Streamline cleaning tasks to maximize sparkle and minimize joint pain and strain. Here are some household cleaning tips and cleaning shortcuts:
1. House cleaning tips begin with pacing yourself. Instead of a dedicated chore day, clean just one room a day. “If you do everything in one day, you’ll end up overexerting yourself,” says Linda Cobb, host of “Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean,” on the Do It Yourself (DIY) Network.
2. Focus on the heavy-traffic areas. “You may need to vacuum only the pathway from the kitchen to the doorway to help spruce up the place,” says Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner (Storey Publishing, LLC, 2007).
3. Equip yourself properly. If squeezing a spray bottle or lugging a heavy bottle of laundry detergent is tough, look for easy-to-handle packaging. Concentrated laundry detergents come in smaller, lighter bottles but contain enough product to clean the same number of loads. For scrubbing, simple cleaning tools, such as microfiber cloths and gloves or Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (2-pack for $2.69 at chain stores or www.mrclean.com), remove dirt beautifully with just a little water and minimal muscle.
4. Strategically store cleaning supplies. In a two-story house, stash a complete set of cleaning solutions and tools on each floor – including separate lightweight vacuum cleaners, such as the 8-pound Oreck XL Upright (starting at $300, www.oreck.com), which received the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use Commendation. “That way, you don’t have to carry heavy equipment up and down the stairs,” says Cobb.
5. Clean messes when they’re fresh. Waiting until a stain sets or clutter builds up ultimately results in more work. “It’s much easier to rinse the sink right after you brush your teeth, instead of letting the toothpaste dry and having to scrub it off,” says Smallin. Keep a canister of cleaning wipes near the sink for quick cleanups.
6. Let cleaning solutions work for you. Once you apply a cleaning solution, let it attack the grime for a few minutes, then come back to wipe up. “You won’t have to scrub as hard,” says Smallin.
7. Freshen it in the dryer. To freshen bed or throw pillows, toss them into the dryer with a fabric-softening dryer sheet. It not only eliminates odors from smoking, pets and spills, it also rejuvenates the pillow’s shape.
Seven Shortcuts to a Clean House
How to cut corners without sacrificing cleanliness
By Lisa Milbrand
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Ver
30 Nov 2009, 07:34
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| The Mr Clean Magic Erasers are terrible. The only thing they clean well is
mould from grout. Otherwise, they are not worth the money. Mr Clean used to have a great bathroom cleaner - but, sad to say, no more. For washing the soap scum off the bathtub, I use an aquarium cleaner. They come with long handles and a scrubbie at the end; they don't have a scrubbie end that wobbles all over the place like most equipment that purports to help people with arthritis. Keep a grabber, dressing stick and long-handled dust bin on each floor of your house and the garage. The long-handled dustbin allows you to pick up stuff off the floor that you will drop (I drop almost everything because of my hands) or falls. You simply kick the object in the dustbin and lift it up onto the table. The best ones sell for $1.50. If you have cats and a basement, buy a large table and put the litter box(es) on it. Use a metal scooper not the plastic ones. Also, feed your cats on another table. It makes it a lot easier to clean and spares your neck. Dogs aren't messy eaters and can't jump, so use your long-handled dust bin to get water and food down to your dog and up off the floor if your neck is bad (which if you have RA will happen eventually). For more tips on Aids for Daily Living, you can browse my Facebook group on that subject. |
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josefina gonzalez
30 Sep 2009, 04:54
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| some help to do easy way tips thanks for helh |
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Cleaning
12 Mar 2009, 07:48
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| I'm always looking for shortcuts! I enjoyed reading your article. I love your advice on rejuvenating pillows. Thanks. |
Ver-You suggested things I haven't figured out yet, so thanks for mentioning your thoughts too! I can't wait to have my husband move the cat box to a table and I will try all of the long handled stuff too! I guess I always figured I was streching my aching bach whenever I reached for things but when it hurts to bad to strech, I just leave stuff where it falls until someone can get it.
I use the tv, books or a timer to make sure I'm pacing myself. I will only work so many commericals a show, or I will get up after reading so many pages in a book, or after so many minutes. I use a crate on wheels when picking up a room and put everything that doesn't belong in that room in the crate and move it to the next room. And I only do as much as I can do! I have had to learn that the people who come to visit are coming to visit because they love me and my house doesn't have to be perfect when they come over!!!