Smart Housekeeping Around the Year: An Almanac of Cleaning, Organizing, Decluttering, Furnishing, Maintaining, and Managing Your Home, With Tips for Every Month and Season

By Anne L. Watson

SPECIAL NOTE! -- ANNE WILL PERSONALLY ANSWER ANY QUESTION OF YOURS AFTER READING THIS BOOK. ASK ON HER WEB SITE, AND YOU'LL NORMALLY HEAR BACK WITHIN HOURS!
 
In this standalone companion to "Smart Housekeeping," Anne L. Watson presents tips on cleaning, organizing, decluttering, furnishing, maintaining, and managing your home, as you'd face those tasks around the year. Travel with Anne through the calendar as she deals with every aspect of keeping the things around you just the way you want them. New homemakers will gain skills and perspective, while even veterans will find unique tips and insights. All delivered with a wit and frankness not seen in housekeeping books since the days of Peg Bracken.
 
Anne's almanac also features the return of her photogenic family of felted mice. After their brief introduction in "Smart Housekeeping," Lady Mouse and the rest now return, joined by even more critters, to help Anne illustrate many of her tips and add a touch of whimsy for readers' delight.
 
/////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
Anne L. Watson is the author of "Smart Housekeeping," as well as a number of other popular books on home crafts and lifestyle, plus many novels. In a previous career, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne lives in Bellingham, Washington. 
 
/////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
SAMPLE
 
Housekeeping has gotten a bad rap. Somehow, the subject has shrunk to discussions of clutter control and cleaning, a bit like when your mom told you to pick up your room.
 
But that's the dull part. Necessary, of course -- I wrote a book, "Smart Housekeeping," that's mostly about getting to a state of order. But housekeeping is no more about clutter control than gardening is about weeding. Yes, you have to do some of both -- but why stop short of the interesting stuff?
 
Housekeeping is making yourself comfortable in your home, whatever that takes. A lot of housekeeping is about what you do, and why you do it, after you've taken care of the obvious chores. How do you set up a guest room? Unclog a sink? Keep garbage odors out of the kitchen? Arrange toy storage so that the kids will use it on their own? What's the best way to wash a family quilt? To be safe on a ladder? To choose appliances?
 
Housekeeping isn't just housework -- it's setting the stage for your whole life at home -- which includes play, enjoyment, and creativity. 
 
This book is arranged as an almanac because the more skilled housekeeping tasks tend to follow the calendar. We do what we need to for seasonal celebrations, and we try to get the weather on our side when we paint a room, air dry a comforter or get the carpets steam cleaned. Other tasks and concerns are less linked to the seasons, but also don't need to be revisited often, once you've arranged things to please yourself. So considering them on an annual basis is probably about right. You may want to use this book as much as a reference as a read-through, especially if your seasons are different from mine, or even nonexistent.
 
Smart Housekeeping featured felted white mice, at least on the cover. As mice will do, they have now taken over the house, and are shown throughout this book, doing their chores, handling household crises, and entertaining other small animals. And they "step out" each month, enjoying adventures together and just having fun. 
 
I recommend that for all of us.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Next River Books
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781620352120

Book preview

Smart Housekeeping Around the Year

SMART HOUSEKEEPING AROUND THE YEAR

AN ALMANAC OF CLEANING, ORGANIZING, DECLUTTERING, FURNISHING, MAINTAINING, AND MANAGING YOUR HOME, WITH TIPS FOR EVERY MONTH AND SEASON

ANNE L. WATSON

Next River Books

CONTENTS

FYI

A New Start

JANUARY

Beginnings

First Impressions

Porches

Entries

Living Rooms

Home Systems

Home Energy Saving—Recommended Reads

Emergencies

Thoughts About Clutter—Why Keep Things?

The Mice Step Out!—January Fun

FEBRUARY

Dining Rooms

Dining Room Design and Use

Dining Room Arrangement

Dining Tables

Dining Chairs

Sideboards

Serving Carts

Dishes

Glassware

Flatware

Linens

Centerpieces and Candles

Entertaining

Housekeeping Talk

Thoughts About Clutter—Instant Housekeeping

The Mice Step Out!—Valentines and Puppets

MARCH

A Place to Rest?

