When you feel lousy,
or your caring for someone round the clock, it’s really hard to keep your house
clean. With that in mind, these are tried and true ways that people affected by
chronic illness are dealing with housekeeping issues.
Basics
• Accept whatever
level of clean you have to. Don’t compare your place to someone else,
particularly since they aren’t dealing with what you are.
• Clean a little
each day and when you have the energy. Do what you can, when you can for as
long as is reasonable. You’d be amazed what you can get done in 5 minutes. Rest
and don’t over do it.
• Turn on your favorite radio program, listen to music or even watch a little TV while you fold clothes, dust or engage in a chore. I have a routine where I listen to one of my favorite programs on public radio and clean the kitchen.
• Set
priorities of what gets cleaned. Priority areas should be kitchen, bathroom and
the room you spend the most time in. Focus on the heavy traffic areas. You may
only need to vacuum those areas of the house where people walk the most in
order for the house to look good.
• Establish
routines, such as sorting mail when it arrives; washing down the shower before
you step out.
• Ask children,
family, friends and neighbors to help, particularly when deep cleaning is
needed.
• If someone asks
what they can do, don’t hesitate to assign them some of the heavier cleaning
chores you don’t have the stamina for.
• Hire a
cleaning service, particularly for the heavy lifting.
• Check out local
resources to see if there are volunteers that can help. Call
2.1.1 as every state has
this service. Contact your
condition specific organization (e.g. Parkinson
Disease Foundation) as some do help with cleaning. Local schools, churches, colleges, civic organizations, and the health facility where you receive your care are also places to contact for help.
•
Cleaning for a Reason: As a nonprofit serving the entire United States and Canada, they partner
with maid services to offer professional house cleanings to help women
undergoing treatment for cancer, any type of cancer.
• The less stuff you
have the less you have to keep clean. Adopt the philosophy of “bring one thing,
throw two things out.”
Green Clean
All you need to clean is baking soda, white vinegar,
liquid soap and good cleaning clothes. Not only will making your own cleaners
save you money, it’s going to be healthier for you. Fresh air is
the best freshener. Opening the windows, even for as little as 10 minutes, is
sufficient to air out the house. For practical cleaning tips, check out:
Easy Does It
Make it as easy as
possible:
• Use
disposable when you don’t have the energy to clean dishes
• Equip
yourself with tools that are easy for you to use and keep cleaning supplies in
every room, so if you have a few moments to clean, everything is at the ready
• Let your
cleaning products do the work. Let dishes soak. Spray the toilet, tub, sink,
counter etc. and let it sit and soften up so it slides off with little effort.
Tools that help
• Wipes can be
very helpful for cleaning bathrooms and “spot” jobs
• Swiffers are
easy to use and can get in all sorts of places. The dusters come with long
handles to reach where you can’t no matter how much you stretch your arm. The
floor Swiffer uses disposable clothes, which can become very pricey. Try a
microfiber cloth in place of the Swiffler cloths. Wetting your microfiber cloth
with water, or a mixture of white vinegar and water, is a very easy way to wash
floors.
• Shark Steam
vac is very popular as it only uses water so no harsh chemicals and sanitizers.
It’s also fast drying so limits risk of slipping and falling.
• Hand vacs are
easier to use than a regular vacuum cleaner. The Oreck XL Upright only weighs 8
pounds.
• Magic
Erasers: Purchase at the Dollar Store as they can be pricey, but they also get
all sorts of stuff off of walls, floors and other surfaces with minimal effort.
• Microfiber
clothes are the best and are available in varying sizes at the Dollar Store.
• Have pets? A
good way to get pet hair off of sofa or other surfaces is with a rubber glove.
Slip in on and wipe. For carpets, a squeegee is very helpful.
Laundry Tips
• Have ample
bedding and clothing so if you can’t wash for a few weeks you’re okay.
• Use a laundry
basket with wheels
• If possible,
remove dirty clothing in your laundry room thereby eliminating a trip with the
laundry basket
• Store
detergent within easy reach. Shelves can help with this. Put the laundry basket
on a chair or stool to reduce bending.
Bathroom
• Take a minute after
a shower or bath to wipe down and clean out. Dirt and grime comes off quicker
when it’s wet.
• While wipes are
good for cleaning toilets and other surfaces, you can get the same effect for
less money by using a spray and plain old toilet paper.
Websites that can help
•
FlyLady.net: The
FlyLady's Simple FLYing Lessons Will Show You How to Get Your Home and Your
Life in Order--and It all Starts With Shining Your Sink! Very popular with
those with fibromyalgia.
• Corn Tortillas + the Oven Rack= Great Taco Shells: If
you want them more like a tostado shell, lay flat on the oven rack and spray
slighting with cooking oil. For a true taco shape, warm in the microwave and drape
over the rack. Bake at 350 for about 10 min. You can also cut up a corn
tortilla shell, place on baking sheet,
spray with oil, sprinkle salt and bake at 350 for 10 min.
