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Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life
When Deniece Schofield first confessed to being organized, thousands wanted to hear the juicy details. Now Schofield's back, with a 90's version of her tell-all tale--hundreds of ideas and techniques for organizing a household. 120,000 copies of the first edition sold.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
June 1, 2010
Own.
My mom's copy of this book, published around the time I was born, was Confessions of an Organized Housewife. This revised edition was published in 1994, and homemaker is a better title for it than housewife. I wonder if her tone and approach was more "housewifey" in the 80's than in the 90's. For some reason the whole feel of the book struck me as definitely "early 90's" working- soccer- super-mom, after, of course her sob story in the beginning of living so long in chaos. Every organization book written by a mom has to begin with a "I used to be a slob like you, but now I'm organized and if I can be, then you can be, too!" variant. Funny how most of them lived in chaos when all their children were little, and their organized days came after all their children were in school most of the day. Ha ha.
Mostly the book was an elaboration of the principle that everything needs a place, and then you need to put it in it's place. And that is true. She has some good ideas for making convenient and space-saving places for things, but much of it is again dated, simply because there are better organizing products on the market now than there were then. This is a pre-HGTV book. :)
My mom's copy of this book, published around the time I was born, was Confessions of an Organized Housewife. This revised edition was published in 1994, and homemaker is a better title for it than housewife. I wonder if her tone and approach was more "housewifey" in the 80's than in the 90's. For some reason the whole feel of the book struck me as definitely "early 90's" working- soccer- super-mom, after, of course her sob story in the beginning of living so long in chaos. Every organization book written by a mom has to begin with a "I used to be a slob like you, but now I'm organized and if I can be, then you can be, too!" variant. Funny how most of them lived in chaos when all their children were little, and their organized days came after all their children were in school most of the day. Ha ha.
Mostly the book was an elaboration of the principle that everything needs a place, and then you need to put it in it's place. And that is true. She has some good ideas for making convenient and space-saving places for things, but much of it is again dated, simply because there are better organizing products on the market now than there were then. This is a pre-HGTV book. :)
October 16, 2007
Thought this was a decent book—I’m always looking for a few good tips. Some ideas just seemed… dumb, though. Like her idea for board game storage (seemed like it would be a lot more trouble than it was worth). And then there was a chapter that outlined a weekly cleaning schedule, and I literally laughed out loud. As per the suggestions, you would spend 2 hours cleaning on Monday and Wednesday, a minimal amount of time cleaning on Tuesday, Thursday, and weekends, and 3 hours cleaning on Friday. Okay, I feel like I’m a decent housekeeper, but I just don’t do that many hours of cleaning, no siree. It went on to say what to clean when, and I think it had you cleaning the bathrooms 3 times a week, and just “maintaining” the bathrooms on the other days of the week. Sorry, my bathrooms get scrubbed once a week, and we move on, people.
But anyway, I think it’s just another one of those organizing books that’ll get you thinking, and I think that’s the important thing for me. Focusing on my problem areas and trying to come up with workable solutions.
But anyway, I think it’s just another one of those organizing books that’ll get you thinking, and I think that’s the important thing for me. Focusing on my problem areas and trying to come up with workable solutions.
April 3, 2010
This book changed my life! I was finally able to stay on top of things. She has excellent ideas and useful suggestions that can be translated to the real world. Loved this book!
June 17, 2010
If I was to just simply be rating all home organization or otherwise home improvement books I would be giving this a five, whole-heartedly, but I don't like to give my five's out lightly and it just seems wrong to put this on the same level as "To Kill a Mockingbird" or "These is my words".
That being said it really should get a five, because this book has really improved my life. I have spent the last three weeks organizing my home. The biggest improvement was re-organizing my kitchen.
My two favorite quotes from the book are "Fun is an attitude, not an activity"
and
"Don't let your desire for order ruin your marriage or your family life. Next time you are faced with another mess, step back, take a deep breath, and say to yourself, "This is the signature of someone I love!"
That being said it really should get a five, because this book has really improved my life. I have spent the last three weeks organizing my home. The biggest improvement was re-organizing my kitchen.
My two favorite quotes from the book are "Fun is an attitude, not an activity"
and
"Don't let your desire for order ruin your marriage or your family life. Next time you are faced with another mess, step back, take a deep breath, and say to yourself, "This is the signature of someone I love!"
June 24, 2011
I read this book several years ago now. It had a lot of information that was similar to another organization book I'd read, but this one views Homemaking as something of value all by itself and the other view it as a necessary evil. It's been a few years and I think it's time I pulled this book back off my shelf and reread it, since when I read it the first time I had no kids in school yet and only had two kids. Things have changed and to be quite honest I could use a little help figuring out a plan.
July 8, 2016
I discovered this book at my library and read it cover to cover. It's a bit dated in a few sections, but still filled to the brim with helpful hints for organizing your home and home life. If there was a more updated version, I would probably buy a copy for every couple I know that gets married and sets up a new home together.