Shopping for Bedding

Bed Frames

Buying a New Mattress

Mattress Types

Mattress Care

Pillows

Linens

Blankets

Comforters and Featherbeds

Bedside Tables

Chests of Drawers

Household Management

Thoughts About Clutter—Selling and Donating

The Mice Step Out!—A Visit from the Grandmice

APRIL

Outdoor Housekeeping with the Seasons

Gardens

Decks

Patios

Outdoor Furniture

Yards

Walkways

Stairs

Ladder Safety

Thoughts About Clutter—Safe and Sound Disposal

The Mice Step Out!—The Children’s Birthdays

MAY

Work Rooms

Craft Rooms

Home Office Furnishings and Design

Home Office Organization—Recommended Reads

Papers and Filing

Caring for Furniture

Thoughts About Clutter—Pull Dates

The Mice Step Out!—The Mouse Public Library

JUNE

Kids’ Rooms and Playrooms

Toy Storage Solutions

Just Shut the Door?

Housekeeping with Pets

Training Pets

Pets’ Belongings

Keeping Your Pet Healthy

Pet Accidents

Cleaning Floors

Flooring Materials

Floor Care Tools

Thoughts About Clutter—School Clutter

The Mice Step Out!—A Trip to the Farmers’ Market

JULY

Bathrooms

Bathroom Design and Organization

Cleaning Bathrooms

Bathroom Ventilation

Towels and Towel Bars

The Medicine Cabinet

Windows

Interior Painting

Thoughts About Clutter—Bathroom Clutter

The Mice Step Out!—Going to the Lighthouse

AUGUST

Laundry Day

Planning

Collecting and Storing Laundry

Washing

Drying

Ironing

Laundry Room Tips

Summer Laundry

Care of Laundry Machines

Safe and Healthy Housekeeping

Thoughts About Clutter—Why Is Clutter?

The Mice Step Out!—Summer’s End

SEPTEMBER

Storage

Built-In Storage

Storage Furniture

Basements, Attics, and Garages

Yard Sales

Storage for Others

Storage Tools

Special Storage Problems

Special Storage Needs

Cleaning—Getting It Done

Cleaners—Natural and Otherwise

Handheld Cleaning Tools

Thoughts About Clutter—Storage and Clutter

The Mice Step Out!—Apple Picking

OCTOBER

Guest Rooms

Setting Up a Guest Room

What to Arrange in Advance

Preparing the Guest Room

Information for Guests

Childproofing for Visitors

Holidays and Occasions

Storing Holiday Items

Mistakes to Avoid with Gifts for Kids

Thoughts About Clutter—Holidays and Clutter

The Mice Step Out!—Halloween Costumes

NOVEMBER

Work Zones and the Kitchen Triangle

Countertop Housekeeping

Countertop Materials

Kitchen Tables

Portables

Sinks

Garbage Disposals and Garbage Cans

Major Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen Tips

A Few Recipes

Easy Handcrafted Gifts

Thoughts About Clutter—Countertop Clutter

The Mice Step Out!—Storytelling

DECEMBER

Kitchen Storage

Kitchen Storage Units

Small Appliances

Kitchen Gadgets

Smart Marketing

Thoughts About Clutter—Clutter in the Cabinets

The Mice Step Out!—The Mice’s Holiday

Resources

Credits

Also by Anne L. Watson

FYI

Anne L. Watson is the author of Smart Housekeeping, as well as a number of other popular books on home crafts and lifestyle, plus many novels and children’s books. In a previous career, she was a historic preservation architecture consultant. Anne lives in Bellingham, Washington. Please visit her at www.annelwatson.com.

Text and photo fantasies copyright © 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023 by Anne L. Watson

Anne and LadyMouse portrait photos by Aaron Shepard

Produced in Vellum

Ebook Version 2.5

For more resources, visit Anne’s Housekeeping Page at www.annelwatson.com/housekeeping

A NEW START

Housekeeping has gotten a bad rap. Somehow, the subject has shrunk to discussions of clutter control and cleaning, a bit like when your mom told you to pick up your room.

But that’s the dull part. Necessary, of course—I wrote a book, Smart Housekeeping, that’s mostly about getting to a state of order. But housekeeping is no more about clutter control than gardening is about weeding. Yes, you have to do some of both—but why stop short of the interesting stuff?

Housekeeping is making yourself comfortable in your home, whatever that takes. A lot of housekeeping is about what you do, and why you do it, after you’ve taken care of the obvious chores. How do you set up a guest room? Unclog a sink? Keep garbage odors out of the kitchen? Arrange toy storage so that the kids will use it on their own? What’s the best way to wash a family quilt? To be safe on a ladder? To choose appliances?

Housekeeping isn’t just housework—it’s setting the stage for your whole life at home—which includes play, enjoyment, and creativity.

