window covering to expose the window sill.
2. Examine the window sill and track.
3. If very dirty:
"[bullet] a. Use a dry cleaning toothbrush to loosen dirt and debris.
[bullet] b. Vacuum up dirt using the brush attachment.
[bullet] c. Spray with all-purpose cleaner (pg XX) and allow the product to sit for a few moments to loosen the remaining dirt.
[bullet] d. Use a cleaning toothbrush to agitate the product and lift out the dirt from the sills and tracks.
[bullet] e. Use a paper towel to blot up the product and the dirt, being sure not to re-grind it into the sill or track.
"4. If relatively clean:
[bullet] a. Use a cloth dampened with all-purpose cleaner and wipe the sill and track."
Anyone who needs this much information ("Examine the window sill and track." ???!!) may also need help locating the window sills.
I hope Maker's editor has cleaned up the organization - bullets and letters? - and has removed all gratuitous information, such as "This is how you do it."
If you have ever dusted or vacuumed, you do not need this book. Save your money and time.
November 3, 2017
Wow! This book is intense. Who knew that cleaning could take up 298 pages. I love to watch Melissa Maker's cleaning videos with how-to's and products. Those under 10 minute videos are an easy way to learn a couple of tips to make my life easier. This book is a little over the top for me.
I love ways to make my life easier. Especially when it comes to cleaning. It's my least favorite thing, but I always feel so much better when it's done. Clean My Space goes into detail on every space in your home and how to keep it in tip-top shape. I was overwhelmed on where to start.
Maybe I would have been better off going straight to the back of the book to look at the cleaning schedule. This gives a plan for how to keep rooms clean broken down into waves. Wave One is simple things to do, Wave Two takes a little more time and Wave Three is time intensive. Melissa also lists the approximate amount of time each task will take, corresponding page in the book to look at how you should be cleaning and how often each task should be done.
There are helpful recipes throughout the book for safe, effective cleaning products. White vinegar has a ton of household uses! Melissa has a list of ingredients for you to keep in your pantry so you can mix up cleaning products whenever needed.
Overall, I think this book is useful, but would be better is small doses. Pick a room that needs a good cleaning, look up that chapter and start there. Once you've used Melissa's methods to clean I think they will get easier and become more ingrained. I will be taking her lengthy cleaning list and breaking it down into a smaller more realistic list for myself.
I love ways to make my life easier. Especially when it comes to cleaning. It's my least favorite thing, but I always feel so much better when it's done. Clean My Space goes into detail on every space in your home and how to keep it in tip-top shape. I was overwhelmed on where to start.
Maybe I would have been better off going straight to the back of the book to look at the cleaning schedule. This gives a plan for how to keep rooms clean broken down into waves. Wave One is simple things to do, Wave Two takes a little more time and Wave Three is time intensive. Melissa also lists the approximate amount of time each task will take, corresponding page in the book to look at how you should be cleaning and how often each task should be done.
There are helpful recipes throughout the book for safe, effective cleaning products. White vinegar has a ton of household uses! Melissa has a list of ingredients for you to keep in your pantry so you can mix up cleaning products whenever needed.
Overall, I think this book is useful, but would be better is small doses. Pick a room that needs a good cleaning, look up that chapter and start there. Once you've used Melissa's methods to clean I think they will get easier and become more ingrained. I will be taking her lengthy cleaning list and breaking it down into a smaller more realistic list for myself.
May 5, 2017
A lot of the information was repeated from chapter to chapter. I know why, but it made the book a bit tedious.
May 9, 2018
Whilst this book is simple and treats the reader as though they have never approached the task before, that isn't a criticism. There are always tasks that someone hasn't come across before because they weren't brought up in a home with said object (blinds, for myself - it was always curtains/drapes and net curtains for me).
It's not exhaustive - for it to be so, it would have been double the size, but it is chatty like a good friend over coffee with hints, tips and tricks to getting the most with the least in terms of cleaning.
Some of the ideas and recipes are awesome, some common sense. but, we all know at least ONE person who could do with some extra help. heaven knows not everyone knows about DWELL TIME - if you don't, grab a copy of the book.
