Chronic illness cleaning thread

[NotMyCat]

Thought it would be nice to have a thread with handy tips and to share things we have done for the day, even if it's something tiny!

First tip I can think of is a cream cleaner (I use the pink stuff in the tall bottle) to use in the shower. Doesn't gas you out like a spray, I put it all over the shower doors and metal bits at the end of a shower with a sponge and then rinse it off, everything is left shiny and the glass looks clean

Robot hoover! Vacuuming absolutely wears me out and as I work as a baker I need a clean kitchen every day before I start. Having my little robot hoover to do the hard work while I have my morning coffee is an absolute god send.

@TheHouseIsOnFire

Robot hoover! Vacuuming absolutely wears me out and as I work as a baker I need a clean kitchen every day before I start. Having my little robot hoover to do the hard work while I have my morning coffee is an absolute god send.

Which one do you use?

Also, does anyone recommend any lightweight cordless vacuums that are good value?

Thanks. Good thread!

One to watch for me.
I don't have any handy tips yet, but I do take a cloth or wipe when I'm going to do anything, and I wipe door handles and frames on the way.
Sometimes on the way back, on a good day!

I figured we all probably have loads of tips that we do without thinking so a thread might help
My cleaning is also hampered by the fact it brings me out in hives (if I get hot) which really helps matters nothing like trying to clean and not itch at the same time!

Didn't do much today, I hoovered the living room, washed up and cooked tea

Robot vacuum is a lifesaver - keeps working when I'm too tired to. When prices come down, I will add a robot mopper to the team!

This is only helpful if someone else lives with you.
I make sure I have a bin in every room so I can always put any buts of rubbish in bin as I go.

Husband empties all bins in to main bin once a week.

I also have a box for bottom of stairs that stuff to go upstairs goes in then husband carries box up at end of day

Finished work at 6 today so was wiped! I managed to cook tea, do all the washing up, and put a load of laundry away

Bed changing tip - you don't have to change it all at once sometimes I do pillow cases and sheet one day, and duvet the next. Top sheet under your duvet cover is easier to change than the whole thing

That's what I do with bedding.
It's too much wrestling for all in one day!

Definitely! I have changed the fitted sheet and pillow cases today, washed up, took the bins out and done a load of laundry
It seems such a small amount to do but I'm wiped

I've just made it out to the washing line to check I hadn't left anything on there.
Relief! There is none.
(Maybe it's been stolen)

Can anyone recommend a robot vacuum? I'd love one.

I have eds, arthritis and fibro.

Tips I've picked up:

Wash pots as you use them instead of all in one go as I can't stand at the sink for long.

Get the kids involved. Mine do the dusting low down places so o don't have to bend, and the oldest (12) empties the bins for me.

Get a grabby grabber. Less bending to pick up after everyone!

I think the Eufy is favourite on here, and I also think I've spelt it wrong.
Mine is a different brand and it's just in the hall, but it feels like too far to walk at the min.
Mine was a cheaper one, but I think they're about the same price now.

My best tip is

• Ensure everyone is doing their fair share, Incl the dcs.
• Ensure that DH is doing his 50% share properly. I do the organising, emotional load stuff. He does the hoovering, cooking in the evening etc… (aka physical things).
• do things bit by bit rather than all in one go.

No robot hoover here. That’s because Dh is hoovering and doens’t see the point.

I would have recommended my robot hoover up until very recently, when it just stopped charging . I am going to replace with a Eufy ASAP as I know they get good reviews on here, but mine was only £120 so I’m waiting until I have a bit of spare cash to replace it - I MISS IT!!

Love the recommendation to change the bed in stages. I do this too, and worse still, I have two beds to change as DP and I sleep separately. He only gets his changed half as often as I do, as he only spends a couple of nights a week here. Or I just strip his bed and leave him to remake it himself before he can get into bed .

I do also rely on the DCs to help a lot, bless them. DS2 seems to have taken responsibility for feeding the cats and sorting the clean laundry and putting it in each room. DD makes me tea and is amazing at cleaning the kitchen. They all do the dishwasher and change their own beds (teens). They’re good kids.

