Customer Reviews

The Messies Manual: The Procrastinator's Guide to Good Housekeeping

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
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2 star:		(1)
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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

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.

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!

My mother-in-law almost had me convinced that I was a messy freak of nature. Thanks to this book, I realize I am not alone. It helped me to understand that clutter is part of my personality and how to overcome it... though I'm still working it.

This is the best, most encouraging home care book I've ever read! And her sense of humor is wonderful! I've owned 3 copies, but I've given them all away. Every "non-Martha Stewart" should own this book!

I got this book back in the late '80s and it helped. Mrs. Felton doesn't do the pop psychologizing in this edition that she does in the updated-new-wow 2000 edition. There's a quiz to assess what "type (or types) of Messie" you are so problem areas can be addressed in a more, erm, organized fashion, plus anecdotes about how Cleanies manage it. Mount Vernonizing has helped me figure out where to start many times.

Thank you! I'm not alone and now I'm not such a Mess. These methods for Messie's such as myself really work for our personality type and help me to understand why I have been a Messie. I highly recommend this book for anyone who just can't seem to keep things organized and clean!

I have read quite a few house cleaning books and this was definitely the best.
Great application and gave you a lot of helpful pointers to cleaning your house.
I am passing this book along to family and friends!!!!!

If you're a messie like me, watch out! This book could change your life!!! I picked up a used copy this summer, and as I applied what I learned, my husband immediately noticed the difference. I feel like my eyes have been opened to a new world that I thought would never be open to me. My boys (both preschoolers) are now helping me keep the house clean, and they appreciate the difference, too. Thank you, Sandra Felton!!!

If you have any problems with organization, this book is a must! It gives very insightful ideas on how to get your life back in order. I recommend the most recent version you can find!