Well researched and benefitted by years of cleaning experience as the owner and one time cleaner in her own business this book will help everyone, it's a quick, easy, and light hearted approach to a serious and tedious business. And I came out with new info myself.
Well worth a pick up or even gifting - especially for teens off to college, people moving into their own home or anyone who wants a few more ideas. While you're at it - go check out her youtube channel the name is the title of the book.
It's not exhaustive - for it to be so, it would have been double the size, but it is chatty like a good friend over coffee with hints, tips and tricks to getting the most with the least in terms of cleaning.
Some of the ideas and recipes are awesome, some common sense. but, we all know at least ONE person who could do with some extra help. heaven knows not everyone knows about DWELL TIME - if you don't, grab a copy of the book.
Well researched and benefitted by years of cleaning experience as the owner and one time cleaner in her own business this book will help everyone, it's a quick, easy, and light hearted approach to a serious and tedious business. And I came out with new info myself.
Well worth a pick up or even gifting - especially for teens off to college, people moving into their own home or anyone who wants a few more ideas. While you're at it - go check out her youtube channel the name is the title of the book.
April 2, 2024
Very clear instructions. She covers many areas of the home that you wouldn't even think of. I loved how repetitive it was; it helps it sink in for me. I actually really enjoyed reading this and I'm considering reading it again. Perfect for people who know little to nothing about cleaning. At the end, she also gives a thorough cleaning schedule for your house. I only wish she had a chapter on how to clean your car.
October 10, 2018
I am a HUGE fan of Melissa's YouTube channel and have the "homemade" cleaning products in color-coded spray bottles in my kitchen to prove it! The only reason I bought the book was that it is easier to flip through pages to find the exact idea I am looking for to use in my home rather than try to find it in one of her MANY wonderful videos! Although I don't strive to keep the "perfect" home, I do want to be able to find what I need without a major search and know that if guests arrive unexpectedly I don't have to run and swish the toilet or hide the dirty clothes under the bed... yes, our younger years saw some creative "quick clean up" techniques at our home! ;p
This is one of the few books that I will actually keep and be using for years to come!
This is one of the few books that I will actually keep and be using for years to come!
March 23, 2017
A lot more helpful than The Life-Changing Magic.
This book comes with lots of very clear, helpful advice, and a practical and encouraging authorial voice. I read it for the cleaner recipes, and found them, once again, practical to make and to use. I also liked the way the author breaks down cleaning steps and times them so that you can decide for yourself which steps you have time for at any given moment.
Very useful.
This book comes with lots of very clear, helpful advice, and a practical and encouraging authorial voice. I read it for the cleaner recipes, and found them, once again, practical to make and to use. I also liked the way the author breaks down cleaning steps and times them so that you can decide for yourself which steps you have time for at any given moment.
Very useful.
September 11, 2019
I'm not sure this book taught me how to clean, because I learned a lot of that doing custodial. What I did like were her homemade cleaning products. The stainless steel cleaner itself was worth the price of the book (equal parts cream of tartar and lemon juice). My toaster has never been as clean as it is now!
It did give me the motivation to clean. She goes step by step of how to clean each room in the house. If you read this book front to back like I did, it gets really repetitive and boring. But if I used it more of like a reference book that would be better. I'm curious why some things she wrote once and just put the page number to refer to (like how to do window sills), and others she just wrote out the same thing for every chapter (like cleaning windows). By the 8th time I read how to clean windows I was a little sick of it, but again I think it's meant to be a reference book. I just wish she would have been consistent. Either type everything for every chapter, or write it once with a page number reference for each chapter (probably would have been a way shorter book though).
It did give me the motivation to clean. She goes step by step of how to clean each room in the house. If you read this book front to back like I did, it gets really repetitive and boring. But if I used it more of like a reference book that would be better. I'm curious why some things she wrote once and just put the page number to refer to (like how to do window sills), and others she just wrote out the same thing for every chapter (like cleaning windows). By the 8th time I read how to clean windows I was a little sick of it, but again I think it's meant to be a reference book. I just wish she would have been consistent. Either type everything for every chapter, or write it once with a page number reference for each chapter (probably would have been a way shorter book though).
