BBH, as I affectionately call it, is for you if chemical cleaners bother you; or if you want environmentally-friendlier ways to clean; or if you or a loved one suffers from multiple chemical sensitivities.

I myself am sensitive to “fragrances” and the fumes of commercial cleaning materials; and BBH has many ways to avoid such things in the home. Baking soda and vinegar are easy to find; and while some essential oils are expensive, they’re generally not used in large amounts.

This book even includes instructions for making your own soap! I did it for several years; and then the people in the unit adjacent to mine had a child. I certainly didn’t need a curious youngster nearby when was mixing the lye solution (which I did outdoors!); so I moved on from soap-making. I sure do miss that home-made soap, though. It was better than any soap I ever found in a store; and incidentally, it made nice gifts!

The book also discusses skin (face) and whole body care; house care; and outdoor problems such as pest control. Sometimes I wish I could try making milk paint!

In my opinion, Better Basics is worth adding to any book collection.