This book is arranged as an almanac because the more skilled housekeeping tasks tend to follow the calendar. We do what we need to for seasonal celebrations, and we try to get the weather on our side when we paint a room, air dry a comforter or get the carpets steam cleaned. Other tasks and concerns are less linked to the seasons, but also don’t need to be revisited often, once you’ve arranged things to please yourself. So considering them on an annual basis is probably about right. You may want to use this book as much as a reference as a read-through, especially if your seasons are different from mine, or even nonexistent.

Smart Housekeeping featured felted white mice, at least on the cover. As mice will do, they have now taken over the house, and are shown throughout this book, doing their chores, handling household crises, and entertaining other small animals. And they step out each month, enjoying adventures together and just having fun.

I recommend that for all of us.

The mouse family’s debut, from Smart Housekeeping . The family has since appeared in Anne’s children’s picture books Katie Mouse and the Perfect Wedding and Katie Mouse and the Christmas Door .

JANUARY

Entryways

Living Rooms

Home Systems

BEGINNINGS

LadyMouse opens the door

January, the first month of the year, is a good time to think about beginnings and basics.

So, this month, we’ll look at the beginnings of the way our homes are experienced—porches, doors, foyers, and living rooms. How well do these areas work for us?

And how well do they work for others? We can pretend to be guests in our own homes, try to view with strangers’ eyes. What do others see when they approach?

We’ll think about our home’s basics—the systems that underlie it all. Lighting, heat, and power—those wonders that make us comfortable—or maybe, could use some improvement.

Not to mention things like fire extinguishers and septic tanks—extremely boring unless they suddenly become the most important things in our world.

This month’s focus on clutter discusses why we keep things, and what we find worth keeping. Many decluttering experts ignore those issues, focusing instead on how often an object is used or whether we experience a rush of joy when we touch something. Neither of those standards is especially useful compared to a thoughtful understanding of why we have the thing in the first place, and what, if anything, it contributes to our life and comfort.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

welcome mat

The way that your house greets strangers is the face of your household. A face with an expression—is it welcoming? Informal and friendly, or pretentious and forbidding? Blending into the neighborhood, or standing apart from it?

So much goes into that first impression. How well-kept your yard and house seem to be, of course, but more than that. What do people see when they see your household’s face?

In many climates, welcoming touches like potted plants on the porch aren’t possible in January. And unfortunately, in some areas, yards and porches can’t be decorated with items of any value. But good lighting and a cheerful paint job, if only on the front door itself, will at least show a smile to visitors.

PORCHES

Mice go visiting

In climates where it’s possible to sit outdoors for much of the year, front porches become outdoor living rooms, places of casual greetings of people on the street. Or, just pleasant places to talk with family and friends, get some kinds of work done, or enjoy the view. Porches also serve to make a statement about your household, shelter people at the door, provide a place for deliveries, grow tender potted plants, or park a bicycle.

Back porches are sometimes the real entrance to a house—at least for friends and family. Or they may become utility areas for cleaning tools and storage of unvalued furniture and possessions—real clutter catchers, in fact.

The flooring of open porches should drain any rainwater away from the house—if it doesn’t, the decking will eventually rot, and the water may damage the siding or even structural members of a wood house. Make sure porches drain correctly, and keep decking painted or otherwise protected.

ENTRIES

Putting on rainwear

The entryway of your house, whatever it consists of, is where you make a transition between indoors to outdoors. It has a number of functions, including storage of coats and raincoats, collecting things you need to take, storing things you need to keep near the door, and creating a barrier between people who belong in your house and those who don’t. It also limits how much of the outdoors comes in with you—mostly in the form of mud and water.

DOORS

Have a mat on both sides of every door to the outside. Also, if you have a basement, provide mats at the door between the basement and the rest of the house.

The flooring near a door should be a kind that’s easy to clean.

It’s convenient to have glass panels in doors, so you can see who’s on the outside. But don’t forget that people on the other side can also see in.

LOCKS AND KEYS

This is no place to economize, if there’s any danger at all of break-ins. Talk to the crime prevention experts who work for your local police department, and take their suggestions about security.

If keys have a place of their own, they won’t get lost nearly as much. Hangers, a box on a shelf, a drawer in a piece of furniture, a basket hanging from the doorknob—whatever works for you.

If your door has a glass panel, the keys should not be visible through it. If you have double key deadbolts, an emergency key that is never used for anything else is a must. It should be clearly available in an emergency but, like your everyday keys, not visible through the door.

FOYERS

If you pay attention to home magazines, you’d think every house had plenty of space for a large foyer, complete with everything you’d ever need. I’ve never lived in such a house, and I’ve known very few people who did. But foyer is more a function than it is a room—you do need to make leaving and arriving convenient, even if you do it piecemeal.

