A few ideas for easier housekeeping, etc.

[Guest guest]

Hi all!

Regarding Terri's earlier post... I've been wondering how many of us

have a hard time keeping up with these things (housework, etc.) because of

widespread pain, and thought I'd pass along some of the things I've found

that help me:

1. Floors seem to be difficult to keep clean, esp. since mine are

all light-colored (tile, hardwood floors or carpeting). A regular broom is

easier on my hands/wrists than a vacuum with floor attachments, and you can

always use some duct tape to wrap around the handle so it's softer and

thicker where you hold onto it. They make dust pans with handles so you

don't have to bend forward. The carpets are difficult, but using a

high-quality, lightweight vacuum works easier (and only when REALLY

necessary), and use a long-handled extension if it's a canister type. One

thing that helps is for people to take their shoes off before coming inside

the house. However, I can't do this because of foot problems (can't walk

barefoot or use regular slippers), but you can also use doormats -- several

doormats! For mopping, it's easier (for me) to just dip a medium-sized

towel in a sink of hot water and Spin 'n Span and mop with my feet instead

of using a regular mop... feels easier on the back.

2. Kitchen utensils that have wide rubber 'grip' handles are MUCH

easier to use than other types.

3. A trash grabber (one of those long-handled things with

open-n-close prongs at the end) works well for lightweight things on the

floor that you'd rather not try and bend over to pick up.

4. Use a short stool or sit in a chair when cleaning things like

toilets. Showers and tubs are still a dilemma for me... it's hard to bend

over to clean the tub, and I don't like using strong chemical cleaners. Bon

Ami works well, but it's a lot of scrubbing work. My mother-in-law claims

using liquid Wisk works well for most shower stalls; you rub it on

generously with a washcloth and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then use

the shower head (if it's removeable) to rinse out the shower. I know most

of us don't like chemicals in the tub, and the fumes from cleaners can be

problematic. Has anyone found anything better for cleaning our showers or

tubs than these things here?

5. Keep a dishpan in the sink and fill it with hot, soapy water

everyday (or when necessary) so you can soak used dishes in rather than

scrubbing a lot. Of course, some knives and cookware shouldn't sit in water

for a long time, but a few minutes doesn't hurt. It really does make

dishwashing a lot easier, whether or not you use a dishwasher.

6. Here's a good one, though it's not really about housekeeping:

if you have trouble typing, get one of those 'natural' keyboards! It made a

world of difference for me -- well worth the expense! (and take LOTS of

breaks!)

7. I try to keep my laundry automatically separated with several

hampers so I don't need to sift through it before washing. I also usually

fold clothes at night (and try to always take the clothes out of the dryer

promptly), while watching TV (what the heck... might as well, right?),

sitting on the sofa with one of those larger oak TV trays set up in front of

me. It's just big enough to fold one thing at a time. I realize many

people fold clothes on top of the dryer, but my laundry room gets too dusty

all the time for that (it's right before the back yard), and it makes me

sneeze a lot so I try to minimize my time out there.

8. The cooking thing is obviously a big challenge for some of us.

I *try* to plan meals ahead of time, make up grocery lists accordingly, and

then, if I can, give myself plenty of time to prepare dinners. It's good if

you can make dishes that offer leftovers at least once or twice a week...

cuts down on the " original " recipe cooking every night! (though I'm sure

everyone knows this) Some things might make certain dishes easier to

prepare: garlic paste, minced onion, packaged baby carrots, pre-packaged

salads (but for those who are diet-sensitive, be careful! they often have

romaine lettuce). And, of course, every once in awhile you just HAVE to

order a take-out pizza, right? Well, I've found a few places in my town

that will prepare pizza either without tomato sauce, or will substitute it

with ranch of blue cheese dressing, and actually, if they don't use too

much, it tastes pretty good! Or, you can just use your own dressing and dip

the pizza slices in it as you eat.

9. A good air purifier/cleaner helps to cut down on dust and

potentially allergenic particles (esp. if you have pets). The better ones

are fairly expensive, but they are quieter.

10. A medium-long handled squeegie is a lot easier to use when

cleaning windows than by using paper towels by hand. Also, an

adjustable-handled " Webster " works wonders to clean up cobwebs in the

corners! For bigger jobs on the outside of the house, I just use the hose

set on 'stream' to blast the windows, siding and porches clean. If it's

hard on your hand to hold it for long, you can try wearing an insulated

glove (that you don't mind getting a little wet). Or, recruit a bored

husband/boyfriend/family member/neighbor's kid to help you out!

11. Gardening. Hmmmm. This is a tough one. Gloves help. Those

knee-saver cushions help a lot; you just put them on the ground where you'll

be kneeling and go to work. They're comfortable, inexpensive, pretty

durable and you don't have to worry about getting them dirty or wet like you

would other cushions or pillows. Sweeping and raking can really be hard; I

try to get out of it most of the time, hehehe. However, you can always wrap

the ol' duct tape around the handle or get those rubber tube things that fit

over the handles to make it easier to grip. If the plants are anywhere near

hip level, I just get a plastic lawn chair and sit in it while I prune, etc.