Slow day today! Cleaned the kitchen
Did some decluttering in the bathroom

Tomorrow is
Batch cooking
Kitchen floors
Laundry

Hello lovely ladies. Can I join the thread?
That is such a good tip about changing the beds in stages. I just need to find the energy to do mine (DH away working) and the DC will do their own.
I did 2 loads of washing today and a bit of sorting laundry.
I will add cream cleaner to the Tesco order!

I've only managed bed to sofa today.
I have done a wash, but it's still on the side in the kitchen, even though I know it'll grow and spread if I don't deal with it.

Another change bed in stages vote. In fact on worst months I have a satin padded throw that fits over the bed and can be washed and dried very quickly in few hours. I sleep on that instead of bed sheets which are just on mattress. No wrestle corners no dragging out machine no trying iron as in million creases.

Use soft throws instead of duvet, Easier wash and change as just throw on bed. No sorting corners needed.

On a good day put 5/6 bin liners in kitchen bathroom bin one on top of the other. Then just need lift old one out and not bending doing it every time.

Have multiply bottles clothes and sprays in rooms. Or you will forever be thinking I just wipe that dirt and it always be in the other room and you think stuff it.

Plan your route when get up. Need a wee and a drink? Take that empty cup with you while you up put machine on a spin, on way back bathroom take that towel to hang up. Usually always something needs to go back somewhere else make most of any journeys.

I keep dirty washing in the washing machine until it’s full then goes on. Cut out middle man no need to clutter space with dirty washing basket then have empty it just to put in the machine.

There will be more!

Brilliant, thanks!

@ClaudiaAndTheCauldron

Hello lovely ladies. Can I join the thread? That is such a good tip about changing the beds in stages. I just need to find the energy to do mine (DH away working) and the DC will do their own. I did 2 loads of washing today and a bit of sorting laundry. I will add cream cleaner to the Tesco order!

I like viakal best for properly doing the shower doors but a cream cleaner isn't a spray so it doesn't gas you out if you clean while you shower and it doesn't irritate my skin (I rinse it off while in the shower!)

Oh gosh I need this thread! I'm currently completely overwhelmed though with the state of the house. Single parent, DCs are 5 and 7 and no matter how much I beg plead, get grandpa (who is their favourite person in the world) to chat to them etc they are incapable of retaining the need to help out. I've tried everything, rewards/punishment, charts, etc you name it! Eldest is autistic, youngest may have ADHD, their father doesn't have them anymore so they're here all the time with very little respite, I work full time....it's a lot. And my house is awful as a result

I'm facing down the barrel of a blitz. I had all this week off work but somewhat typically with a week off ended up with an almighty crash and managed to get the kids to school then slept every day and staggered around in pain. I'm so sick of it. I'm terrified of letting anyone in to help because I'm so embarrassed, don't know where they'd start and if a stranger were to come in I'm convinced they'd report me or something. There's just stuff everywhere. Clean laundry in bags waiting to be put away. Piles of stuff that need a home. Floors waiting to be cleaned because everywhere is too cluttered to do it. Nothing is ultra filfthy or a health hazard but it really doesn't look great in here. I'm going to be watching and reading and really hoping to get motivated-it's always worse when it seems undoable doesn't it?

everytime an advert on tv comes on a get up and do something,its amazing what you can get done

Hi can I join you, some fab tips and some stuff I do already. Single parent my teen is both fab and a messy sod.

I do stuff when I feel up to it and if that's the middle of the night so be it. Also be proud of what you do rather than notice everything else that needs doing.

@MollyBloomYes , that sounds really tough. Try not to be too hard on yourself. Working f/t as single parent, two young DC that don't understand/ can't help is hard and chronic pain on top of all that. If you can, ask for help. I know you wrote you don't want to but do you know anyone who would get it? Either a friend, family member. They could help get you reset and then you could try to maintain. There is no shame in it and most people would want to help. Maybe you could get it a bit better first, then ask.
For your DC, would a visual task list help maybe eg make bed, picture of bed, pick up toys, just three things per day would help you.
If you could then do three tasks per day too, that would help loads. For example, get rid of any rubbish, wipe kitchen surfaces, fold laundry.
I know it's easier said than done. Is there any chance of a professional cleaner??!! All the best.

Laundry in, kitchen floor cleaned and about to start batch cooking! I had a lie in and feel better for it but annoyed/lazy (I need to work on how I feel about it)