June 25, 2020
This wasn't a ground breaking book but I really love Melissa's YouTube channel and I was interested in checking the book out. It's a bit repetitive, but it's designed that way because you would really use it more as a reference book. Overall I didn't learn any major cleaning secrets but I appreciated the recipes for safe DIY cleaning products (I don't do well with strong chemical smells so those are great options for me) and I like the breakdown she does of how much time specific tasks should take because it's easier to start on some housecleaning work if I know it shouldn't take more than 15 minutes. A decent resource though the videos are more fun. This would be a great book for someone who is just moving out for the first time.
July 4, 2020
I'm a slob and I read this for a little inspiration to clean up. Marie Kondo couldn't help, but this did help give me little nudge. I like the time savings techniques to keep me from being overwhelmed, and some of the cleaning recipes were helpful.
This book is very repetitive (as is cleaning) and could probably be half its size (but I probably wouldn't have read a pamphlet, so I get it), but it did inspire me to subscribe to her blog as I can use any sort of time saving tips.
Did it change my life? No.
Is it useful? Yes.
I think for most people, this might be a waste of time, but if you get overwhelmed easily and don't know where to start so never start, then this book will totally help.
This book is very repetitive (as is cleaning) and could probably be half its size (but I probably wouldn't have read a pamphlet, so I get it), but it did inspire me to subscribe to her blog as I can use any sort of time saving tips.
Did it change my life? No.
Is it useful? Yes.
I think for most people, this might be a waste of time, but if you get overwhelmed easily and don't know where to start so never start, then this book will totally help.
November 6, 2017
Don't like cleaning? This is for you!
I've been following Melissa Maker on YouTube ever since I moved out on my own last year. I've always been a unorganized person, hated cleaning in general. I did it because I had to and often rushed through it.
One year and a book later I quite enjoy it actually, it's somewhat therapeutic to clean now when you have your own routine set and you also make your own cleaning detergents which is not only fun but also very good for the environment.
Most importantly I've come to enjoy cleaning for myself and not because we're having company or mom is nagging, she has made me want to appreciate the process for myself.
All in all a great read, very comprehensive. One could skim through the book once and then only have it around as a go to when you need to look up the smoothest quickest way to clean a particular item or room.
I've been following Melissa Maker on YouTube ever since I moved out on my own last year. I've always been a unorganized person, hated cleaning in general. I did it because I had to and often rushed through it.
One year and a book later I quite enjoy it actually, it's somewhat therapeutic to clean now when you have your own routine set and you also make your own cleaning detergents which is not only fun but also very good for the environment.
Most importantly I've come to enjoy cleaning for myself and not because we're having company or mom is nagging, she has made me want to appreciate the process for myself.
All in all a great read, very comprehensive. One could skim through the book once and then only have it around as a go to when you need to look up the smoothest quickest way to clean a particular item or room.
February 20, 2019
Melissa Maker secured her status as an awesome cleaning guru. This condensed many of her top YouTube videos into a succcint, easy to follow "Maker Method" guide. Cleaning top to bottom, left to right, using the eye level test, and simple but effective natural cleaning formulas were the most pertinent information to me. I highly recommend to all who are interested in professionally cleaning or simply maintaining their own house a little more efficiently :-)
January 27, 2025
A too cutesy book on maintenance cleaning.
March 29, 2018
Checked it out of the library, but will buy a copy to keep. Her cleaning formulas alone are probably worth the investment.
June 24, 2023
Read a couple years ago and I guess I didn't review it. She has good tips and methods, like going top to bottom, but I just don't have the energy to make my own cleaning supplies and the whole vinegar and baking soda thing has never worked for me.
February 21, 2019
The relaxing way to spend the weekend: reading the book and then practice the cleaning.
I like that it has some pictures and gives great advice!
I like that it has some pictures and gives great advice!