Who cares what the neighbors might think! Also, if it's REALLY too much and

you love a beautiful yard and have money to burn, sometimes a decent

gardener doesn't really cost that much. They might come once or week or

twice a month, and around here, most of them know enough about plants and

the seasons to be able to offer suggestions on what works well! I don't use

one, but have certainly thought about it!

Okay, that's all I can think of for now. I believe there are a lot

of suggestions in one of the popular books on fibromyalgia, too. Please,

everyone, feel free to add suggestions! Hope this helps.

Gail

[Guest guest]

Gail,

What a lot of good ideas! Thanks for sharing. Since the onset of this

plague, I have learned a couple of valuable lessons:

(1) Lower your (and your family's) expectations. For example, I like a clean

house, but I don't worry as much about the clutter, etc.

(2) Delegate, delegate, delegate. My husband and daughter have been pretty

supportive throughout all this. I've asked them to help me especially when I

am having a bad VV day. While we don't want to just lay back, feel sorry for

ourselves (except once in a while!), and expect others to wait on us, we need

to remember and others do, too, that WE ARE SICK WITH A CHRONIC ILLNESS. We

have not made this up, we are not lazy or hypochondiacs, we are sick. It is

vital that we take care of ourselves so we can help ourselves get well.

Kathy

[Guest guest]

>What a lot of good ideas! Thanks for sharing. Since the onset of this

>plague, I have learned a couple of valuable lessons:

>

>(1) Lower your (and your family's) expectations. For example, I like a

clean

>house, but I don't worry as much about the clutter, etc.

>

>(2) Delegate, delegate, delegate.

Oops... yep! I agree! (I didn't mention those, too? ... darn!)

Maybe because I usually don't have anyone to delegate TO! (hubby do

HOUSEWORK? that'll be the day!)

Gail

[Guest guest]

For Gail: Your list for making housework easier is great. Have you ever sent

some in to Heloise? Also, what part of the country are you? We have a foot

of SNOW here and DUST is NOT a problem! (chuckle)

As for showers, once it is clean, there is a new product called Clean Shower

which comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and you simply MIST it on the tile in

the shower and do not have to wipe or scrub and it KEEPS the shower immaculate

and washes off when the shower is used, along with the scum, and when the tile

is still wet, mist it on again. The bottle last a LONG time! I just recently

heard of it and love it.

Warmly, Lorane LHend12826@...

[Guest guest]

For Gail: Your list for making housework easier is great. Have you ever sent

some in to Heloise? Also, what part of the country are you? We have a foot

of SNOW here and DUST is NOT a problem! (chuckle)

As for showers, once it is clean, there is a new product called Clean Shower

which comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and you simply MIST it on the tile in

the shower and do not have to wipe or scrub and it KEEPS the shower immaculate

and washes off when the shower is used, along with the scum, and when the tile

is still wet, mist it on again. The bottle last a LONG time! I just recently

heard of it and love it.

Warmly, Lorane LHend12826@...

[Guest guest]

For Gail: Your list for making housework easier is great. Have you ever sent

some in to Heloise? Also, what part of the country are you? We have a foot

of SNOW here and DUST is NOT a problem! (chuckle)

As for showers, once it is clean, there is a new product called Clean Shower

which comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and you simply MIST it on the tile in

the shower and do not have to wipe or scrub and it KEEPS the shower immaculate

and washes off when the shower is used, along with the scum, and when the tile

is still wet, mist it on again. The bottle last a LONG time! I just recently

heard of it and love it.

Warmly, Lorane LHend12826@...

[Guest guest]

Lorane:

Thanks! I don't know how to send anything to Heloise, but it's an idea!

I'm in northern California -- not a lot of snow, but plenty of dust most of

the year. Where are YOU that you have a foot of snow??

Thanks for that tip on Clean Shower. I'm a little leery of chemical

cleaners, but I'll find it and read the label. Sounds great! Is it

available at grocery stores?

Sincerely,

Gail

************************

>For Gail: Your list for making housework easier is great. Have you ever

sent

>some in to Heloise? Also, what part of the country are you? We have a

foot

>of SNOW here and DUST is NOT a problem! (chuckle)

>As for showers, once it is clean, there is a new product called Clean

Shower

>which comes in a plastic squeeze bottle and you simply MIST it on the tile

in

>the shower and do not have to wipe or scrub and it KEEPS the shower

immaculate

>and washes off when the shower is used, along with the scum, and when the

tile

>is still wet, mist it on again. The bottle last a LONG time! I just

recently

>heard of it and love it.

>Warmly, Lorane LHend12826@...