Posted on: Thursday, August 4, 2005
Comfort on home front: preserving your castle
By Jacqueline Blais
USA Today
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"Saving Stuff," gives tips for preserving cherished home items from Don Williams, a senior conservator at the Smithsonian.
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Considering the frenzied rise in the cost of real estate, an argument can be made to care for the home you have. Popular home-care books in stores now:
"Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House," by Cheryl Mendelson (Scribner, $19.95, 884 pages). This gem, new in paperback, is written with such assurance and detail, it's like reading a compelling novel about spring cleaning. It's all here: cleaning mold, removing scuff marks on wood floors, clearing clogged drains, making a bed, and a guide to light bulbs.
"Saving Stuff: How to Care for and Preserve Your Collectibles, Heirlooms, and Other Prized Possessions," by Don Williams and Louisa Jaggar (Fireside, $16, 338 pages). Williams is a conservator at the Smithsonian Institution, but this book is about the "museum of you" — preserving objects that have special value, such as baseball cards, comic books, furniture, DVDs and the family silver.
"Good Housekeeping: The Complete Household Handbook: The Best Ways to Clean, Maintain & Organize Your Home" (Hearst Books, $24.99, 400 pages). Even experienced homeowners will find something surprising in this thorough book, such as putting cinnamon sticks and cloves in an open dish to cover fried-food odors. The updated volume comes from the venerable Good Housekeeping Institute. "We have a long history of providing this kind of information to our readers," says Good Housekeeping's Carolyn Forte. Homely wisdom from more than 100 years ago still holds true: "Don't spoil your kids, listen to people in conversation, cook with care, live healthfully and get a better night's rest," she says. Oh yes, and don't put hot items on bare wood.