February 19, 2017
I won "Clean My Space" as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
I wish I could give this book a 3.5, so I went ahead and rounded up. While this isn't a "beach read", as Maker admits, it is full of useful tips to keep your home clean. I consider myself pretty neat already and was pleasantly surprised to find that I'm already employing some of the methods Maker recommends (like the "3 Wave System"). I especially appreciated the sections on essential oils and homemade cleaning products. Sure, you can find a lot of this info on a blog but it's kind of nice having a cleaning "reference" book. I now plan to place it in a strategic place for my slob of a fiance to find!
I wish I could give this book a 3.5, so I went ahead and rounded up. While this isn't a "beach read", as Maker admits, it is full of useful tips to keep your home clean. I consider myself pretty neat already and was pleasantly surprised to find that I'm already employing some of the methods Maker recommends (like the "3 Wave System"). I especially appreciated the sections on essential oils and homemade cleaning products. Sure, you can find a lot of this info on a blog but it's kind of nice having a cleaning "reference" book. I now plan to place it in a strategic place for my slob of a fiance to find!
March 20, 2017
I have been following Melissa and the Clean My Space YouTube channel for a few years, and am so glad I bought this book! Her method has really helped me tremendously, because, as she says in the book, many adults were not taught these kinds of life skills growing up because there simply wasn't time, and most women work full time and hardly have enough time to clean the house.
This breaks down every thing you can possibly think to clean, including schedules, homemade non-toxic cleaners, room-by-room instructions...this is a fantastic manual and I am genuinely excited about cleaning my house and transforming it from "dorm-room pigsty" (as I often joke to my husband) to a gorgeous and clean home that is well-maintained.
Highly recommend.
This breaks down every thing you can possibly think to clean, including schedules, homemade non-toxic cleaners, room-by-room instructions...this is a fantastic manual and I am genuinely excited about cleaning my house and transforming it from "dorm-room pigsty" (as I often joke to my husband) to a gorgeous and clean home that is well-maintained.
Highly recommend.
October 28, 2017
I enjoy falling down Youtube rabbit holes. I've found some really fantastic Youtube channels, from booktubers to nerdy unboxings to drama channels about beauty gurus I've never heard of (and terms I've never heard of, like 'beauty guru').
I have legitimately no idea what rabbit hole I followed that got me to Clean My Space. I couldn't tell you what the first video I watched was, or what about it compelled me to keep going. If you know even a little bit about me, I just don't clean. I sweep, I do laundry and dishes, I don't live in a sty, but I do the bare minimum because I have better things to do than clean.
Like watch Youtube videos about cleaning.
Seriously, I fell for Melissa Maker's channel hard. I can't explain it, I really can't. But Melissa is fun and engaging and doesn't seem rehearsed and Martha Stewart-esque. And in watching these videos, I have been more and more motivated to actually do something with my house.
Have I done it? No.
How long have I been subscribed? Er, 6 months?
In my defense, I watch these videos at work, and then when I get home, the last thing I want to do is clean my window tracks.
So, I asked my library to order her book. If I hold a physical copy, this will TOTALLY MOTIVATE ME.
And it did!
Problem: I read the book at work, too.
I am the worst. But this book is not.
Every area of your home is broken down, room by room, section by section. It's a lot of repetition, which you notice when reading the book all the way through. But really, you don't need to read the book all the way through. Cleaning your laundry room and also looking for tips to clean your washer? Go to that chapter. You won't have to flip back to the first chapter to get motivated to clean the room first, then get to the machine.
BTDubs, I did clean out my washing machine. WITH vinegar, and baking soda. Also, I deep scrubbed my toilet, inside and out.
I mean, I didn't mop the bathroom, or scrub the bathtub, or the sink. But I did dust in there.
I'M A SLOW LEARNER, OKAY?!
I really want to buy this book. I find it motivating and extremely helpful. Her tips are useful, her style is fun and she puts in the recipes for her homemade cleaners, which are invaluable with animals and the little one running around this house.
I don't know how I became a fan, but I'm an even bigger one after reading this.
I have legitimately no idea what rabbit hole I followed that got me to Clean My Space. I couldn't tell you what the first video I watched was, or what about it compelled me to keep going. If you know even a little bit about me, I just don't clean. I sweep, I do laundry and dishes, I don't live in a sty, but I do the bare minimum because I have better things to do than clean.
