Mrs. Clean Jean's Housekeeping with Kids: Family Pickup Lines (and Household Routines) That Work with Less Work from You
by Tara Aronson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Tara AronsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2004-03-24
ISBN: 1579548822
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Rodale Books
Accessories:
- Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers
- Braun IRT 4020 ThermoScan Ear Thermometer
Book Reviews of Mrs. Clean Jean's Housekeeping with Kids: Family Pickup Lines (and Household Routines) That Work with Less Work from You
Book Review: Over the Top - Kind of Obsessive
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought this book with great hope. I need some help to get my home together and keep it that way. However, reading this book just depressed me - no way could I [or would I] do what she does in this book.
I thought most of her advice was just plain obsessive. Her family cleans their crown molding and base boards every week. Really. Not only would I *never* have time for that on a weekly basis, but I would *never* use my time like that if I did have a spare moment.
The laundry advice was very labor intensive too. This was the section I most wanted to read and where I need the most help, but I would never in a million years have time to do the laundry as meticulously as she recommends. [I was looking for ways to be more efficient with the laundry, not make it take even longer].
My kids aren't going to clothes pin their stained clothes on the spot where they stained them [the ones that stain frequently are too young for for that] and I'm happy if they just put their stained clothes in the "stain basket" so I can treat them later. I don't have the time, space, or inclination to use 7 different methods of stain removal based on 7 different cleaning products [several of which you have to make up yourself] to use on different kinds of stains. I would love it if my kids would clothes pin their socks together every single time, but I just frankly don't see that happening. I don't have time to sit with the toddler and have her sort out all the laundry into every different color of the rainbow before I wash it so she can "learn her colors". And I am *NOT* going to drip dry all our cotton clothing... no way.
Her ideas for the kitchen were similarly labor intensive I thought - like taking ALL dry goods out of their [perfectly good! ;) ] containers and placing them in clear plastic storage containers [even things like baking soda....]. Who has time for that? Not me at any rate. And I laughed out loud at the admonition that I should keep a lazy susan full of fancy teas, sugar swizzles, and biscotti so I would always be prepared for unexpected "drop in visitors". Personally, I don't want anyone stopping by my house without calling first, and I'm not going to reward them with fancy tea and biscotti if they are that rude. ;)
She also seemed germ-phobic to the point of unhealthiness. All the "newest research" is telling us that we are making ourselves sicker by trying to be "anti-bacterial" about everything and not allowing our bodies to build up immunities to germs. I really have the feeling, based on this book, that this lady's home is cleaner than most hospital operating rooms - she is really, really germ obsessed.
This book might work for someone who is super energetic and has a whole lot of time for cleaning or someone who has that inborn "neat freak" gene, but for most "regular" folks... it isn't going to help.
I found the book just really more disheartening than anything - because my house is *never* going to look like hers. And honestly, I wouldn't want it to - I just want it basically presentable.
I really thought her methods were over the top and very inefficient. "Sink Reflections" by Flylady is much more my speed. :)
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