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

Laundry tips - Lakeland do a wash basket on legs so I no longer need to bend down to the floor for each item and it has been fantastic for me!
I'm also in the market for a new dirty washing basket and have seen some on wheels on Amazon so I might try that.
The other laundry item I love is the heated airer. If the weather is iffy, I just put it on that and its dry by the next day. When I was able, I would hang washing outside and just rehang inside if the weather turned. Nowadays I need to know it's going to stay dry before committing.

I've also made peace with using bathroom wipes. I try to do a proper bathroom clean once a week and use wipes to tidy up as needed.

I think the robot hoover sounds fab. I have a dog though so not sure how he would react. Does it fill up quickly? Do I program a route or does it just remember where its been?

The more expensive ones apparently remember the layout but mine just went up and down, back and forth until it’s covered the whole room, avoiding colliding with furniture, feet etc. You need to pick up loose cables/shoes with laces etc first and i also block off anywhere I don’t want it to go - under low furniture where it’s likely to get stuck etc!

@NotMyCat

I tried sprays but they affect my breathing SO much.

@MollyBloomYes

Sorry posted too soon

@MollyBloomYes : please don't worry about the state of the house. I am right with you there! It's not terrible terrible but could be better if I could just sort out the stuff that is around.
I am slowly learning to do things at my pace. Otherwise it wipes me out.
This week I have made myself a washing trolley out of a plastic box and one of those luggage trolleys I found in the garage so I don't have to lift wet washing and carry it. It has made life much easier .

@Olive30 thanks for your kind words. Yes, I would love to get a cleaner in once ive got the clutter out the way, have a real reset and then try and do the three things a day, stuff during advert breaks etc.

My mum is desperate to help bless her. She's offered to come in and just do the kitchen which I might be able to cope with embarrassment wise. She also had the genius idea of getting the kids a bin each and turning it into a competition of who can fill it with the most rubbish. I think I'm going to do that and also get them a laundry hamper each, nothing like a bit of healthy sibling rivalry to get stuff done!

Thank you @ClaudiaAndTheCauldron it's so true and exactly what I'd be telling a friend. Realistically I know that with my life at the moment something's gotta give and really, I'd rather it was my house than my job or spending time with my kids! But still, I want it to be a nice home. I want it to be tidy and for the kids to start taking pride in it so I can start doing nice decorating type things rather than just damage control! But they won't be 5 and 7 forever (eventually I suppose they'll be gritty teenagers and confine their mess to their bedroom which I can shut the door on if my brothers growing up are anything to go on )

Washing trolley is an excellent idea! I saw one from Lakeland I think that is height adjustable so you don't need to bend down to it to get the clothes out. Very tempting!

I'm awake with insomnia which is helpful
Batch cooked enough for 4 pasta bakes which have gone in the freezer. The containers are Pyrex so you can fridge/freeze/oven whatever which is really handy

HerRoyalRisesAgain My first robot vac cleaner was a no-name brand because it worked better with the budget, but first one died after 30 mins, replaced as store said this was a 'one off', second one lasted a whole 20 mins, so I got a refund and bought a Roomba.

Actually it's cleaning the floors right now...can you hear it?? LOL It's now 10 yrs old and worth every penny, a few months ago the battery died but a generic replacement is less than half the brand-name battery and higher wattage.

Due to Fibro and other medical problems, it's not a luxury but something that saves a lot of pain and anguish, because I like to have a clean house. I also bought a robot mop and set the mop loose tomorrow. The mop was an unwanted gift on eBay and I don't think it had even been used.

I bought another Roomba on Gumtree and it lives upstairs, it was used but don't think they ever cleaned it, so once I did that and bought a new generic battery it works perfectly.

Hope this helps? if anything major went wrong with either of these units, I would replace in a heartbeat...and my back loves them too!

Great thread idea, hoping to pick up some tips!
With my laundry, in winter I tend to dry on a rack and wear those clothes, cutting out the putting away stage.
I've recently been away, had a couple of nights out (so some of my going out clothes came out of retirement), and purged my wardrobe, anything that still fit me I wore to see if it was comfy/ still suited me.
So I had 2 full racks, stuff on hangers on the spare room window pole, baskets of washing from the line that I had just tipped onto the floor to use the basket again.
It totally overwhelmed me, so planning to really whittle down my clothes. I can keep on top of my laundry, but not the putting away.
Bedding, I wash in the morning, and my DP helps me make the bed in the evening with the same bedding so I'm not putting sets away except when I change from summer to winter bedding.
I have a Dyson stick hoover which I find great for most of my needs. But I'm looking for recommendations for something to do my stairs with.
The handheld part of my Dyson is at an awkward angle for me plus having to hold the power button on wrecks my arthritic hands.
I've seen small car hoovers with a flexible hose for about £20/30 online but I don't know if they're any good. I don't Hoover frequently enough to get away with a low powered machine!
Not cleaning related but I have one of those grippy gadgets for opening jars and it's fab.
My DP isn't bothered by dirt but he's very tidy, and I have to really nag him to help me.

@NotMyCat I have those Pyrex dishes, they're great! I occasionally batch cook but it takes me ages, and wipes me out.
I tend to do one pot meals which I can prep in the morning and bung in the oven at teatime.
Anything involving different pots and pans and different timings is too hard for me these days.
I used to own a cafe and loved cooking, but I can't safely lift a saucepan these days.
@WindyRose I've never heard of a robot mop before, sounds like a great idea!

cherrytree63 I hadn't either, but after having a robot vac I thought there must be something available...and sure enough there was!