Like watch Youtube videos about cleaning.
Seriously, I fell for Melissa Maker's channel hard. I can't explain it, I really can't. But Melissa is fun and engaging and doesn't seem rehearsed and Martha Stewart-esque. And in watching these videos, I have been more and more motivated to actually do something with my house.
Have I done it? No.
How long have I been subscribed? Er, 6 months?
In my defense, I watch these videos at work, and then when I get home, the last thing I want to do is clean my window tracks.
So, I asked my library to order her book. If I hold a physical copy, this will TOTALLY MOTIVATE ME.
And it did!
Problem: I read the book at work, too.
I am the worst. But this book is not.
Every area of your home is broken down, room by room, section by section. It's a lot of repetition, which you notice when reading the book all the way through. But really, you don't need to read the book all the way through. Cleaning your laundry room and also looking for tips to clean your washer? Go to that chapter. You won't have to flip back to the first chapter to get motivated to clean the room first, then get to the machine.
BTDubs, I did clean out my washing machine. WITH vinegar, and baking soda. Also, I deep scrubbed my toilet, inside and out.
I mean, I didn't mop the bathroom, or scrub the bathtub, or the sink. But I did dust in there.
I'M A SLOW LEARNER, OKAY?!
I really want to buy this book. I find it motivating and extremely helpful. Her tips are useful, her style is fun and she puts in the recipes for her homemade cleaners, which are invaluable with animals and the little one running around this house.
I don't know how I became a fan, but I'm an even bigger one after reading this.
March 12, 2019
Let me clear one thing up: I enjoy cleaning.
Like writing, it's a meditative act with something to show for it in the end. I also grew up in a household where the floors were so clean you could eat off them at all times (I think some of my friends tried).
My wife pokes fun at how my family gets excited about cleaning products.
However, one thing always irked me—I was really bad at it and couldn't figure out why. This frustration recently coupled with my limited time to do it and I finally had enough.In desperation, I turned toward the resource that millions of people use every day: YouTube.
After spending some time separating the wheat from the chaff (some videos are well produced with weak information, other videos are badly produced with great information and some videos are just bad), I came across Melissa Maker's Clean My Space channel.
Intrigued with her gentle approach, I opted to pick up her book rather than sift through the entire video collection.
I've always maintained a non-fiction book is worth the price if it can give you at least one insight that will change your perspective. Maker did that here in spades for me.
After reading her work, I was able to identify why my cleaning looked like a three year old wiped things up with her snotty sleeve and how to clean effectively with the limited time I have in a day.She takes you step-by-step, room-by-room and product-by-product (including recipes to make your own) on how to clean your place. In speaking with my cleaner, a veteran of 30+ years in the industry (and a marriage saver the last few years), her advice is pretty on-point.
The most important thing she did for me, however, was getting me to see my cleaning habits from a different perspective.
For that reason, it was worth picking up.
If you've visited my house, or been in my car, the last few years, I apologize. I know better now and excited to show you the turn-around.
Like writing, it's a meditative act with something to show for it in the end. I also grew up in a household where the floors were so clean you could eat off them at all times (I think some of my friends tried).
My wife pokes fun at how my family gets excited about cleaning products.
However, one thing always irked me—I was really bad at it and couldn't figure out why. This frustration recently coupled with my limited time to do it and I finally had enough.In desperation, I turned toward the resource that millions of people use every day: YouTube.
After spending some time separating the wheat from the chaff (some videos are well produced with weak information, other videos are badly produced with great information and some videos are just bad), I came across Melissa Maker's Clean My Space channel.
Intrigued with her gentle approach, I opted to pick up her book rather than sift through the entire video collection.
I've always maintained a non-fiction book is worth the price if it can give you at least one insight that will change your perspective. Maker did that here in spades for me.
