Householder's Survival Manual [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Nancy Shuker (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 5, 1999

The all-in-one, hardworking volume that will save you time, work, and money-and keep your home running more easily and efficiently than ever before. The most up-to-date advice from experts on more than 400 topics to help you have a clean, organized, and well-maintained home.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you've recently made the leap from apartment dweller to clueless homeowner, buy Reader's Digest's Householder's Survival Manual and don't let it out of your sight. Take it to the cavernous home and garden store where you will now be spending the bulk of your weekends. See, along with the joy that comes with home ownership also comes new responsibility. You can't call the super. You're the landlord. What are you going do about the leaky pipe in the basement? The cracked tile in the bathroom? The jungle out back that really needs to be mowed because you can't remember the last time you saw Fifi?

There's nary a household problem, issue, or chore that this manual doesn't address. The subtitle, How to Take Care of Everything in Your Home, says it all. But there's actually much more here: information on how to choose wisely the things that go into your home, such as carpeting, windows, and paint; "Trouble Shooter" tips like how to diagnose toilet problems; plentiful advice on choosing good tools; "Time Savers" (hint: cut down on time spent watering your garden plants by poking holes in a plastic milk carton and burying it next to the plant; the water will drip out slowly); and much more, all of it clearly illustrated and explained. This book even tells you how to best wash your clothes. What else could you possibly need to gracefully fill your new role as homeowner extraordinaire? --Stefanie Durbin

From the Back Cover

Expert Information about every household concern, all in one book! You're looking at the all-in-one, hard-working volume that will save you time, work, and money-and keep your home running more easily and efficiently than ever before! Householder's Survival Manual gives you in-depth information on every task you face to keep your home running smoothly.

For example: * Learn how to save up to 10,000 gallons of water a year. * Find out why spring is not the best time to do "spring" cleaning and when it's best to tackle the job. * Discover why bigger is not better when it comes to air conditioners, and how to make a savvier buy. Householder's Survival Manual shows you new, easier ways to do it better-no matter how long you've been keeping house! * More than 700 color photos and illustrations. * Dozens of charts and checklists that make information you need easy to find. No more guesswork, no more frustration!

Plus! Special feature boxes with ideas for: Quick Fixes, Money-Savers, Work-Savers, Good Tools, Safety Smart practices, a Buying, Selling and Moving Guide, plus much more.

So cut your fuel bills, organize your records, pest-proof your house, or answer any other question that concerns the care of your home, with Householder's Survival Manual.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Readers Digest; 1st edition (April 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762101350
• ISBN-13: 978-0762101351
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,169,799 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a very handy book, March 3, 2004

By 

S. Hayes (MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Householder's Survival Manual (Hardcover)

I like to know a little about books before deciding if I want to buy them so I checked it out at the library. Within minutes I knew I'd be ordering it off amazon.com. It's got a lot of helpful hints in it and is very detailed. I'd recommend buying it for others as a housewarming gift as well. Although it is a very comprehensive book, it is easy to follow. It has everything from cleaning floors to repairing vacuum cleaners in it. I've found myself approaching tasks I'd never considered myself able to do. This book has become indispensable to me since buying my first home.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must have for new homeowners., February 7, 2009

By 

A. Lakshmanan "online buyer" (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Householder's Survival Manual (Hardcover)

I depend on this book for my day to day simple home fixing needs. It has lots of pictures and is easy to read. Can be used as a good reference also.

5.0 out of 5 stars House survival must have, November 25, 2011

By 

sunny - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Householder's Survival Manual (Hardcover)

Book is very iformative and detail. Lots of pictures for those like myself who need it. Book covers everything that you can think of and is easy to follow.A little old but still is good.