March 5, 2024
This book changed my life as much as War and Peace
July 15, 2010
Flylady might provide the motivation, but this book provides the methodology. It agrees that decluttering is first, but goes the extra mile in explaining how to put away and store the "good stuff." I never knew how to do that which is why my good stuff seems like clutter and the house is a wreck. I will be hanging on to this one until the library pries it out of my hands.
February 26, 2008
It may seem a little archaic, 50s or so, but the principles really work. I do not tie my hair back with a bandana and put on my maid clothes, but I use a lot of her ideas for organizing my life, and I can honestly say I have more time to do what I want to do now that I did before I read the book.
April 29, 2019
Don't laugh, this book seriously has changed my life. I look at everything I do differently, from the perspective of wanting to be able to find a "red sock in the dark." My house is better organized, and it allows me to save time. Recently I have been I have been in the middle of a move. I have been so frustrated by never knowing where my labels, tape, and scissors were. I spent an inordinate amount of time going from room to room searching for things I was using all day long. Finally, in desperation I thought, "what would Deniece do?" I realized she would probably wear an apron with pockets large enough to hold all those things that I needed to mark and pack my boxes with! So guess what I did? I found an apron with large pockets, put everything I needed in it, including my cell phone, and voila, problem solved! I just wish I would have thought of it earlier. It saved me so much time and frustration. I went everywhere with that apron. I may have looked silly, but it was worth it.
This book is eminently readable. Deniece makes organizing fun.
This book is eminently readable. Deniece makes organizing fun.
September 12, 2024
This book was adorable. It definitely has 90s vibes. Since I’m a 91 baby, and have a household full of children now, five to be exact, I really was in need of some first principles in homemaking and home management. I needed both for the home to be organized and functioning, and I needed my time back. This book went along way and giving me much of what I hoped for.
The author really is a professional. I think she served up some very pro advice, and even though there are a few segments that are a little dated to be relevant, the major point of the book definitely stands. I liked that she included methods for different types of people and different situations. She weaved in more wisdom and wit than I was expecting. The book was overall entertaining to read and was not cerebral like I thought it might have been when I first took it on. Lots of very good personal development philosophy principles throughout.
Happy reading!
The author really is a professional. I think she served up some very pro advice, and even though there are a few segments that are a little dated to be relevant, the major point of the book definitely stands. I liked that she included methods for different types of people and different situations. She weaved in more wisdom and wit than I was expecting. The book was overall entertaining to read and was not cerebral like I thought it might have been when I first took it on. Lots of very good personal development philosophy principles throughout.
Happy reading!
November 3, 2023
While it will tell you things to do while on the (corded) phone and how to sort your VHS tapes, this book contains a few surprisingly modern takes and a host of still-relevant information and tips. It's a slow, sort of dragging read, but I enjoyed it as a sort of tertiary carry-around. My copy has a slick waterproof coating and is conveniently purse-sized so I read it in scrap moments of time (in waiting rooms, for example), something I think the author herself would endorse as she advises readers to do all sorts of tasks in small increments like so. Because of the amount of amusing throwback material, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book to anyone, though I myself enjoyed it quite thoroughly.
August 4, 2022
I got this book after reading a rave review on a blog. It was...okay. As others said, very dated. In the end I am giving it up. One thing that I appreciated throughout the book was the author's tongue-in-cheek humor on every single page, even the title is kind of a joke. I really like this author: She's not condescending or trying to pedal some sort of life-changing system, her voice was refreshing and felt like a woman who has really "been there". I mostly read cleaning books to inspire myself to...clean...so this book did accomplish that task!
November 11, 2021
Written in 1984, so some references are hilariously outdated. However, some absolutely timeless jewels of knowledge within this book. Did a $2 dish pan change my life? Yeah, it did. My husband laughed when I brought this home from the library but has since become a huge fan (motion minded storage absolutely changed his daily life). Worth a read. And probably a reread.
May 18, 2021
I enjoyed a lot of tips in this book, that being said it is a little dated and there are a lot of tips I definitely won't be using. I would love to see an updated version with sections about organizing while reducing plastic use or how to organize if you are doing Montessori style parenting.
April 24, 2025
Made me want to buy a CEO planner. Great ideas for organization (basement), time management for meal planning (saying how long each meals lasts), and scheduling in chores (time each chore and fill in your schedule), as well as the cleaning cart
May 17, 2017
I read this because I know the author. Some things are definitely outdated but others are timeless. I liked hearing Deniece's voice in my head as I read. That was fun ;)
August 18, 2018
Easy to follow and clear. Worth your time.
April 24, 2020
She sure does like using dishpans to organize.
October 31, 2022
Some good ideas, but very dated.
January 3, 2024
Got a few good tips to help be more efficient and organized!