After reading her work, I was able to identify why my cleaning looked like a three year old wiped things up with her snotty sleeve and how to clean effectively with the limited time I have in a day.She takes you step-by-step, room-by-room and product-by-product (including recipes to make your own) on how to clean your place. In speaking with my cleaner, a veteran of 30+ years in the industry (and a marriage saver the last few years), her advice is pretty on-point.
The most important thing she did for me, however, was getting me to see my cleaning habits from a different perspective.
For that reason, it was worth picking up.
If you've visited my house, or been in my car, the last few years, I apologize. I know better now and excited to show you the turn-around.
January 6, 2020
If you've followed Melissa on YouTube, you've learned everything in this book. If you want everything she's ever taught compiled into one place, this book is it. She states in the beginning that's why she wrote it. If you keep a home maintenance binder, there are very good recipes, tips, etc. that you can copy into it for future reference. The book itself reads better as a room-by-room reference than something you'd read straight through (which is what I did), simply because she wrote it to be a room-by-room reference, with repetitive notes and warnings for each room. For example, every time she mentions cleaning light fixtures, she reminds you to turn the lights off to avoid popping lightbulbs. One criticism is the speech toward the end about how this isn't the 1950s anymore and cleaning isn't solely a woman's job. I don't know where people get the idea that men never at least cleaned up after themselves prior to bra-burning, but I feel it's rather redundant to have it mentioned in every single cleaning book that women shouldn't be doing all the cleaning, when it's obvious that women are typically the ones seeking out such books or YouTube channels. We may not be the only ones, but we tend to be the ones it matters most to and who care to do it correctly. I enjoyed the book because it was a little like being trained to be a professional housekeeper. It gives you a method to follow, so that no matter what space you hit, you can tackle it without flopping all over the place and feeling like a chicken with her head cut off.
September 16, 2018
Well, I didn't actually finish reading this book-- it came due and then overdue at the library, so I sent it back unfinished because I know that there was a list of others waiting to (almost) read it as well.
This is a book on how to systematically clean your home/apartment with recipes for great, effective natural home-made products (read: no noxious chemicals like chlorine bleach or ammonia) and a really interesting blow-by-blow account of how to clean up and deep clean every room in your domicile. I was so thrilled that I bought extra-strength vinegar at Canadian Tire (didn't know about such stuff), a bunch of pails and mop heads and microfibre cloths, etc. I spent somewhere around $200 stocking up on cleaning supplies and getting myself all set up by rearranging my pantry to accommodate this gear so I knew exactly where it is stored and can do a complete room whenever the urge strikes. I really want a new vacuum cleaner, but am holding off on that for a while.
Melissa Maker causes me to feel a bit of shame-- I'm about twice her age and have never had a really effective system for cleaning on a regular basis. But, hey, now I do! And cleaning is fun!
This is a book on how to systematically clean your home/apartment with recipes for great, effective natural home-made products (read: no noxious chemicals like chlorine bleach or ammonia) and a really interesting blow-by-blow account of how to clean up and deep clean every room in your domicile. I was so thrilled that I bought extra-strength vinegar at Canadian Tire (didn't know about such stuff), a bunch of pails and mop heads and microfibre cloths, etc. I spent somewhere around $200 stocking up on cleaning supplies and getting myself all set up by rearranging my pantry to accommodate this gear so I knew exactly where it is stored and can do a complete room whenever the urge strikes. I really want a new vacuum cleaner, but am holding off on that for a while.
Melissa Maker causes me to feel a bit of shame-- I'm about twice her age and have never had a really effective system for cleaning on a regular basis. But, hey, now I do! And cleaning is fun!
April 19, 2025
I am not the target audience for this book because I already know how to clean in a way that makes sense for me.
Positives:
- the author assumes the reader knows nothing about cleaning so she has a long list of recommended products
-each chapter is a different room or area of the home with a detailed set of instructions for cleaning it, including how long each task should take
-there are many DIY cleaner recipes
Negatives:
-while the list of cleaning product recipes is nice, the author failed to caution against using vinegar on any caulked areas; it will dissolve the caulking
-book is very repetitive because in each chapter the author restates her method for cleaning each room
-if you already know how to clean you will find this annoying to read; there isn't anything new or revolutionary
To summarize, this book could be helpful for people who never learned how to actually clean their home, or for those looking to find a different way of managing their cleaning schedule. But if you already know how to wash clothes, clean a sink, and vacuum a rug, don't buy a copy of this book. Thankfully I borrowed a copy from the library.
