For many setting up home for the first time, housekeeping can seem a daunting prospect. Not just hoovering, dusting and a wipe with a damp cloth - how do you clean the silver? Polish that table? Ensure shiny, blemish-free crystal? "Household Wisdom" from "Country Living" magazine contains tips and advice on all these dilemmas together with much, much more. Rug and carpet care, curtains and blinds, wooden furniture and fire surrounds, all are discussed and enhanced with traditional recipes and methods for cleaning and care. Special items such as antique textiles, metalware, china and cutlery are covered along with the more mundane: ironing, linen care, clothes and shoes, all delivered in an enlivened yet informative way with historical asides. Freshen your wardrobes with hand-made pomanders, sweeten your drawers with lavender sachets, enhance your store cupboards with easy-to-make syrups, cordials and jellies. Tips on stain removal, pest control and food storage are looked at and a list of specialist cleaning suppliers is included for quick sourcing of materials mentioned. Beautifully illustrated in typical "Country Living" style, this is an ideal gift for someone setting up their first home. It demonstrates how simply a house can be turned into a warm, welcoming home, sweetly fragranced and well-kept. All accomplished with ease and in country style in a traditional way but with modern living convenience. - Lucy Watson
