Clean Like a Man: Housekeeping for Men (and the Women Who Love Them) [Paperback]

Tom McNulty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 2004

Most men have a problem with cleaning house: They don't konw how to do it, and they don't particularly want to learn. The results are usually a messy house or a bitter spouse or both. Clean Like a Man is the solution. Written specifically for the attention-challenged and motivation-impaired male, it's the first and only housekeeping primer that tells men how to clean the house their way: getting everything done quickly and easily, without getting to Felix Unger about it. It's such a great approach to housekeeping that women will love it too.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Promising not to get "too Felix Unger" on readers, McNulty, who spent 43 years as a bachelor before getting married eight years ago, explains the nuts and bolts of cleaning the home in this thorough, jocular book. Though McNulty's jokes are sometimes clichéd, corny or not, the man has done his homework: he can tell readers which "designer dust cloths" are best (Swiffer and Pledge Grab-it) and give them specific pointers on how to keep track of which way they need to rotate their mattress every six months. Save for some sidebars on "Strategic MANeuvers" (e.g., "the next time you have an opportunity to chat with an attractive female, casually mention that you have on your bed 400 thread-count sheets of 100 percent Egyptian combed cotton"), McNulty's advice is appropriate for both sexes. In breezy language, he covers everything from cleaning a toaster-oven to pretreating stains to purchasing a vacuum cleaner. A solid resource for readers looking to clean more efficiently, this book should appeal to those who want the facts about home cleaning without any Martha Stewart-ish rhetoric. 20 line drawings.
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Review

Living alone I was blind to my sloppy ignorance. Once in a relationship and forced to do my fair share of houskeeping, had I not read Clean Like a Man, I'd probably still be living like a pig-and I'd still be single. --Clam

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press; Remainders edition (March 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140004975X
• ISBN-13: 978-1400049752
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Above average "how-to" book for men AND women, June 4, 2004

By 

jen a. (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clean Like a Man: Housekeeping for Men (and the Women Who Love Them) (Paperback)

I've read a number of books about cleaning and organization-- this one is by far the best. It's clear, well-written, and cuts right to the chase. I have trouble with organization and prioritizing, so the step-by-step guidelines on how to approach cleaning and organizational tasks are terrific-- this may seem simple to some people but for many of us it's a BIG problem. I'm very impressed with this book-- it's great for men AND women. I highly recommend it for anyone new to cleaning for him or herself or for those of us who are "experienced" but continue to struggle. Thumbs up!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A reader from Virginia, February 13, 2006

By 

A reader from Virginia (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Clean Like a Man: Housekeeping for Men (and the Women Who Love Them) (Paperback)

I received this book as a gift. At first a thought it was a gag and although it is a fun read there are a lot of very solid tips and advice that should ring true for guys, from buying the right vacuum to being a housekeeping commando and whipping through a room in 15 minutes -- cleaning it completely with no sacrifice in the quality of your results. I've adopted many of the book's easiest, most effective "Strategic MANeuvers" and worked them into my daily routine so that my townhouse always looks great, or is at least always within 10 minutes of looking great. What more can a guy ask -- especially a guy who entertains the occasional woman in his home? Highly recommended, dude!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go from Oscar to Felix, April 22, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Clean Like a Man: Housekeeping for Men (and the Women Who Love Them) (Paperback)

This is one of those perfect little volumes that should have been written long ago. I only wish my brother had one of these when he was single -- the image of his crusty bath towels haunts me to this day!

Specifically geared towards housekeeping for the single guy, this book covers all bases, from laundry to grout. It's a quick, easy read, filled with useful advice about getting down to business and cleaning the mess up once and for all. I know I'll refer to it often.

The author should be commended for keeping the tone funny and to the point, without turning it into a useless fluff piece or a comedy routine. The instructions are all really useful. Think of it as an instruction manual for bachelor living.