Manly ideas for scrubbing toilets and cleaning attics

Chuckle all you want, guys, but it's a scientifically proven fact that men who do more housework have ... manly dishpan hands. Oh, just kidding. They have better sex lives.

Care to pick up a broom?

We thought so.

First, though, maybe you should pick up a book — David Bowers' studly new guide for guys, "Dad's Own Housekeeping Book" (Workman, $10.95).

Bowers is a stay-at-home dad with two young sons and a hamperful of tips for cleaning like a man. And while he might be technically from Mars, we're betting there's a tiny bit of Venutian in him somewhere — he just seems to get stuff.

For example, from his list titled, "Things We Do — or Don't Do — That Drive Our Wives Nuts":

• "We clear the table nicely, then sweep all the crumbs onto the floor with a casual flick of the hand." (Check.)

• "We are apt to leave dirty pans on the stove — with food in them." (You got that right.)

• "We put leftovers away in the pots we cooked them in." (Amen, brother.)

He also seems to get that we nutso wives might sneak a peek in his book, too, just to see what boys write about ("If you ask us to do something, don't show us how and then check up on us while we do it." Yikes! Really?)

And, after he explains the psychology behind chores, he gets down to the dirt, including: a masculine housekeeping "tool kit," tips on organizing and setting up a kitchen (with recipes!) and scrubbing the bathroom ("Fight odors the manly way"), a guide to Dad's Domain (attics, basements and garages), an entire section on laundry and an immensely relevant chapter called "The 30-Minute Pre-In-Law Assault on Dirt Program," for preparing quickly for those last-minute picky visitors.

His advice is certainly thorough, and his writing is clever and concise. The book itself is straightforward and user-friendly, with amusing illustrations of brawny dudes mastering their domain and lots of witty breakout boxes to chop up the text.

Not only would this be a lovely Father's Day gift, but just think how happy (ahem) Mom will be when Dad starts taking it to heart.