The Science of Cleaning by Dario Bressanini PhD ~ an Audiobook Review

by Donna Huber

Use the Power of Chemistry to Clean Smarter, Easier, and Safer

Countless cleaning hacks for every kind of household dirt may vie for our attention, but how do we know which ones really work and which ones will only leave you with a sticky mess that doesn’t actually do the job? Scientific evidence comes to the rescue, as chemistry professor Dario Bressanini teaches you everything worth knowing about cleaning agents and processes (and dispels plenty of myths, too). He answers all of our most pressing housekeeping questions.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

May 2024; Dreamscape Media; 9781666658910
audio (9h 40m), ebook, print; nonfiction

I will admit that chemistry is not my subject. But I enjoy science and I like to clean. My homestead group is big on home remedies for cleaning hacks, but I wonder if they are actually effective, efficient, and ecological. I also have a healthy fear of mixing substances together.

There is a lot of information in this book. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Robert Shiels. It was good for reviewing the book and getting an overview of what it was all about. However, I think for me to put the information to use I would like a print copy that I could refer back to it - or perhaps I should have taken better notes!

I happened to be washing dishes when I got to the chapter on dishwashing. Yes, it would be more effective, efficient, and ecological to use a dishwasher but mine doesn't work and my kitchen needs other repairs so until that gets done I'm handwashing dishes. I liked that Bressanini gave tips that used modern conveniences (like dishwashers and washing machines) and less modern methods like hand washing dishes and clothes as there are still plenty of people in the world still cleaning that way.

Bressanini covers A LOT of cleaning from personal hygiene to floors and pipes. He also covers disinfecting and sanitizing which are different. 

While my eyes kind of glazed over when he was detailing chemical formulas, I really enjoyed the history of soap and of course, I liked the section about toxoplasmosis (I have 7 cats but I also work for a parasitic research center and this is one of the parasites studied there). I always get a little thrill when the university where I work is mentioned in a book and the studies he mentions - I am familiar with so that was cool.

The book is packed full of useful information. And while he cautiously discusses home remedies I didn't feel like he was in the pocket of chemical companies and cleaning product manufacturers. I used one of his tips for getting the limescale out of my cats' water bowl - soaking it in vinegar!

If you are confused by the symbols on your clothing's tag (I recently got a dress that only had symbols on the tag and no words for laundering it - I didn't study hieroglyphs!), he goes over all the symbols and went into a lot more details about doing laundering than I expected. When I first picked up the book, I kept thinking the title should have been The Chemistry of Cleaning (I like the alliteration), but soon it was evident that there was more science than just chemistry in the book.

I learned a lot and think this should be on every household's bookshelf for reference.

Buy The Science of Cleaning at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.