Saturday, May 16, 2009

Book Review: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home

clean-homeAuthor:       Thelma A. Meyer

Publisher:    Wellness Central/Hachette

ISBN:          978-0-446-54459-7

Website:      Click Here

Type:         Non-Fiction: How-To

Pages:        239 Softcover

Purchase:    $13.59 @ Amazon.com (HERE)

The Story

“When Thelma Meyer tells it to you, she tells it straight: Clean the kitchen daily! Don’t waste anything (not even the water leftover from those potatoes you just boiled)! Always work hard! This philosophy meant that when Thelma’s daughter Monica founded Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products (named after her mom), the products were designed to work hard for you.

Now for the first time, Thelma’s sage advice is being made available in this revolutionary cleaning guide chock full of practical tips and secrets based on the premise that life is hectic and messy — and so keeping your house clean and nice is the only sensible thing to do. With shortcuts and tips for cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and living room, MRS MEYER’S CLEAN HOME contains unexpected advice such as:


–Never use vinegar and water on wood floors. One part dish soap and four parts water is the only way to truly get them clean. And remember to buff with a terrycloth towel.

–Always clean out the fridge before grocery shopping. Serve the kids “Musko” (“must go”) for dinner, using the items that were fast approaching expiration.

–Wash windows on a cloudy day to avoid the nasty streaking that happens when the sun’s out and glass dry too fast.

MRS MEYER’S CLEAN HOME is two parts common sense and one part inspiration. Read it and learn how to clean like the dickens.

(Above excerpt is from www.hachettebookgroup.com)

The Review

thelma-meyerI won a copy of this book from Kalea Kane and was super excited to read it.  I just love Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products and pet products.  They smell FANTASTIC and work really good!  I always grab it at Cost Plus World Market, which is a store that I just love love love.  But, more and more I see her products in other stores.  I can see that the Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning line is growing!  The real Mrs. Meyer wrote this book and it is her daughter that founded the product line.

There are some wonderful tips that I learned in this book.  In addition to the great tips, she offers organization to the art of cleaning.  She provides lists of supplies and charts for frequencies of cleaning.  ALSO, there are terrific little family stories sprinkled throughout the book.  There are also tips on maintaining a good home including a garden, your garage, and even your car!  

Mrs. Meyer is a mother of 9, including a set of twins.  How she decided to have more kids after having twins (her first pregnancy), is beyond me!  My hat is off to her!  I really enjoyed this book and felt like she was somebody that I could sit down to tea with after I finished the book.

Another neat thing to share is that it was good to know what I was doing “right” vs. what else I could do to improve.  An overall thing that I learned is that dishwashing liquid and white vinegar take care of the majority of your cleaning issues.  I’m buying a gallon of each next time I’m at Costco!

One little last tibit… my grandmother was a Myer from the midwest!  Hmmm…

Win a Copy!

I must admit that after I won a copy, I mysteriously received a second copy in the mail.  So, I have a copy UP FOR GRABS!  Since I’m shipping it out, however, it’s open to U.S. and Canada only unless you can aid in the excess shipping costs.  Here are the details of the Giveaway:

First, this contest will run for ONE WEEKS!  It will conclude on May 23rd.  Second, there are lots of ways that you can earn “EXTRA ENTRIES” on this contest as follows: 

ONE ENTRY: Leave me a comment below.

TWO ENTRIES: Post on your blog about the giveaway. Please leave me a comment letting me know you’ve posted.

ADDITIONAL TWO ENTRIES:  In your comment, share a cleaning tip.  

ADDITIONAL ENTRY:  Subscribe to A Novel Menagerie – leave in your comment.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY:  “Tweet” about this contest on Twitter – advise me of the “Tweet”

ADDITIONAL ENTRY:  Share this contest with one of your friends.  When your friend enters, just have him/her mention your name as the one who referred the contest when they enter.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY:   Add A Novel Menagerie to your BlogRoll on your sidebar – let me know about it in your comment.