Oh, there are several companies manufacturing robot lawnmowers too. So many electronic items to make life a little easier.

I have a Dyson handheld for the stairs, so I have to do 'some' vacuuming..LOL

What a fab thread. I get really frustrated as I can't kneel or bend and get exhausted very quickly. My head says I can whiz round the house in a couple of hours so when I can't it's devastating. I can't wait to read everyone's tips.

@Ladyrattles

What a fab thread. I get really frustrated as I can't kneel or bend and get exhausted very quickly. My head says I can whiz round the house in a couple of hours so when I can't it's devastating. I can't wait to read everyone's tips.

I know exactly what you mean! My head still tells me I can whizz around and do things like I used to but in reality I can do very little. I still struggle with that acceptance some days.

@MollyBloomYes

I wish I could say my DC were still in primary! They are teenagers and still manage to make a mess! One is ASD. They just don't 'see' things.
Actually they are more helpful as they do do chores like the dishwasher and bins. Plus they hide in their rooms most of the times 😁

@ClaudiaAndTheCauldron I know just what you mean. My ASD teen doesn't even notice the devastation she's left behind

My ASD teen doesn't even notice the devastation she's left behind

I'm an autistic adult and I'm terrible for leaving a trail of destruction

Great thread thank you.
I was supposed to have a rest day yesterday after a busy few days but found it hard. I kept getting up and doing something, sitting, popping upstairs to do something else. I think my anxiety was quite bad and I felt.like my mind was whirring. My DH said I'd suffer later on and he was right. By 2 I was exhausted and very annoyed with myself!
So today is a NEW rest day. Meaning I'll just do a couple of things...ahem..
I've put a wash on and tidied the kitchen.

Does anyone else do this??

I'm always worried about the state of the house and we only have certain people round because of this

@ElmtreeMama

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

Just today started a bottom of the stairs basket thank you

@wildthingsinthenight

Great thread thank you. I was supposed to have a rest day yesterday after a busy few days but found it hard. I kept getting up and doing something, sitting, popping upstairs to do something else. I think my anxiety was quite bad and I felt.like my mind was whirring. My DH said I'd suffer later on and he was right. By 2 I was exhausted and very annoyed with myself! So today is a NEW rest day. Meaning I'll just do a couple of things...ahem.. I've put a wash on and tidied the kitchen.

Does anyone else do this??

I'm always worried about the state of the house and we only have certain people round because of this

I do this!! I feel terribly guilty sitting and resting even though I know it’s good for me. I’m always thinking I should be doing something more productive, but I know my legs and fatigue levels will not thank me for it. This morning for example, I had to slip out to the shop after DD went to school and I came home and thought “ooh shall I put a wash on or hoover the kitchen?” then I gave myself a telling off and so I’m sitting with a cup of tea and resting 😄 Thank you for this thread @NotMyCat , great idea. I am also now browsing the internet for a robot vacuum.

I am wiped after 3 nights of insomnia
Cleaned the kitchen, hoovered the hall and living room and put a load of washing on and sorted the recycling. Place looks ok so that'll do for today

@NotMyCat

I am wiped after 3 nights of insomnia Cleaned the kitchen, hoovered the hall and living room and put a load of washing on and sorted the recycling. Place looks ok so that'll do for today

Sorry about your insomnia..that's rough You did really well yesterday!

I felt like a zombie yesterday. I did rest a bit but at 8.30pm I decided to clear out and tidy the baking cupboard which was a disgrace ugh. Took ages and I struggled being on my hands and knees. Was painful at times but I did it and threw loads away.
So so pleased it's done. Been hanging over me for ages.
Today got my parents coming and was supposed to see friends at 6 but I've cancelled the latter which I'm also glad about. It would have been too much (sorry not cleaning or housework related!)

Today I've washed my hair while I showered which I struggle with and tidied the kitchen and washed and pegged out a load ofschool uniform.
Sorry for the ramble!
Hope everyone is doing ok today X

I've managed to sit on my perching stool and wash the pots this morning. I had last night's to do too.
DS2 brought all the dirty washing down and put some in the washing machine. He's only 6 bless him. He also tidied his bedroom all by himself (he shares with his older brother and usually just let's DS1 do it all) it meant we were late for school though as he spent all morning cleaning instead of getting his uniform on.

Need to put the washing in the dryer and another load in the washing machine

Agree with using a top sheet under the duvet. So much easier to change that rather than battle a duvet! I use Method no rinse shower spray. Or very dilute bleach solution.

How is everyone doing?
We are having new windows put in and I have done some clearing up with the DC to give them access. It left me absolutely exhausted.

But at least we get new windows instead of mouldy ones 🙂

For the shower, I use a dishmatic washing up brush and while my conditioner is doing its thing, I sit on the shower chair and do the tiles and shower surround. After I get out of the shower but before drying off, I give the shower floor a quick going over with the silicone rubber brush and then quick rinse before I close the shower surround to go sit on the bed while I dry myself.

My conditioning treatment takes 3 minutes, I wash my body just after shampooing and give it a minute or so to sit. The silicone brush is a quick 30 second task.