The Lost Art of House Cleaning: House Cleaning

by Jan M. Dougherty

Yes! you really can clean your house and everything in it using just 3 products and it will cost you about $20 per year.

I have owned a residential cleaning company since 2004 and this book actually started life as my employees' handbook. Since this book was first published not much has changed. Dirt is still dirty and whether or not you want to clean your home, it still has to be cleaned.

Most people hate to clean simply because they don't know how to do it, they were never taught. Were you actually taught how to clean? Probably not, but that's not your fault. Do you want to learn how to do it, like a professional, using minimal products and saving a bucket of money on cleaning supplies? If you do, then buy my book.

First, I will send you to the store with a short shopping list; I will explain why I use each product and then how to use each product or tool, which by the way isn't much. I will then explain the logic behind my method of cleaning, called The PATH and then I will literally walk you through cleaning the different rooms in your house.

The beauty of The PATH is that you can start and stop a cleaning job in any room and not loose your place. Just pick up where you left off and continue until the room is clean. So go answer the phone or change the baby.

I only use 3 readily available products in both my business and in my house to clean everything. No more need for window, floor, counter, toilet, sink, tub, shower and mirror cleaners. No more polishes, waxes or air fresheners. Just think about how much you spend a year on cleaning products? Go ahead, I'll wait while you look under your sinks and calculate that. More than $20.00 per year? If you are spending more than that you need my book. Everyone that embraces my methodology has a cleaner home, extra money to spend on the important things and the time to enjoy them.

I have a website; The Lost Art of House Cleaning.com where I have uploaded a number of videos demonstrating my methodology and posted numerous articles on cleaning particular things.

I have read all the reviews posted about my book on Amazon and I found the vast majority to be very complimentary. I have also found that some of the harshest critics still recognized that my methodology works. In addition to the Amazon reviews I have personally received comments and compliments directly from the people that have bought my book. And I know that what I say in my book has helped thousands realize that cleaning their home is not all it's cracked to be if you know what you are doing.

So buy my book, read it the first time for entertainment then read it a second time for inspiration and then,

Enjoy the Clean!

Thanks, Jan M Dougherty

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, How To, Reference

138 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2011

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

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

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

[Yvonne Suessmuth · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Linda E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good step by step cleaning instructions

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

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book! Makes house cleaning so simple.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[JHM · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

[Apryl Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

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

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Barbara Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Ann Watkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will change the way you clean forever!

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of fun to read but not super helpful.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

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