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale:”

I’m going to make the twins read this book.  I know, I’m a torture master!  But, there are many great things to learn and this book has wonderful illustrations.  Yep… they’ll going to read it, alright!  For the genre Non-Fiction:How-To, I am going to rate this book a 9 OUT OF 10. 

My thanks to Hachette Book Group and Kalea Kane for the great book!

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29 Comments

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29 Responses

  1. Trin

    May 16th, 2009 at 1:06 am

    1. I am commenting
    2. I have posted
    3. Cleaning tip- use newspaper when cleaning windows instead of paper towels to keep the windows streak free
    4.Twittered
    5. You are always one my blog roll : )

    Trin´s last blog post..Bloody Good Blogs and a Meme

  2. Carlene

    May 16th, 2009 at 4:13 am

    Well the cleaning tip I used most when my kids were young was to get gum off clothing and/or hair use ice. Please inlcude me in your giveaway.
    Thanks
    Carlene
    iluvreading(at)verizon.net

  3. rhapsodyinbooks

    May 16th, 2009 at 6:05 am

    Wow, if somebody gave me nine kids, including twins, they would have had to give me a maid! (AND a cook!) But since I don’t have nine kids (or maid) I reckon I could use some help cleaning up!

    nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

  4. Alyce

    May 16th, 2009 at 8:34 am

    I would love to be entered to win. I need help with my organization and cleaning skills. Well that and I need to force myself to stop reading and just get up off the couch and clean. :)

    akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Alyce´s last blog post..The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone – Review

  5. Book Review: Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home by Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer |

    May 16th, 2009 at 12:31 pm

    [...] h­er­e: Bo­o­k Re­vie­w­: Mrs­. Me­ye­r's­ C­le­a… Share and [...]

  6. gaby317

    May 16th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Please count me in! This sounds so useful. I’m a lousy housekeeper and need all the help I can get.

    One tip that I can share is to reuse the dryer sheets for wiping. Another is to use turtle wax on the glass shower doors to make them more steam resistant.

    I’ve added a link to your contest on my blog’s sideroll.

    Thank you.

    http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/
    gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

    gaby317´s last blog post..The Friday 56, courtesy of Just Jennifer Reading and Storytime with Tonya and Friends

  7. gaby317

    May 16th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

    I forgot to add that I’m a subscriber via googlereader – I was having some trouble subscribing and the name of the blog isn’t registering properly although the text is.

    And that you’re on my bloglist.

    thanks again

    gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

    http://startingfresh-gaby317.blogspot.com/

    gaby317´s last blog post..The Friday 56, courtesy of Just Jennifer Reading and Storytime with Tonya and Friends

  8. Susan Helene Gottfried

    May 16th, 2009 at 1:07 pm

    No need to enter me, although I’ve got a cleaning tip to share: cleaning ladies. I love mine!

    I’m dropping in to say hi and thanks for the e-mail. I’ve got this posted at Win a Book for you.

    Susan Helene Gottfried´s last blog post..Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Home

  9. Kitten22

    May 16th, 2009 at 4:12 pm

    This looks great! Please enter me!

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

  10. Kitten22

    May 16th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    I tweeted about this!

    http://twitter.com/BookingKitten22

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

  11. Kitten22

    May 16th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    I’m a subscriber (through Google Reader)!

    BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

  12. Margo

    May 16th, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    Enter me!

    cleaning tip?

    have supplies in a caddy on every floor of the house.

    Margo´s last blog post..What I’m Not Buying this Weekend #5

  13. Petunia

    May 16th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    I’d like to be entered please.
    Cleaning tip: Check out Fly Lady!
    http://www.flylady.net/pages/begin_babysteps.asp

    I’m subscribed and you’re linked. Thanks!

    Petunia´s last blog post..Review: Garden Spells

  14. Jake L

    May 17th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    please enter me into this giveaway contest.

    thanks,
    jake.lsewhere(at)gmail.com

  15. Dawn M.

    May 18th, 2009 at 12:33 am

    I would love to be entered for this book. I’m sure I could use it…especially since the dust bunnies are starting to take over! LOL!

