The phenomenal resurgence of interest in the art and craft of proper housekeeping should not really surprise us - a smoothly run, clean home not only gives immense pleasure to its inhabitants, it actually saves time and stress. In this extensive book, the queen of interiors, Jocasta Innes, provides the ultimate manual for dust- and stress-free living. Jocasta's approach is a realistic one - she recognizes that in the real world a lot of us have cleaners, as well as jobs that mean that we are not going to spring clean the entire house every week. Her aim is to set up routines which mean the work happens automatically, as well as providing a wealth of information on just how it should be done. Chapters cover everything from cleaning materials to how to do the laundry, from stain removal to the proper way to clean antique glass. It should provide the answer to every domestic enquiry, as well as being a primer for briefing professionals where necessary. And shining through every page of the book is Jocasta's humour as well as her expertise, her great ideas and her love of homes that not only look good, but that work for those who live in them.