The Messies Manual: The Procrastinator's Guide to Good Housekeeping (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Messie's Manual has helpled over a quarter million readers overcome disorderly lives. Reading it is not guaranteed to make you a professional housekeeper overnight, but it's a real beginning for overcoming procrastination and conquering the battle against messiness once and for all.

Product Details

• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: Fleming H Revell (October 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800751337
• ISBN-13: 978-0800751333
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #692,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Review, July 7, 2005

By	Tidewater Books (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews

Sandra Felton wrote The Messies Manual: The Procrastinator's Guide to Good Housekeeping to reach out and help a group of people hiding a secret shame behind their front door - their messy house.

Felton calls these people Messies, and she herself is a reformed Messie who knows only too well what it feels like to be overwhelmed by the state of your house.

She identifies different types of Messies, and also describes a few Cleanies (for those of us unfamiliar with the concept.) Some of the reasons for Messies being messy (poor memory, distractability, disorganized thinking, visual tune-out, and slow movement) are explained, along with attitudes Messies may be adopting that will hinder their progress.There is some very useful information on how to set goals for your housekeeping.

Sandra Felton's method for taking control of your house is called the Mount Vernon method, named after the cleaning method used at George Washington's estate. Basically, this involves starting at the front door of your house and moving in a clockwise direction around the room, organizing the first piece of furniture you come to. After you have finished with that piece, you move on to the next piece, and so on.

Sandra also has suggestions for tools for organizing the information in your life, and specific recommendations for closets and the kitchen. There are tips for saving time and getting your family to co-operate.

What makes this book different from other organizing books is that Sandra Felton has great insight into the lives of the chronically disorganized. This is not a book written for those who want to have Martha Stewart over for a visit - it is for those who would like to be able to let their family and friends inside the house. If you follow the advice in this book, you will no longer fear the knock at the door, but instead be able to welcome people into your house!

The tone of this book is wise and compassionate. Sandra Felton writes very well, communicating her ideas with clarity and good humor. The Messies Manual is a very practical, useful book.

This is the book I used for support when I cleaned up my house and I highly recommend it.--Pigpen

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LITERALLY THE LIGHT AT THE END OF MY TUNNEL !!!!!!!!!!!!, August 24, 1999

By	Kari ([e-mail]) (Brownsville, Oregon) - See all my reviews

Mrs. Felton gave me hope when I thought there could never be anything but clutter and embarassment. I found the energy and encouragement I needed to overcome a lifetime of Messie habits. Through this book she taught me to focus on and be proud of what I had accomplished along my journey to cleanliness, instead of feeling guilty over what still needed doing. Very comforting to find out I was not alone.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If organization is the key to success why cant I find my key, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This is an excellent book to share, not just give! I have shared this book at many women's retreats and workshops. Home organizers of all ages will benefit from it. Even kids can learn great organizational skills that will help them in school especially kids with ADD. It is one that will always be a part of my library. I bought it in the early days and then again a few years ago!