    Thanks! :0)

  16. Melissa - Shhh I'm Reading

    May 18th, 2009 at 8:26 am

    I can always use help with cleaning! It’s not my favorite thing. :)

    I also follow.

    Melissa – Shhh I’m Reading´s last blog post..Review: Invisible Prey by John Sandford

  17. Melissa

    May 18th, 2009 at 9:21 am

    Would love to win
    cleaning tip? Use peanut butter to get gum out of hair
    bonus tip- use non-acetate nail polish remover to get np spills out of carpet

  18. J Chaborek

    May 18th, 2009 at 10:44 pm

    I’d love to be entered for the book! I’m not a great cleaner or a great cook, so for all the other bad cooks out there who burn their pots, here’s my tip:

    I have heard all kinds of crazy ideas for cleaning pots that have burnt food stuck to it – even to the point of people putting vinegar in the pot, putting it in a plastic bag & keeping it over night. Want to do the dishes right away & forget about them? Poor a small amount of cola into the pot, enough to cover the burnt & stuck food & then put it back on the burner on medium to low heat. After about 3 minutes, rinse out the pot & the burntness & stuck food will wipe off with minimal effort.

    I subscribed via email. Thank you for the chance to win your extra copy, take care.

  19. Shauna

    May 19th, 2009 at 8:55 am

    Please count me in! The best cleaning tip is to use wipes for cleaning they are awesome! I will also post about this great giveaway on my blog I would l♥ve to win this! Thanks for the chance! tryingtostaycalm@gmail.com

  20. Ladytink_534

    May 20th, 2009 at 12:32 pm

    I probably won’t review this but wow this thing sure does come in handy! No need to enter me!!!

  21. Alexa

    May 21st, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    sign me up =]
    lovinfitch@aol.com

  22. Pamela S

    May 21st, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    I so need this book. My house is such a disaster we can’t have people over. Have pity on me. (Just kidding…not about the messy house part, but about the begging part LOL)

  23. Pamela S

    May 21st, 2009 at 9:13 pm

    I know the main tip that Flylady emphasizes is to “Shine your Sink” before bed every night. She says to NEVER go to bed with dirty dishes or a dirty sink. If only I listened better!

  24. Jennifer L

    May 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 am

    I would love this book. Almost reminds me of the old newspaper columns with hints from helloise in them.

    Jennifer L´s last blog post..Cemetary Dance Book and Loosing Mum & Pup Giveaway: Hurry ends 31 May 09

  25. Laura

    May 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm

    I would love to win this book :)

    lavery328@yahoo.com

  26. Vicki

    May 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    My tip is for homemade furniture polish:
    Combine 2 parts sweet oil and one-part apple cider vinegar. Put into a spray bottle and label. This is just perfect for most finished wood, but DON’T use on raw or unfinished wood. Just shake it up to mix. Spray a little on a soft cloth and polish away!

    These aren’t cleaning tips, but they sure are good tips.
    Dab a bit of oil of clove, peppermint or eucalyptus on a cool lightbulb. When you turn on the light, the scent will drift throughout the room.

    You may already know this one, but since it’s time for the bees etc. to start buzzing around I thought I’d post it for those of you who don’t know it. If someone gets stung, take some tobacco, either from a cigarette or snuff/dip and wet it with either spit or water and put on the sting spot. It will draw out the poison and help with the swelling.

    Vicki´s last blog post..

  27. Vicki

    May 22nd, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Sorry if this already showed up but the page wouldn’t load after I hit submit and it hasn’t showed up yet.

    I’d love to win this book.

    Blogged about this HERE

    Tweeted: VickiLN

    I’m a subscriber.

    I’ve added you to my sidebar.

    Vicki´s last blog post..

  28. Esther

    May 23rd, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    I would love to read this book! I could really use some cleaning tips!

  29. Esther

    May 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    I’m a subscriber.