Make Your House Do the Housework [Paperback]

Don Aslett (Author), Laura A. Simons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1995

With page after page of practical, environmentally friendly new ideas and methods for minimizing home cleaning and maintenance, this revised edition shows readers how to make their houses keep themselves in order.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Don Aslett, an Idaho born and raised farm boy, organized a cleaning company to earn his way through college. His company, Varsity Contractors, Inc., became so successful that even after graduation he stayed in cleaning. Now Varsity is one of the nations leading companies in the Total Facility Services industry, over 150 million in sales. Don began teaching and writing about cleaning efficiency in the mid-70s and in 1980 wrote his first book, Is There Life After Housework? Don is firmly established as the America's #1 Cleaning Expert. --This text refers to the Perfect Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Betterway Books; Revised edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558703845
• ISBN-13: 978-1558703841
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don Aslett, owner and founder of one of the USA's largest and most successful cleaning companies--and self-made millionaire--has revolutionized both the home and the workplace with his popular cleaning services, products, and books

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cleaning as a design consideration., February 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Make Your House Do the Housework (Paperback)

Great book, if only to impart the notion of considering maintenance and upkeep when making various design decisions in your home. Even if you don't agree with the Asletts' decisions, the thought process behind them can still be used. Every time I empty the bugs out of the living room light, I remember that I bought it in spite of their advice... :-) ...but that I needed a "low-profile" fan and accepted that tradeoff.

I've given this book as a gift to several new homeowners and recommend it to everyone who runs a home, owned or rented.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book, August 28, 2005

By 

Mary Poppins "Frugalmom" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make Your House Do the Housework (Paperback)

I adore this book. In out last house I put cream colored carpet in and was always spending $100 to have them cleaned because everything showed. In our new house I chose a deep grey color and I finally had it cleaned after four years bacuase I realized it must be really dirty. It looked perfect and we never see the dirt. Just one example of making my house do the housework.

I also have taken Aslett's advice and had two couches covered in a beautiful print with a random design which is perfect for disguising dirt. Again, they never show spots.

If you used all the ideas in his book your house would look like an airport lounge, but most of his wisdom is wonderful.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good advice with a practical basis., December 16, 2002

By 

LW Jolly (Reading, Berkshire UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Make Your House Do the Housework (Paperback)

Obviously no book about decorating/renovating is a bible. Everything is not going to be to your taste; everything will not be practical for you. But this book has a lot of sound advice on what materials and items last longest and are the least work to maintain. Our house is only in the planning stages, but this book has already taught us a lot. My parents followed its advice with the remodel of their bathroom and are so pleased at the low-maintenance results that they've requested a copy of their own for Christmas as a guide for doing the rest of the house.

The other book I'd recommend for people in the planning stages of a build or remodel is Ergonomic Living: How to Create a User-friendly Home and Office by Gordon Inkeles (ISBN 002093081X). Aslett shows you how to make things easy-care; Inkeles shows you how to make them comfortable and useful.