Henderson's House Rules : The Official Guide to Replacing the Toilet Paper and Other Domestic Topics of Great Dispute

by Henderson, E. L.; O'Connor, David E.; Edwards, Steven

• ISBN13: 9780976407805
• ISBN10: 0976407809
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-31
• Publisher: East Quincy Pub

Summary

Room by room, Henderson's House Rules takes a humorous yet practical look at all those petty yet contentious household issues, from how to reseal a bag of bread to which way the toilet paper should hang. In a world where compromise is king, only Henderson's dares to say, "This is the rule."

Author Biography

Co-author David E. O'Connor grew up in a family of seven in a three-bedroom, one-bath home (his first introduction to the challenges of shared living space). While serving in the U.S. Army as a young man, he lived with fellow soldiers for six months in barracks and for two-and-a-half years in an isolated seven-person station--which was, aside from its military function, essentially a two-bedroom, one-bath home surrounded by barbed wire.David has shared apartments and houses with various roommates; with his first wife and their child; a second wife; the second wife and the child from the first marriage; and, of course, he has lived alone.After earning a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in special education, he later went on to receive his doctorate in law. David is also a certified mediator. As an attorney he has represented landlords, tenants, accused murderers, wives, and husbands. He has published works on education, labor law, legislation, and criminal law, and he has also edited law journals and documents for state government and the United Nations. David is currently a freelance writer and editor in Bozeman, Montana.

Table of Contents

Preamble	1	(102)
``We would never argue over such a petty issue''
The Kitchen	6	(32)
Loading the dishwasher
Unloading the dishwasher
Soaking dirty dishes in the sink
Washing dishes by hand
Pet dishes and pets eating off people dishes
The glasses on the shelf
The silverware (flatware) in the drawer
Coffee grounds down the sink
Sponges
Preparing food on countertops
Cutting boards
The toaster and other small appliances on the counters
Storing food on the shelves
Eating without a plate
Eating standing up
Eating or drinking from a container and putting it back in the refrigerator
Standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open
The milk and juice containers
Resealing bread and other items
Using the last of something: The ``last useful amount''
Cooking
Cooking versus cleaning
Postponing cleaning after cooking
Cleaning up by guests
Cleaning rules for the kitchen
Trash and recyclables
Taking out the trash
The Bedroom	38	(12)
Double beds
Pillows and bolsters on the floor
Making the bed
Decor
Things you can and can't do in bed if you don't sleep alone
Sex
Bedroom temperature
Clothes
Alarm clock
Pets in bedrooms
Shoes on the bed
Shoeless bedrooms
Towels from the bathroom
Trash
The top of the dresser
The Laundry	50	(8)
Clean laundry
Dirty laundry
Doing another party's laundry
Laundry left where others can see it
Laundry left in machines
Laundry detergent
The Bathroom	58	(20)
The door
Time spent in the bathroom
The toilet seat and lid
The toilet environs
The toilet paper
Flushing the toilet
Pets drinking out of the toilet
Cleaning the toilet after a single use
The toilet tank as storage area
Female ``sanitary products''
The wastebasket
Teeth brushing and flossing
The soap in the shower
Wiping down the shower/bathtub
The tub and shower in general
Using another party's toiletries
Towels
The bathroom sink and cabinet
The Rest of the House	78	(16)
Neatness level in general
The coffee table
Eating in the living room
Things you can't do in the living room
Storing mail
The phone
Music
Television
Reading the newspaper
Leaving lights on
Windows and shades
Decor
Cleaning other people's knickknacks, antiques, etc.
Clothes on furniture
The shoeless house
Houseguests
The Exterior	94	(9)
The shared hallway
The porch
Smoking outdoors
The shared automobile
Parking
Shutting down the automobile
The handbrake
Maintaining the automobile interior
Gasoline
Acknowledgement	103	(2)
Index	105