Why am I passionate about this?

I’ll admit it: I love the domestic arts. As a natural klutz, I knew sports would be out and I focused on organizing, cooking, gardening, cleaning, and decorating. My mother knew all the old-fashioned tricks and I collected the new ones. Today I have several thousand followers on my youtube channel, where I share life hacks, housekeeping hints, and even motherly advice as the Youtube Mom. One of my sons said that none of his buddies knew how to do laundry, cook, iron, etc., and suggested I have a channel to fill in the gaps for Millenials. Having hosted a TV talk show in Los Angeles, this appealed to me right away. And, you guessed it, lots of moms and grandmas write in as well, saying they never knew those tricks themselves. It’s truly gratifying to share these time-and-money-saving ideas.


I wrote

Housekeeping Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me

By Joni Hilton,

Book cover of Housekeeping Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me

What is my book about?

There’s an easy way and a hard way to do almost everything, and the Youtube Mom, Joni Hilton, shares time-saving…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life

Joni Hilton Why did I love this book?

This is a terrific book by a woman who has toured extensively lecturing on this topic. I love to include humor, and so does Schofield. You’ll be highlighting lots of her ideas, and wondering why you didn’t think of them sooner. For example, she keeps the can opener by the canned goods, to save steps. Duh, right? A mom of five, Deniece knows plenty!

By Deniece Schofield,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Confessions of an Organized Homemaker as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The secrets of uncluttering your home and taking control of your life: hundreds of ideas and techniques on how to unclutter their homes and take control of their lives.


Book cover of Cleaning Plain & Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Sparkling Solutions to Your Everyday Cleaning Challenges

Joni Hilton Why did I love this book?

This is a great roundup of cleaning ideas. Donna is particularly good at stain removal (even from window blinds), tool recommendations (which vacuum for which job), and safety (how to prevent mold and mildew). I’m a very visual learner, so I love all her charts that simplify so many tasks. She’s also not afraid to get into the chemistry of why things work.

By Donna Smallin,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cleaning Plain & Simple as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Learn how to clean smarter, not harder, and you'll have more time to do the things you love. With plain and simple advice on everything from dusting and swabbing to polishing and vacuuming, best-selling author Donna Smallin shows you how to make the most of your valuable cleaning time. Hundreds of quick tips and practical solutions for every imaginable cleaning situation promise you the sparkling, healthy environment you want for your family.


Book cover of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Joni Hilton Why did I love this book?

Kondo has launched a whole movement of throwing away anything that doesn’t spark joy. This is a good book to know about, read, and consider. It inches you toward having less “stuff,” and really deciding which things to keep and which things to get rid of.

By Marie Kondo,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?


Marie Kondo will help you declutter your life with her new major Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.

Transform your home into a permanently clear and clutter-free space with the incredible KonMari Method. Japan's expert declutterer and professional cleaner Marie Kondo will help you tidy your rooms once and for all with her inspirational step-by-step method.

The key to successful tidying is to tackle your home in the correct order, to keep only the things you really love and to do it all at once - and quickly. After that for the rest of your life you only need…


Book cover of Martha Stewart's Very Good Things: Clever Tips & Genius Ideas for an Easier, More Enjoyable Life

Joni Hilton Why did I love this book?

This is a large, hardback coffee table book, unlike my other picks. Nice to browse through for the beautiful photos and the advice from a woman we’re all familiar with, who has elevated housekeeping to an art form. For example, for those with a “no shoes” policy, Martha advises putting pretty stones from a garden center in your mud room, so people can place their footwear on the stones to allow snow, etc. to drain through.

By Martha Stewart,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Martha Stewart's Very Good Things as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Inside these pages Martha shares all her best good things - the original life hacks for the home - to make your life easier, more fun, more delicious, and more efficient. These practical tricks cover all areas of Martha's domestic expertise, including cooking, crafting, gardening, organising, entertaining, and more. From clever ways to solve common problems (use lip balm to lubricate a stuck zipper) to time-saving tricks (label window screens to avoid confusion when they come down for cleaning) to stress reducers (colour-code kids' bathroom gear to make mornings less hectic), every one of these ideas will make you wonder,…


Book cover of The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own

Joni Hilton Why did I love this book?

This is the book for people who want to truly embrace minimalism. Becker offers a spiritual approach to living with less, and really knows how to motivate his readers to slow down, live deliberately, be grateful, and donate generously. Even tips on staying out of debt. It will affect many aspects of your life, not just organizing. You simply feel like a better person after reading his book!

By Joshua Becker,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The More of Less as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Don’t Settle for More
 
Most of us know we own too much stuff. We feel the weight and burden of our clutter, and we tire of cleaning and managing and organizing.
 
While excess consumption leads to bigger houses, faster cars, fancier technology, and cluttered homes, it never brings happiness. Rather, it results in a desire for more. It redirects our greatest passions to things that can never fulfill. And it distracts us from the very life we wish we were living.
 
Live a better life with less.
 
In The More of Less, Joshua Becker helps you...
 
• Recognize the life-giving…


Explore my book 😀

Housekeeping Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me

By Joni Hilton,

Book cover of Housekeeping Secrets My Mother Never Taught Me

What is my book about?

There’s an easy way and a hard way to do almost everything, and the Youtube Mom, Joni Hilton, shares time-saving tricks, DIY secrets, and hundreds of tips to make your home more organized and beautiful—a place where you’re delighted to invite guests. Whether you live in a dorm or a mansion, this book will surprise you with clever ways to run your home. What’s the secret to laundry, cleaning each room, time management, and getting the family involved? Even moms and grandmas will love this book.

Book cover of Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life
Book cover of Cleaning Plain & Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Sparkling Solutions to Your Everyday Cleaning Challenges
Book cover of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

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Steamed and Steamy: Recipes from the Steampunk World of Industralia

By Lori Alden Holuta, Tanya Paterson (illustrator),

Book cover of Steamed and Steamy: Recipes from the Steampunk World of Industralia

Lori Alden Holuta Author Of The Flight to Brassbright

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Word addict Earth mama Avant garde crocheter Steampunk Expat Seattleite

Lori's 3 favorite reads in 2024

What is my book about?

After writing The Flight To Brassbright, I realized that my characters spent a lot of time enjoying a wide variety of foods and beverages. I suppose it couldn't be helped since their author is such a foodie.

I thought it would be fun to spin off a cookbook with real, practical recipes so that readers could enjoy the same foods as my wacky cast did on their adventures. There's something for everyone, as the cookbook runs the gamut. You'll find mouth-watering treats such as hearty meat pies, 'coal' cookies, Victorian-era 'hot dogs', bread and butter pickles, and home-spun cotton…

Steamed and Steamy: Recipes from the Steampunk World of Industralia

By Lori Alden Holuta, Tanya Paterson (illustrator),

What is this book about?

Even fictional characters gotta eat. These are their recipes. Now you can make the favorite foods of the fictional country of Industralia, from breakfast right on through to late night snacks. You’ll even learn how to make traditional New Year's “Coal Week” holiday treats.

"Ah, the delightful sounds and smells of cooking. And explosions. Or maybe that is just my kitchen... Venture forth into the wilds of your own kitchen to explore the possibilities for flavor and ingredients you encountered in your explorations of Industralia! From carnival peanuts and cotton candy to some hearty meat pies these recipes can help…


4 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in home economics, cleaning, and homemaking?

Home Economics 11 books
Cleaning 8 books
Homemaking 5 books