Rating: 
Summary: BUY IT!
Review: I am 30 years old and this book is like the bible of stuff my mother never taught me. I was a typical slovenly teenager that never learned to properly do anything around the house,much less clean. It just wasn't cool for moms to be homemakers in the 70's...who was i supposed to learn it from? This book is worth the money for the laundry section alone, it will save you time and money, even if you never read the other excellent and informative sections in the book. Everything is nicely laid out and easily referenced in an extensive index. Pet stains, laundry tips, how to iron, how to sew different stitches and when to use them, how to clean, how to disinfect surfaces, helping allergies, how to get grocery shopping done faster and better...the list goes on and on. This book is also helpful for new moms who suddenly find themselves suddenly worrying about general cleanliness and germs, etc. A good buy and well worth the money.
Rating:
Summary: An invaluable reference
Review: Yes, this book is a tome. And yes, some of the suggested cleaning (and frequency of it!) is not practical for most. But so what? As a reference book it cannot be beat. Want to know whether throwing a little vinegar into the detergent + borax combo that's already in the washing machine will help deodorize the laundry? My guess was yes, but looking at the section on cleaning chemistry says otherwise. And I've held off doing anything but feather-dusting on my fairly grubby-looking piano because I had no idea what I could use to clean it. And so on, and so on... If you have perfectionist tendencies in your housework, then approach this book with caution. But if you are part of the generation that just didn't pick up everything you ever needed about keeping your home running smoothly, then this is the essential source.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for everyone, despite the intimidating size!
Review: It sounds like such a nightmare -- almost 1,000 pages on how to do the laundry and clean the silver. You'd never guess that this book could be so fascinating, or make you proud of every chore you DO manage to eke out in your own home! Far and away the best section for me is the introduction, a terrific essay called, "My Secret Life" in which Mendelson explains how she became interested in housework, why she (and the rest of us) feel guilty about it and yet antipathetic toward taking more of an interest in our homes, the spirit that possessed all those 1950's housewives we shake our heads at, and -- most importantly -- what to do about it. I feel as if a mystery I didn't even know existed in my life has been solved. And it makes every bit of housework I do more rewarding. There are gaps in this incredible compendium, or else I couldn't use the index properly. When I needed to clean my moss- and slime-encrusted brick patio, for instance, I couldn't find good advice for cleaning (and keeping clean) plain old bricks, though there's plenty on various types of stone. I'd also like more prosaic information on things like aluminum fittings and ceiling fans and ventilation registers. But these are just little notes to pass along to the author for the second edition (surely there will be one, and soon -- I hope!). By and large, this book has more than enough information to keep you going and to transform your house into a home. That's really the point of the book, you know -- not preventing salmonella or making marble look its best, but giving you ownership of the stuff you spend your life dealing with or avoiding dealing with (which is almost as time-consuming!). It's a worthy endeavor, and I think Mendelson does about as good a job of it as humanly possible. She's also a fantastic writer, which helps! Take a chance on this book, and I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: OY! I Needed This book!
Review: My mother-in-law was a HOME EC major in college -- can you imagine? Needless to say, I was not. This book is full of practical advice to keep a home up and running, from day-to-day to annual home-keeping activities. Let's just see if i can keep this up for longer than a week!
Rating:
Summary: If its not in here, then you're out of luck
Review: This is the most comprehensive book on keeping house that I have ever seen. It has stuff in it that I wouldn't have thought of and some I may never do, but that's okay because that is what she tells us to do. The information is there to help us and for us to use as to what pertains to our situation. She doesn't recommend that you have to do everything listed in here (thank God!), but lists enough hints and information that if we ever do need to know something then it will be there for us. Very good!
Rating: 
Summary: Can I get an amen?
Review: This book is the bible of household cleaning and maintenance concerns. The fact that St. Cheryl was able to fuse it all together while still having a life is a leap towards Superwomanhood that most of us will never have the tarmac space to make. Home Comforts is written and organized in a way that makes it incredibly easy to read. While I doubt most readers will do one tenth of the chores outlined, it's a comfort read; who knew laundry detergent could be interesting to read about? --Laurel825
Rating:
Summary: Terrific!
Review: This book shows you how to keep house thoroughly and systematically, but in such a way that keeps things balanced. You don't need to be neurotic to like this book. Once you've hammered out a system for your home and family, you will enjoy the comforts of a clean, efficient, and welcoming home.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely practical and a good read, too.
Review: Mrs. Mendelson does a thorough and engaging job of outlining the general principles and specific methods of keeping a house. More than just hints and tips for cleaning, the book also includes information on everyday legal matters, how to optimize the lighting in a room, and suggestions for ways in which to spend time in the home you create. The advice is thorough and specific -- she presents a picture of a well-kept home, and then gives you all the information you need to deal with the specific tasks that need to be done and problems that need to be solved in the process. Rather than taking the attitude that the work of keeping a home is unavoidable drudgery to be got over as quickly as possible, the author encourages both full-time housekeepers and people with demanding outside employment to view the work of keeping house as rewarding work that improves life for oneself and one's family. It truly inspired me to make my home a place of comfort and order, so that it can be inviting and pleasant for all who enter it. Those of us who have spent years stepping over things and only cleaning up enough in order to survive the next week can benefit from Cheryl Mendelson's high standards and gentle encouragement, and aspire to make home a place where order is enjoyed, rather than where mess is constantly being battled. "Home Comforts" is enjoyable reading and very well-organized. You'll want to sit down and read large sections of it through the first time to get a glimpse of good housekeeping as a lifestyle choice, and then you'll refer to its specific explanations again and again.
Rating:
Summary: An impressive achievement
Review: Home Comforts is a text book and encyclopedia on the art and the science of creating a clean, organized and comfortable home. You can read it from cover to cover like a novel because the author's humorous anecdotes and pleasant writing style make it fun or you can go straight to what your problem is. After reading the chapter of food safety I headed to my kitchen and made some important changes. I also discovered why my wood floors look so bad (according to the book I've been doing everything you shouldn't do to wood). The book also gets into the nitty gritty of insurance and accidents on your property and what should be in your safety deposit box. I can't say enough good things about this practical, wonderful masterwork.
Rating:
Summary: You NEED this book!
Review: I checked this book of from the library several times, but I have now decided to purchase it. I have kids and I am always wondering how to remove stains and clean everything. This book lists recipes on how to clean every kind of surface and fabric imaginable. I recommend this book for everyone to give to new homeowner's as a gift plus your best friend.
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