The Cleaning Encyclopedia: Your A-to-Z Illustrated Guide to Cleaning Like the Pros Mass Market Paperback – April 13, 1999

This encyclopedia puts together the how-to clean (and maintain) items that are in Don Aslett's other books. This is a handy reference for anyone taking care of a house or office. From the look of the close typed entries you would never think that Aslett's humor would be in there. It is, it is. The format, an encyclopedia, saves the hassle of writing and then filing all sorts of little notes derived from his other books on the issues. The layout makes it easy to look up many different subjects. The author does mention that there are many, many more items that could be included. As I find items to add I now have a good place to stick them.

I could never discipline myself to do more than minimal housework until I read this book, because I was too interested in working with science and technology. But after reading the book, housework became science and technology. Don Aslett is an excellent writer, and he explains the science of how cleaning compounds work, and the fine art of using them correctly, in such precise detail that I actually enjoyed going through the house applying his methods to one project after another.All was well until I decided to work on my textured ceiling (p337). Aslett recommends scraping, or even using "coarse sandpaper" to get rid of "needle points." I did a test area, and then happened to mention what I was doing to my girlfriend. She warned me that many textured ceilings contain asbestos. I checked the web and found she was right. Textured ceilings were installed using asbestos until the mid 1980's. In some areas it is actually illegal to repaint an asbestos ceiling, and lab testing of sample patches is recommended if it's suspected that asbestos might be present. But Aslett suggests repainting textured ceilings without any mention of this, so do your own research! I hope the publishers will either change the instructions or send me a correction if I've got anything wrong.

If you have read some of Mr Aslett titles already, then it becomes axiomatic, you'll read this one! To the uninitiated, Don Aslett is a major player in his field. He started from the bottom, learnt by his mistakes & developed a science out of domestic & commercial cleaning. He has worked for so long & managed to record what has worked & why for him. He now gives very good talks on cleaning for housewives (home-makers) to improve their own outlook, save considerable time & give more "quality time" to their family. The only problem I have with his titles now, is I realise I do need reading glasses with reaching the big five ohh a fortnight ago!! Don Aslett also has brought commercial cleaning supplies direct to the domestic cleaning scene, so making a massive improvement to domestic chores. Go on, spend the dosh on this (& his other titles) !!

no real new info here

I have read many of Don Aslett's books and found them easy to read and informative. This is one did not give me any additional information because most of what is in here is in the other books I have already read.It's an ok book, but I learned nothing new.

Very well written

This book is comprehensive in scope, but it did not contain the kind of information I was looking for. I look for a lot of detail in books like this; many of the descriptions of things left me hanging..

The answers are there for cleaning just about everything, and the cleaning solutions often involve inexpensive products to save money in the process. A very handy guide. Best of all, there is no hype and the truth is presented regarding what it really does take to do the job well.