The House Book is a great guide to home maintenance or minor home repairs, containing hundreds of practical household tips for homeowners or tenants.

The House Book (Murdoch Books, 2006) is the ultimate housewarming gift idea. Whether it's given to an experienced homeowner, someone new to the housing market or simply someone moving into rental or lease property, this book will save money and time.

The book is divided into chapters focusing on specific areas and rooms, providing tips for many everyday activities and challenges that might be faced in each area. The advice is provided in a brief, straightforward format with charts of information where applicable.

Outside

Practical advice on cleaning and maintaining paving, brickwork and painted surfaces, caring for gardens and looking after outdoor furniture. This chapter is brief and the information is useful for minor repairs and maintenance rather than establishing gardens or undertaking major outdoor tasks. Several recipes for window cleaner and instructions for establishing a compost heap are included.

Inside

A brief chapter on general home organisation with tips on storage and how to declutter. There are also tips on creating a more energy-efficient home, general home safety, and sharing living spaces with pets.

Living Area

These areas need to be practical and comfortable for family, but also suitable for visitors. Tips in this chapter include caring for carpet and flooring, painting and wallpaper tips and advice on cleaning and caring for furniture and curtains. There are also suggestions for taking care of photographs, books, entertainment systems and computers.

Kitchen

The largest chapter in the book. How-to advice is given on washing up, freezing and storing food, basic food hygiene and safety information, cleaning and maintenance and storing wine and equipment. There are several charts covering portion sizes when buying meat, safe food refrigeration and freezer storage times, and cooking weights and measurements. Recipes are provided for oven cleaners, dishwashing liquid and natural alternatives for unblocking drains.

Laundry

The main feature of this chapter is comprehensive lists of washing methods for a variety of fabrics and stain removal techniques. Tips are also given for ironing and creating a more environmentally friendly laundry.

Bathroom

A summary of safety for bathroom areas and first aid kit essentials. There are also recipes for homemade toiletry products such as children’s bubble bath, coconut honey cleansing cream and a simple scented cream. Minor repair tips such as fixing a leaking shower rose and putting up a shower curtain rod are also included.

Bedroom

A short chapter that briefly covers caring for shoes and jewellery, preventing dust mites and general bedroom maintenance tips.

A Useful Summary of Basic Home Maintenance Tips

The index is comprehensive and there is also a summary of chapter contents with page references listed at the beginning of each chapter, allowing relevant information to be located quickly and easily.

The amount of information needed to successfully maintain and organise a home sometimes seems limitless. As a home maintenance guide, The House Book is a practical and useful collection of tips and advice to solve many of the everyday issues that arise for householders. This book would is an ideal housewarming gift, especially for first home owners or for young people moving out of the family home.