Everything is Washable and Other Life Lessons: 2022’s New How-To Guide that will Help You Navigate Modern Life with Advice on Beauty, Money, Family and So Much More

by Sali Hughes

‘Every home should have a copy' MARIAN KEYES

How to buy jeans that fit

Thirty-seven things to have in your kitchen cupboard

Tiny acts for mental health

How to support a friend going through IVF

Why bad boys are an absolute waste of your time

How to cope with working mum guilt

This smart guide will help you navigate modern life, enabling you to save money and time. Sali Hughes offers striking good sense home; food and drink, fashion; health and beauty; life and finances; friends, relationships and family.

From useful, everyday tips such as how to cut your own fringe and how to buy great second-hand clothing, to the less talked about, agonising questions like how to split finances with your partner and how to grieve, Guardian beauty editor Sali Hughes has advice on the big and the small, and everything in between.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference

497 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2022

About the author

Sali Hughes is a journalist, broadcaster, Guardian columnist and founder of the award-winning salihughesbeauty.com. A former magazine editor, she has written for many publications including Grazia, the Observer, Elle, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Glamour. She is Contributing Editor on Red magazine and Beauty Editor on the Guardian. She is a consultant to major beauty and fashion brands, and lives with her two sons in Brighton. Pretty Honest , Sali’s first book, was published in 2014.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely Dreadful.
Apparently Amazon won't let me publish a review on this title as it isnt eligible to be reviewed = probably because of the feedback on Netgalley

I've read so many books like this over the years but I am yet to find one that gives any helpful or useful advice or insight . Sadly this is still the case. It's not even clear who the target audience would be.. It starts off as a series of money saving tips for the affluent - how to repurpose Diptyque candle jars,, how to source vintage furniture, how to open champagne, how to hire a cleaner.. If there are any actual useful tips - stain removal, hot to descale a kettle. how to protect clothes from moths, they can be easily found on the internet without the need to purchase a £12.99 book.

It appears to be organized in a completely random fashion with tips scattered willy nilly with no clear theme or sectioning jumping from field to field completely nonsensically - from staircarpets to buying a pram, stopcocks to books. For a fashion and beauty editor it contains very questionable style and fashion advice. But this book gets even worse as the author dispenses "advice" on abortions , breastfeeding and depression which is inappropriate and she is totally unqualified to do so. Her comments giving direction on "how to grieve" are incredibly trite and extremely offensive to those of us who have actually experienced grief..

After finishing this book I am not sure what exactly it is meant to be - an interior design manual, a cookbook, a style and fashion guide. All of which are areas completely out of the author's wheelhouse. There are better titles out there in all of these categories. There are far too few handy hints and far too much of her personal anecdotes which add little to the content. Hughes is a beauty journalist and that is her area of expertise and from looking at photos of her online she appears to be far too young to have accumulated the gravitas and benefit of years of experience to advise on such serious matters as are contained in this book. The content could have been so easily contained in a short pamphlet - Wear sunscreen, don't be a slave to fashion and this is how you cook pasta.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s like printing out the nicer/sensible bits of the internet and flipping through it.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

alustuseks, käisin raamatuesitlusel ja tean nüüd autori elust, sõpradest ja sellest, miks ta niisuguse raamatu kirjutas, tükk maad rohkem, kui raamatusse kirja on saanud. eelkõige kõnetas mind see seletus, et kuna ta on oma sõpruskonnas lihtsalt see inimene, kes alati kõike praktilist teab/oskab ja kõigi olmeprobleemid ära lahendab, siis miks mitte kogu see tarkus kirja panna.

eeskujuks ja inspiratsiooniks oli Sali jaoks muuhulgas Mrs Beetoni kuulus viktoriaanliku aja majapidamisõpik, kus tõepoolest anti ohtralt nõu mitte ainult toitlustamise ja korrastustööde osas, vaid oli juttu ka riietumisest, viisakast käitumisest, lastekasvatamisest ja muudest elus vajalikest oskustest. nii on ka Sali võtnud ette alguses teemad "kodu", "söök ja jook", "mood", "tervis ja ilu", aga lõpuks jõudnud raha- ja suhteteemadeni. ja ma ei tea, vb seda lõppu ikkagi ei olnud vaja. igatahes kuigi ma olen väga varmalt valmis kuulama ühe usina proua õpetusi selle kohta, kuidas kodu hubaseks teha või mis maitseaineid võiks köögis alati olemas olla või kuidas ebays shopata või milliseid meigipintsleid tegelikult tarvis läheb... siis ma arvan, et selle osas, kuidas lapsele nime valida või kuidas leinata, ei saa ikka niisuguses käsiraamatustiilis nõu anda.

aga ma ikkagi sain siit päris mitu ideed selle suhtes, mida kodumajapidamises kuidas teha võiks. ja ma sain esitluselt raamatusse autogrammi ja kõmrikeelse pühenduse ka!