Positives:
- the author assumes the reader knows nothing about cleaning so she has a long list of recommended products
-each chapter is a different room or area of the home with a detailed set of instructions for cleaning it, including how long each task should take
-there are many DIY cleaner recipes
Negatives:
-while the list of cleaning product recipes is nice, the author failed to caution against using vinegar on any caulked areas; it will dissolve the caulking
-book is very repetitive because in each chapter the author restates her method for cleaning each room
-if you already know how to clean you will find this annoying to read; there isn't anything new or revolutionary
To summarize, this book could be helpful for people who never learned how to actually clean their home, or for those looking to find a different way of managing their cleaning schedule. But if you already know how to wash clothes, clean a sink, and vacuum a rug, don't buy a copy of this book. Thankfully I borrowed a copy from the library.
October 23, 2017
I've been following Melissa since I found her YT channel, Clean My Space. She's wonderful on there and it's even easy to binge watch them lol. Her book is tedious as others have mentioned *but* immensely helpful. She includes cheat sheets of sorts and helpful alternative recipes for cleaning solutions you may be purchasing, as a way of saving you some $ here and there. This is also helpful if you're interested in avoiding harsher formulas to do a job. (Alternatively, she posts lots of these "recipes" under her YT videos, if you're not interested in purchasing the book.) nonetheless I think some reviews here have been harsh, giving her 1-2 stars just because he book is detailed. I get it. It's a lot to go through, perhaps to much for me, too. In that case, skim the book, get yourself a pack of sticky tabs/markers for books and mark up the book with the pages you need. Regardless, it is well organized and thorough. Thanks, Melissa :)
January 16, 2021
The author acknowledges at the end of the book how applying the majority of her cleaning advice would be bad for a person's sanity. I completely agree. Most of the book is for hard-core deep cleaning that seems a tad overboard even if I was moving out of a rental. That said, I appreciated the recipes she offered for safe cleaning products. It's frustrating to move into a new home (which is a lot since my husband is in the military) and not know how to take care of different flooring, window coverings, counters, etc. Her explanation on how to take care of these different things helped a lot. I'm simply not the kind of person who is going to own a hundred different cleaning products and tools- I would never be able to clean as quickly and efficiently as I do now.
If you are an average mom who cares more about having a clean house every day than doing a crazy-lady deep clean, I'd skip to her routine section (and even that was a little high maintaince for me- keep it simple).
If you are an average mom who cares more about having a clean house every day than doing a crazy-lady deep clean, I'd skip to her routine section (and even that was a little high maintaince for me- keep it simple).
January 24, 2022
A book of common sense cleaning with just drips of actual innovation for those that struggle with cleaning. The only value ideas I got from this were cleaning solutions I can make at home, and tips for oven cleaning and hand washing. I’m glad I got this book on bargain, as much of its contents are answers to questions more easily handled by calling my mother (she would prefer it to me spending money on this book). I could see this being useful for a young adult or brand new homeowner that has never been responsible for holding a broom or scrubbing a dish.
This book is intended to be for “us”, all of us that don’t like cleaning, but reads as a MLM pamphlet for the woman with a specific kind of home (who gets a backsplash but doesn’t know how to clean it?) rather than people that could really use some quick cleaning hacks, like people without dishwashers entirely.
Kitschy, hammy, overdone perkiness shoved into a training manual for a cleaning company in order to make it seem like
This book is intended to be for “us”, all of us that don’t like cleaning, but reads as a MLM pamphlet for the woman with a specific kind of home (who gets a backsplash but doesn’t know how to clean it?) rather than people that could really use some quick cleaning hacks, like people without dishwashers entirely.
