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
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.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Confessions of an Organized Homemaker: The Secrets of Uncluttering Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life
By
Deniece Schofield
Why 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!
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Cleaning Plain & Simple: A Ready Reference Guide with Hundreds of Sparkling Solutions to Your Everyday Cleaning Challenges
By
Donna Smallin
Why 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.
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The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
By
Marie Kondo
Why 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.
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Martha Stewart's Very Good Things: Clever Tips & Genius Ideas for an Easier, More Enjoyable Life
By
Martha Stewart
Why 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.
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The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own
By
Joshua Becker
Why 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!
