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A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Zito Photo Barbara Z

Barbara Bellesi Zito

location-pin Staten Island, NY

School: Emerson College

Expertise: Cleaning & Organization, Gardening, Books

Barbara Bellesi Zito

  • More than 20 years of experience writing about home and lifestyle topics
  • Former English and theater teacher (middle school and high school), adjunct college professor and university career advisor
  • Writes for Reader's Digest, Taste of Home, Real Simple, The Spruce, Apartment Therapy and more
  • Author of the novel Lucky Stiff

Experience

Barbara is a freelance writer with more than two decades of experience who specializes in home and lifestyle trends—from cleaning and organization to home improvement and garden care. Her work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Taste of Home, Real Simple, The Spruce and Apartment Therapy. A former middle school and high school English teacher, she is also the author of the 2023 novel Lucky Stiff.

Education

Emerson College

MFA, Creative Writing

Wagner College

BA, English and Theater

Articles

5x5 Cleaning Method Gettyimages 1990444472 Stedit

Here’s How the 5×5 Cleaning Method Makes Your House Sparkle—Almost Effortlessly

You'll be surprised how much you can get done
Woman Washing Winter Coat In The Washing Machine

Here’s How Often You Really Need to Wash Your Winter Coat

Help your outerwear hold up from year to year by learning how to wash a winter coat the right way—and how often you really need to do it
Cleaning Sink

Cleaning Experts Swear by This Must-Have Product—And It Costs Less Than $3

Effective, affordable and so versatile that you can use it on practically everything in your house? Sign us up!