Kitschy, hammy, overdone perkiness shoved into a training manual for a cleaning company in order to make it seem like
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June 6, 2022As a fully functioning adult, I don’t think I’m the target audience for this. I’m also wondering who leaves home without having basic home management skills. It’s clearly laid out and crosses over in to home organisation and cleaning so great if you’re starting from scratch but no good for me. I also really like the chatty conversation style and clearly laid out chapters.
I quite liked her take on home made cleaners not sure missed some obvious shit like using a sock on your hand to dust. But, I’m already a cleaning vet so I’m probably not the right audience.
I was hoping to come away with some amazing new methods of getting shit done more quickly and effectively but now I realise I’m already doing it, though with less enthusiasm than the author. In fairness to her though, I used to be a hospital cleaner so the fact she mentions attention to detail surprised me. Mind, I could easily gift this book to several men I have dated. 😳🤣
I quite liked her take on home made cleaners not sure missed some obvious shit like using a sock on your hand to dust. But, I’m already a cleaning vet so I’m probably not the right audience.
I was hoping to come away with some amazing new methods of getting shit done more quickly and effectively but now I realise I’m already doing it, though with less enthusiasm than the author. In fairness to her though, I used to be a hospital cleaner so the fact she mentions attention to detail surprised me. Mind, I could easily gift this book to several men I have dated. 😳🤣
August 16, 2024
This book is very straight forward and breaks down cleaning as if you have never cleaned in your life - and I appreciate that. Especially considering the state of teaching home economics in schools these days.
I found new methods of cleaning things, I tried them out and was happy with how they turned out. I appreciated those helpful tips that actually made cleaning quicker and easier, rather than soaking something for hours then scrubbing.
Generally, I liked just having this audiobook play out loud on my cleaning days to have a body doubling experience but I also think it would be good to have the physical copy for the days I want to flick to a certain section and try that method.
If you hate books that go into extreme detail, don’t get this book. If you feel robbed of being taught how to clean thoroughly and properly and dont mind the detail, then read this book. (It won’t be a waste of money because its free to listen on Spotify)
I found new methods of cleaning things, I tried them out and was happy with how they turned out. I appreciated those helpful tips that actually made cleaning quicker and easier, rather than soaking something for hours then scrubbing.
Generally, I liked just having this audiobook play out loud on my cleaning days to have a body doubling experience but I also think it would be good to have the physical copy for the days I want to flick to a certain section and try that method.
If you hate books that go into extreme detail, don’t get this book. If you feel robbed of being taught how to clean thoroughly and properly and dont mind the detail, then read this book. (It won’t be a waste of money because its free to listen on Spotify)
December 17, 2024
Pros
- Loved the cleaning product recipes and focus on reusable tools (e.g. no swiffers, or lysol wipes, limited use of paper towels.)
- Lots of good information on how to clean specific areas or how to use tools such as mops and vacuums.
- chart at the back that details frequency of cleaning tasks including deep cleaning. (In the end I might not use this but it is the reason I picked up the book in the first place.)
Cons
- The room by room how-to clean chapters got very repetitive.
- I find some of the decluttering and tidying tips are contradictory and lead to "procrasticlutter"(see Dana K White). Although the author suggests putting things away properly when you are done with them, she also advocates using bins for top and bottom of the stairs. Having tried the bins on the stairs I know that leads to things piled in baskets. It is a halfway destination. not a fan.
- Overall her cleaning routine ideas weren't very concrete or inspirational to me.
- Loved the cleaning product recipes and focus on reusable tools (e.g. no swiffers, or lysol wipes, limited use of paper towels.)
- Lots of good information on how to clean specific areas or how to use tools such as mops and vacuums.
- chart at the back that details frequency of cleaning tasks including deep cleaning. (In the end I might not use this but it is the reason I picked up the book in the first place.)
Cons
- The room by room how-to clean chapters got very repetitive.
- I find some of the decluttering and tidying tips are contradictory and lead to "procrasticlutter"(see Dana K White). Although the author suggests putting things away properly when you are done with them, she also advocates using bins for top and bottom of the stairs. Having tried the bins on the stairs I know that leads to things piled in baskets. It is a halfway destination. not a fan.
- Overall her cleaning routine ideas weren't very concrete or inspirational to me.
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