Gentleman Mouse hangs up his hat

Many people remove shoes or change shoes right inside the door, to minimize floor maintenance. If you do this, you need a convenient, hopefully attractive, way to store all those shoes. Also, possibly, a place to sit while you change.

If you live in a climate with lots of rain or snow, you may like boot trays. Large, shallow plastic trays that corral the shoes and boots and contain the runoff from them. I found them at a large hardware store.

Here are some other things that are helpful in a foyer, or at least near the front door:

Junk mail basket. For periodic disposal in your recycling container.

Take table. It doesn’t have to be a table. It could be any location—a basket, a hook, or simply a place on the floor—where you put things to take with you. You’ll forget a lot less if the objects are right there by the door.

Small mirror. For a last minute appearance check before you leave the house.

Coat hooks. Coats need to dry before being hung in a closet. You should have a coat hook for each person in the house. Children’s coat hooks should be within their reach so they can take care of this themselves. It’s very helpful if your house has a separate coat closet near the entry, but many don’t.

Umbrella stand. Holds umbrellas upright and contains the runoff. I prefer to leave umbrellas on the porch but I realize this wouldn’t work for everyone.

Other storage. If there’s room, storage for hats, mittens, and other outdoor clothing is handy. I have a hook for my reusable grocery bags and my purse inside the door of the coat closet.

LIVING ROOMS

Living rooms run the gamut of informal gathering places to cold, unused best parlors. I’d imagine that a little-used room is fairly easy to keep clean—in fact that’s one reason why rooms aren’t used—to keep things nice. But what for? What visitor, or what occasion, is more important than enjoying your own home?

There’s more challenge to housekeeping for a room that does double or triple duty—from receiving strangers to welcoming friends, from impressing others to providing a warm atmosphere for family camaraderie. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to keep living room clutter under control so you won’t feel embarrassed if someone drops in unexpectedly.

A small basket for toys can make a big difference in how cluttered the living room is if kids play there.

If you work on paperwork or hobbies in the living room, have a place to tuck them away conveniently—a cabinet with doors, or a shelf with attractive baskets.

Have homes for entertainment clutter—remotes, CD and DVD cases, headsets—whatever is used and collected in the room.

If the living room doubles as entryway, as it so often does, it can become Clutter Central. Consider the suggestions I’ve made for foyers if you have a problem with combined use.

HOME SYSTEMS

water heater, fire extinguisher, lamp, fan, and radiator

Home systems are the electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and other systems that make your home livable and comfortable. Maintaining them goes far beyond housekeeping, and is also far more than I can possibly discuss here. If you’re not as expert in this area as you might be, consult one of the books I’ve recommended below for details.

One suggestion for maintenance of home systems: Make a binder or file of manuals and operating instructions for all your systems. Binders work best if you use clear sheet protectors and labeled divider sheets. Make it easy to find the information you need when you need it. You can add a calendar sheet in the front to keep track of regular maintenance needs like changing filters or having systems inspected.

LIGHTING

If you’re not happy with the lighting in your home, think about each room individually.

How are the fixtures located? What about shades—are they wasting light, either because they need cleaning or because they’re a poor color or texture? What kind of bulbs, and what wattage can they take? Are they dimmable?

Compare various types of lighting carefully, keeping your needs in mind. Depending on what you expect, fluorescent, incandescent, LED, or halogen bulbs are available.

The color or character of the light is expressed as a K, or Kelvin, number. Lower numbers mean more yellowish light, higher ones are bluer light. A range of 2000K to 3000K is warm white, 3100K to 4500K is cool white, and levels above 4600K are described as daylight. Tastes vary, but generally, lower numbers are recommended for living spaces, higher for task lighting. 5000K to 6000K is recommended for a reading light.

If you plan to use any bulb outdoors, make sure it’s labeled for that use.

Dimmers save power, but not as much as using lower wattage bulbs to begin with.

Here are some things to keep in mind with each of the major kinds of lighting.

LED

LED bulbs have been expensive, but the price has dropped dramatically as they’ve become more popular.

They produce little heat, and last for a long time unless there’s a defect in the individual unit, which is not unheard-of.

One way to ensure longer life is to use them in open, well-ventilated fixtures, as a fixture that accumulates any warmth may cause them to fail prematurely.

They’re very efficient to operate.

The length of time you keep the light on doesn’t affect bulb life as it would with an incandescent bulb.

Fluorescent

Available as tubes or compact bulbs (CFLs). Fluorescents don’t create heat, so they’re good