January 19, 2024
Really helpful and practical tips, I’ll return to this book
September 17, 2024
One of the best books on the topic that I've read.
February 6, 2011
A good resource for those of us who need help decluttering, managing our time, and getting organized. The author offers practical suggestions for each section of the home and for basic home management activities such as meal planning. She has a sense of humor, too; for example, those of us who are into crafts but rarely finish what we start and tend to leave our works-in-progress lying around all over the place are "Living in the projects!"
That said, I like Marla Cilley's Sink Reflections and Sandra Felton's
Messies Manual, The: A Complete Guide to Bringing Order & Beauty to Your Home better. They're more up-to-date and user-friendly.
That said, I like Marla Cilley's Sink Reflections and Sandra Felton's
Messies Manual, The: A Complete Guide to Bringing Order & Beauty to Your Home better. They're more up-to-date and user-friendly.
September 14, 2008
This is an OLD book -- she talks about cassette players and how you "might" want a computer in your office, for example -- but it's also full of lots of good ideas. One idea she had was to buy a dishpan (she uses these for EVERYTHING) and use it to bring dishes to and from the table, just like a busboy at a restuarant. Saves you trips and pain. I just might try it. Many of the other things I'm already doing but the book reminded me I need to get organized. I also like her idea of storing children's books with the titles facing out so the kids can see them; I wish I could find something like this: http://www.csnbookcases.com/Guidecraf... at a price I'm willing to pay. Pretty clever idea, huh?
February 17, 2010
The copyright date is 1994, so an entire chapter made me laugh with its complicated ways for keeping track of things ... I just use google calendar and goodreads and don't have to worry about that part of things.
There were several parts of this book which would never apply to me, but I may take the time to re-read it, as there are thought-provoking ways of looking at, not just how to get housework done, but how to organize the home and the schedule to minimize the time spent doing unliked chores. I reorganized my kitchen based on the author's idea of "stations": cooking, mixing, sink, and refrigerator ... and we also have a "cocoa station," which makes my husband happy, and our lives easier.
There were several parts of this book which would never apply to me, but I may take the time to re-read it, as there are thought-provoking ways of looking at, not just how to get housework done, but how to organize the home and the schedule to minimize the time spent doing unliked chores. I reorganized my kitchen based on the author's idea of "stations": cooking, mixing, sink, and refrigerator ... and we also have a "cocoa station," which makes my husband happy, and our lives easier.
October 19, 2016
This book is full of lots of little tips for running your house more easily, though some of them seem a bit dated... I enjoy dipping into it. What it isn't is a great guide to uncluttering (in the modern sense), that is, a major discard-and-purge process. For those who need to do cluttering a little bit at a time, this could be an excellent source, and it's a fun book for those who like household hints and organizing suggestions of the less-crafty type (none of the elaborate giftwrapping station-building instructions here, such as you see in modern magazines). I'll probably go back to it sometime and read the bits I've skipped, but at my leisurely pace, it was coming due at the library before I finished it!
January 1, 2016
This was a fun read. I would love to see the author's house because she sounds, well, ORGANIZED. I kind of cracked up in parts.
Some random thoughts:
1. We don't own enough stuff to organize in some of the fashions she describes. Other ideas are genius (inspired me to put my few sewing patterns into manila envelopes and glue the pattern package to the outside--excellent!)
2. This book was written before the age of apps, mobile devices, etc. I found her recipe organization suggestions intriguing, but I'm betting that most people (perhaps myself) would prefer a more digital approach since there are so many recipes online.
3. An easy read, especially when you need some "oomph" to those New Year's organizing resolutions.
Some random thoughts:
1. We don't own enough stuff to organize in some of the fashions she describes. Other ideas are genius (inspired me to put my few sewing patterns into manila envelopes and glue the pattern package to the outside--excellent!)
2. This book was written before the age of apps, mobile devices, etc. I found her recipe organization suggestions intriguing, but I'm betting that most people (perhaps myself) would prefer a more digital approach since there are so many recipes online.
3. An easy read, especially when you need some "oomph" to those New Year's organizing resolutions.
April 15, 2008
With chapters like basic organizing, schedules made for you, curing mealtime madness and turning toyland into joyland, this book offers opportunity to bring control to all areas of your life. Don't attempt to do it all at once, because it will be overwhelming and won't stick! It's a great resource for trouble spots, and I've looked back at it over the years as our clutter zones have changed and grown with along with the number and ages of children. It contains a lot of common sense stuff, but sometimes it helps to see it in print along with step by step how to's.
July 15, 2009
I thought she had a lot of really great practical advice. I find it really amusing how much she loves using ice-trays (i'm not even sure I know what those are), kitty litter boxes, and card board boxes. I'm just DYING to see where this lady lives... Some of the things are a bit extreme- I mean, do you really expect me to write little color-coded numbers on the back of all my puzzles? But I definitely feel inspired to move a few things around and try to think about making my home more efficient.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews