Oh, how I laughed when this book arrived in the post. A) I barely have enough time to do housework, and B) I definitely don't have time to read a book about doing it. But the last laugh was on me. This book is a real gem.

So OK, I like to think I run a tight ship. I clean my fridge, change the bedsheets, recycle the rubbish, etc and make sure everything is in its proper place before retiring for the night. (Unless I am very, very drunk.) I thought I knew all the tricks, and had a relatively good handle on the whole domesticity front. But after reading The Housewife's Handbook I realised there was so much more to be done.

Simhon begins the handbook with the usual spiel about the value of a woman's role within house management. However, she unapologetically moves on sharpish to get down to the nitty gritty. That filthy house! It's a goldmine of tips and tricks - from what knives to buy, how to sharpen them, what to load and what not to load in the dishwasher, and further more, how to load it. I learnt how to stack food in the fridge, how often the wash my hairbrush, clean a lampshade and organise my paperwork.

Always bearing in mind our green sensibilities, Simhon is down to earth and gets to the point. She also reveals the secrets to making your own, eco-friendly (and cheap) alternatives to the chemicals we use with gay abandon.

I really enjoyed this book - to the extent I couldn't put it down. Far from being a patronising Beeton-esque dictate, or a ‘how to release your inner yummy mummy' it's simply a jolly good book of tips. And for that reason I would highly recommend it. You will also have a much cleaner house and that can't be a bad thing, can it?