[Niamh · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - but I flipped through all the chapters. There's very little cohesion, jumping from tip to tip, serious to frivolous and would leave you relying on the index to ever find something again. I think SH would do better to stick with beauty.

This book opens with Home tips, but you can get these elsewhere from experts online, or perhaps you have copies of Laura de Barra's books already.

There's Food tips - including how to boil an egg. Delia is shaking.

Fashion is a subjective section, I think if you like Sali's style posts on IG you may enjoy this chapter.

Beauty and Health are lumped together which is a disappointment considering beauty is where she made her name, and the health tips are GP tips way beyond her pay grade - how to cure cystitis, treat anxiety or do a breast check. Would be best to split them with a caveat that eg SPF is both.

The Friends and Relationships chapter was interesting because if you follow Sali you might know bits of her personal life so I'm sure some of the advice is based on personal experience.

Finally, the Life and Finance section ironically has a paragraph on how to finish a book you're not enjoying..... I'll leave it there.

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sali Hughes is a wise woman. If there is anyone's advice I'm going to follow with regard to skincare and beauty purchases, it is hers. Here she expands the brief and gives you tips on everything from how to get divorced without going to prison to how to hang a pair of curtains.

This is a hefty tome. It's something that would make an excellent gift for someone who is about to leave home. Sort of like an updated Readers Digest guide, but with sex tips.

[Jai · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I read this tbh

[Gemma M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm an organised, practical middle-aged woman. Do I need Life Lessons? Probably, not. However, this was a very enjoyable read, I like Sali's style and all her Pool Columns, some of which are repeated here. I did skip bits, equally, there are sections that I have mentally noted and will return to for future reference. There is lots of useful advice in this. Definitely, worth having a copy in the house. Would be very useful for twenty-somethings.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unusual book in that it covered a smorgasbord (or even a hotchpotch) of topics E.g.it jumped from how to find an NHS dentist to how to clean makeup brushes. Did I learn much? No. Most of it was about things I didn’t need to know about due to me being old and past the need for a mortgage, abortion, or debt advice for example .

P.s. the day I read this, the newspapers published an article refuting the fact that cranberry juice doesn’t work for cystitis, based on some new scientific research.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this cover to cover, a couple of pages most nights before going to sleep. A great book for exactly that as it's written in a comfortingly reassuring way & helps you to feel calm and rested. The information within is largely practical, sometimes subjective but always interesting. I did get confused reading about how to cry following on from how to make a playlist as I thought it was instructions for dealing with sad songs before I realised it was a totally new topic. The first chapters overused the word "posh" & I wished an editor had suggested some alternatives as it became distracting. Overall would recommend this book as a useful addition to your bookshelf.

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it

[Tracy Excell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this as an Audiobook over past month and have loved all the pearls of wisdom it contains . I’m a big fan of Sali Hughes and she has written a manual to life here that covers everything , plenty of things I already knew /do but lots of great tips and funny asides . A great useful book to give someone leaving home for first time .

[Louise Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Advice on myriad subjects. I don’t always agree with everything, but have gained several top new tips. I also just enjoy reading her prose, and this is fabulous comfort content. It reminds me of various ‘Girls’ Handbook’ type books I had when I was young, but much less prescriptive.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slightly pointless as an audiobook, more a toilet book to flick through. Some well meaning slightly anti-fat bias, big "not all of us have the washboard abdomen to wear a crop top" vibes. Very Gen X

[Vicki Mustard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting read, I really enjoy Sali Hughes writing, so grabbed this without knowing much about it - it’s a hard to describe book of life lessons - imagine going out for a drink with your girls & then writing down all the useful tips & advice between cocktails! It’s a great read but doesn’t follow any kind of logical order & is like a giant stream of consciousness, but advice - I bloody loved it!!! I read it cover to cover but will be keeping it close to hand to to dip into - it’s that kind of book ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

.Absolutely Dreadful.
Apparently Amazon won't let me publish a review on this title as it isnt eligible to be reviewed = probably because of the feedback on Netgalley

I've read so many books like this over the years but I am yet to find one that gives any helpful or useful advice or insight . Sadly this is still the case. It's not even clear who the target audience would be.. It starts off as a series of money saving tips for the affluent - how to repurpose Diptyque candle jars,, how to source vintage furniture, how to open champagne, how to hire a cleaner.. If there are any actual useful tips - stain removal, hot to descale a kettle. how to protect clothes from moths, they can be easily found on the internet without the need to purchase a £12.99 book.

It appears to be organized in a completely random fashion with tips scattered willy nilly with no clear theme or sectioning jumping from field to field completely nonsensically - from staircarpets to buying a pram, stopcocks to books. For a fashion and beauty editor it contains very questionable style and fashion advice. But this book gets even worse as the author dispenses "advice" on abortions , breastfeeding and depression which is inappropriate and she is totally unqualified to do so. Her comments giving direction on "how to grieve" are incredibly trite and extremely offensive to those of us who have actually experienced grief..

