Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living - Cook it, Clean it, Fix it, Wash it

241 Pages·2011·1.67 MB·English

by  Heather Solos

Home-Ec 101
SKILLS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING
HEATHER SOLOS
Home-Ec 101: Skills for Everyday Living Copyright © 2011 by Heather Solos. Manufactured in China. All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical
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Cincinnati, Ohio, 45236. [phone]. First Edition.
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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Solos, Heather,
Homeec 101 : skills for everyday living / by Heather Solos.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4403-0853-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
eISBN 13: 978-1-4403-1415-5
1. Home economics. I. Title.
TX145.S695 2011
640 — dc22
2010037836
Edited by Jacqueline Musser; Designed by Clare Finney;
Production coordinated by Mark Griffin
About the Author
Heather Solos is a former chef, a blogger-turned-author, and a royal pain in the
butt. Ten years in the restaurant industry gave Heather the tools she needed to
found Home-Ec101.com. Her years in the kitchen inspired her love of food, and
the low pay taught her more than she ever wanted to know about living on a
budget.
On the Internet, she is charming, witty, and can answer household questions
with the greatest of ease. In public, she's a little shy and happiest at the nerd's
table riffing on web tech and shiny toys over beer and nachos. At home in the
Lowcountry of South Carolina, she's busy with four kids and a patient husband
who doesn't seem to mind living in a test kitchen where food must be
photographed before it is served. Visit her blog at www.home-ec101.com.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my family, the Internet, and caffeine; without these, this
book would not be possible.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the many fine people who work for the National Institute of
Food and Agriculture. Their work is a valuable and underutilized resource.
A sincere thank-you to my editor, Jackie, for all the hand-holding.
And, of course, special thanks to my husband, who believed it would all be
worth it in the end. I'm still waiting to see if he's right.
Contents
Introduction
Section 1: Clean It
1. Getting Started: Tools, Secrets, and the Chemistry of Cleaning
2. Make It Manageable: Flexible Scheduling
3. The Lowdown: Focus on Flooring
4. Kitchen Patrol: Win the War Against Grease, Grime, and Unintentional
Science Projects
5. The Great Bathroom Cleansing: Tubs, Toilets, and Rubber Gloves
6. Dining Rooms and Dusty Dens of Doom:Yes, You Do Windows
7. Bedroom Antics: Introducing Dust Mites; No One Sleeps Alone
Section 2: Wash It
8. Stains: Sure You Didn't Spill It
9. Odors: Rolling Down the Window Is Not Always an Option
10. Minor Garment Repair: Beyond Dental Floss and Staples
11. Laundry: The World's Most Thankless Chore
Section 3: Fix It
12. The Bare Minimum Handyman Guide
13. When Good Appliances Go Bad: Avoid Minor Meltdowns
14. Plumbing: Someone Jiggle the Handle Already
15. Throw Rugs and Posters Only Go So Far: Fixing Floors and Walls
Section 4: Cook It
16. Burned Water? There's Hope Yet
17. Outfit Your Kitchen: Cookware and Small Appliances
18. Recipe Rundown: Deciphering Terms and Basic Techniques
19. Pantry Principles: Are You Ready for the Zombie Apocalypse?
20. Meal Planning: Not Just for the Control Freaks
21. Substitutions: I'll Remember to Put It on the List, Promise
Appendix A: Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Appendix B: Dangerous Chemical Combinations
Appendix C: Emergency Preparedness Checklist
Appendix D: Measurements Conversion Charts