Cheryl Mendelson. Home Comforts: The Art & Science of Keeping House

I am...not a talented housekeeper. At any given time I am likely to be studying a language or two (and thus scattering dictionaries and novels over the house), reading some books (again, scattered through the house), microwaving something when I can remember to eat (I'm more reliable with that than with remembering to clean up after my meals), and out of the house most of the time at school or work anyway. My books, of course, overflow my bookcases (although these days, I'm almost exclusively using the library).

...Plus, in many cases, I don't know how.

Well, I thought, at least one of those things was solvable. Thus, this book. 884 pages of the most detailed information you could ever think of.

Wash Lids of Cans. Use a little hot, sudsy water and dry with a clean towel or paper towel. Be sure to wash and dry thoroughly the crack at the circumference of the lid where dirt tends to resist washing out. Don't forget that the can has been handled by strangers and perhaps has sat in warehouses, in storerooms, and on shelves for days, weeks, or months. It has collected [you don't want to know]. If you do not wash it, the liquid inside the can will wash the dirt on the lid into the contents when you press down while opening.

On the whole, I'm surprised that I'm not dead yet.

From a purely objective intellectual standpoint, it's a very good book. Anything that you need to know, it's in here, and in such voluminous detail that you can't go wrong.

From a more subjective standpoint, I would not recommend it to anyone who has insecurities about their housekeeping. You have to be able to say, "Hah, crazy lady wants me to wash my can lids. I don't think so." You have to realize that salmonella and e. coli haven't killed you yet. You have to be able to read this book just for the how-to, and not for the do-this-or-else-you're-a-bad-person. 'Cause there just aren't that many hours in a day... which is why the book devotes two chapters to domestic help.