After finishing this book I am not sure what exactly it is meant to be - an interior design manual, a cookbook, a style and fashion guide. All of which are areas completely out of the author's wheelhouse. There are better titles out there in all of these categories. There are far too few handy hints and far too much of her personal anecdotes which add little to the content. Hughes is a beauty journalist and that is her area of expertise and from looking at photos of her online she appears to be far too young to have accumulated the gravitas and benefit of years of experience to advise on such serious matters as are contained in this book. The content could have been so easily contained in a short pamphlet - Wear sunscreen, don't be a slave to fashion and this is how you cook pasta.

[Jayne · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of commentary, basic recipes, and condensed how-to guides for the modern young woman. I'm not sure how useful a book like this in the age of the internet. A lot of the guides needed beefing up - helping grieving friends needs more than a few paragraphs and the lists of what you need in a kitchen/etc. are easily available online. I think if you're a fan of Sali Hughes than it makes sense to read as it's her chatting away and giving you advice. Otherwise it's hit and miss.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book because I remember really enjoying Sali's informed yet frank style of advice in her book "Honestly Perfect." I also found it a comforting and uncomplicated read during a time of heavy turmoil in global affairs.
There is comprehensive guidance for all kinds of things...from how to console a friend in grief to how to have a strategy for passwords. A love letter to those of us who were not taught some basics, were taught it in a culturally displaced manner, or were just not taught things in entirety. No matter was too small. It ends rather abruptly but that is very much the authors style.

[Kelly Hine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sali Hughes and to buy her books is one of life’s joys. I never fail to hear her voice narrating to me in my head while I read, such is her distinctive style of writing. The myriad of topics in this book is just fabulous - something for everyone and the tales she tells of family estrangement, being a night owl, maintenance sex and fiercely protecting her kids all strike a personal chord with me. Fabulous!

[Joana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually thought it would take me a lot longer to read this but it was breezy. It's true that some topics seem to pop up randomly but I read practically all of it, minus a few recipes that weren't for me. I think if people enjoy Sali's writing and her points of view, they'll enjoy this. I appreciate it when people have tried various options and are convinced of what is best, even if I don't agree with it. I learnt a few things and will keep it to consult later on.

[Natalie O'donoghue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect from this as I'm not keen on lifestyle books but I adored this. While not absolutely everything applies (as is rarely the case to everyone) I found it fascinating and there are loads of tips to pass on. It's funny, warm and when I finished it I felt like a beloved friend had left me.

[Ronell]

f there is one thing I love it’s a book with everyday tips, tricks and advice on how to do life basically. I believe you can never learn enough about all of this.

So when I had the opportunity to read this I jumped at it! Thank you @harpercollinsnz this will become a staple in my house and I’m sure it is filled with a wealth of knowledge I can then pass down to my girls.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sali is witty and fun and her writing is excellent. Unlike mine, apparently. The short personal stories scattered throughout were unexpected but gave insight into her life and character. Loved it and appreciate her even more, now.

[Jamad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a good book for a younger person…but I don’t agree about toasters

[Beth Oehler]

Like modern day Dear Abby, pretty fun to read but not sure I will take anything from it moving forward. That is ok.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty random.

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was lucky to go and hear Sali Hughes' wise words in person (in possibly the best-coiffed, most fragrant talk I've been to). She was generous with her words and time when signing afterwards and softly spoken but set in her opinions. For years my sister, aunt and I have quoted her column to each other. I bought the book for my aunt but couldnt resist a flick through. So many life tips to absorb and try - I can confirm metal skewer baked potato is a winner.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, felt like advice from a friend.

[Daisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had fun reading it but it was a bit of a mishmash to be honest. I mainly enjoyed it as I like sali Hughes. It made me want to write my own guide to life!

[Stacie · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️ 2/5 - Hmmm. I didn’t really like this. I wanted an easy listen, something I could put on when getting ready in the morning. It felt conversational and chatty, which I did like.

Some of the ‘advice’ was common sense, other tips were absolutely pointless and some definitely came from someone who is very privileged and not leading the average life. I actually rolled my eyes on a few occasions!

Not for me unfortunately.

[Hannah stressedreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read a book like this before and i don't think i will ever need to read another. Sali covers a wide range of categories, this is everything you need to know to get through life from Sali's experiences. Although it sometimes felt a bit jumbled, the advice is split in to helpful categories and the index helps too.

From finances to friendships, food and fashion, this is the ultimate guide to life. Probably not something you would read in one go but something i will definitely reach for when im clueless about something 😂

I am obsessed with the actual book aswell. The cover and colours are gorgeous 😍✨️

I recommend this if you are a fan of Sali, enjoy lifestyle tips and need a little help/inspiration 😀