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Posted 3/21/2013 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I've attended a few local fybro support group meetings but didn't really stick with it for various reasons.

Anyway - one of the things that I learned that really stuck with me was that when vacuuming to take shorter swipes - don't extend the arm all the way out and then have to pull it back so far. This really made a difference in being able to vacuum more than one room a day as well as how I felt later that evening or next day.

Does anyone have more suggestions like this? I don't know why I hadn't thought of it myself to begin with but I figure there's probably more ideas like that floating around! :D
Posted 3/21/2013 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
I did research before I bought a vacuum. Weights, primarily. I bought the lightless one that had the best suction.

Also, I do laundry in stages. I have three baskets, fill them with dirty laundry, and carry them downstairs as I go about my day.
Posted 3/21/2013 7:43 PM (GMT 0)
...speaking of laundry baskets...they are really helpful to 'load' just about anything into when going from room to room or up or down the stairs. It makes for fewer trips, and can 'save' our feet and legs.

wvsasha and Myself 09: I love both of those ideas, and yes--we can all use more of them. Anything to make our lives a little easier. Great thread!
Posted 3/21/2013 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
I have off-white carpeting throughout my house. Yes, I know. I'm crazy. So I bought a steam cleaner to keep it looking good but it made me flare when I used it. I finally came up with the idea to add only half the water in the tank and it makes is so much lighter and using it doesn't bother me now.

I have a shark vacuum for quick pick ups but have a heavier vacuum for the deep cleaning. I don't have to use the heavier vacuum that often because I use the Shark.

I have a shower stall that I could throw a party in...it's so large. Cleaning the tile was such a chore to clean because of the mold until my daughter told me about Clorox Clean-Up. You just spray it on and walk away. It gets rinsed with my next shower.

I have a swifter duster with a long handle. It makes dusting a lot easier.

I have a one floor home. When I was struggling with walking, carrying a laundry basket was too difficult. I was afraid I would fall. So I would hook the handle of my cane in the basket handle and I pulled the basket to the laundry room. That was sooo much easier! Sometimes when my back is flaring, I will do this, too.

All of these things help with cleaning but I would much prefer a maid!
turn

Sherrine
Posted 3/21/2013 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
Myself and my mother both have fibromyagia and my dad 68 so getting a plan worked for us, I use a lot of the wipes as it make it easier to carry polish, window, bathroom,kitchen wipes in stead of havey bottles, my laundry baskets are the green leaf bags from the pound shop, so i can put wet or dry washing in and pull it by the handle which helps, we have a big cleaner that is used about twice a week by my dad but other wise i use a lightweight one that only weighs 5lb so easy to move and still use my stick.
when we changed are sofa set last year we went for a leather that had a gap off the floor, this way the light weight cleaner can go under and the leather means we use the aloe vera leather wipes once a week.
I will say for myself and my mother the dishwash is a great help,because there is only three of us in the house we only need to put it on every other day.
Posted 3/21/2013 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
I break my house down into sections.. since it is a raised ranch, I start at one end and go to the other.
BUT, I do daughters' room, and living room and bathroom in the morning. Then after a nap or a rest period (often spent on here..lol), I do kitchen. Especially as that is about the time I start supper, it just makes more sense progressivly. Also, when setting dinner table, use clean dishes from dishwasher, thus avoiding steps of putting it all away only to get it back out again!
Not sure if any of this helps, but I hope so.. have a great night all!
Posted 3/21/2013 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
I have hardwood floors so I use a dust mop to sweep and a swiffer for mopping.
My laundry basket has wheels and a handle.
I don't make up my bed. Because I can't stand cover on my toes I don't tuck my sheets at the foot. I just straighten the edges out some.
I rarely dust, but I do have some canned air for really bad dust. ;)
I have a extender wand for cleaning my tub & shower. Also a long kitty scoop and trash shovel.
Dishwasher is a blessing for us.
Posted 3/22/2013 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
I wish I had a dishwasher. Someday. I also wish I had a washer/drier.

Someday!
Posted 3/22/2013 1:56 AM (GMT 0)

Myself 09 said...
I wish I had a dishwasher. Someday. I also wish I had a washer/drier.

Someday!

I got a bargain on ebay along with a upright freezer for only £12 so when i've got a good day i make cheese pie ,shepards pie and crumble to freeze ready for bad days.It's not the prettiest looking freezer but because it's upright i don't have to bend and struggle with a chest freezer.

 

Posted 3/22/2013 5:52 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone do long-term meal prep? I had a friend that would take the first saturday of the month and make ALL her meals that day, then seperate them into portions and freeze them for the month.
Anyone else do something like that?
Posted 3/22/2013 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
These are great! Thanks! I also rarely make my bed unless hubbie helps with his side. :)

I tease my daughters that I gave birth to two dishwashers, two vacuums, two washer/dryers...they don't see the humor for some reason! lol! Even though they are old enough to excellent helpers (and they are), because they are getting older they are doing more things away from the house on the weekends so they aren't around as often. :( But the house is just as big....someday we'll downsize.

I have a 18 year old Kirby vacuum which works AMAZING but is heavier than an elephant! I have a a shark - i may starting using it more often to help not having to haul out kirby.

I love the idea of baskets with wheels - they get HEAVY! I don't think I've ever seen wheeled laundry baskets. Will have to look into those.

Thanks everyone!
Posted 3/22/2013 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
WV,
I have a kirby too! and you are right, they are heavy... but I wouldn't trade it for anything! Just make hubby carry it up/down stairs :)

The other thing I do is have a small basket/box for each room..so when I am cleaning living room, I can put things that go into kitchen in 1 box, then when I go to that room, I grab it and put it away..

I have seen other people with 2 story homes put a box on the stairs for each family member..so as they are cleaning the main floor, anything that goes to the 2nd floor can be put in the owners "box", and it is THEIR job to take care of it from there..rule is: every box MUST be empty at night.

Then you aren't running up/down stairs a million times!
Posted 3/22/2013 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I got rid of my Kirby when I got fibro. It absolutely killed my back. I do have an excellent vacuum that I got at a vacuum store that has a lot or suction but not the heft of the Kirby.

Whenever I make casseroles or meatloaf, I double the recipes so I have one for the freezer. That comes in handy if I'm having " one of those days".

Sherrine
Posted 3/24/2013 12:15 PM (GMT 0)
I can relate. I have to be very careful with household chores.

Due to my neck and back injuries I'm not able to bend or kneel and scrub. In fact scrubbing while even standing will send me into a flare.

I'm fortunate at this point in my life to have a supportive fiance who does nearly all of the household chores because he sees what they do to me.

I never twist to for example picking something up. Keep fairly heavy things close to you when you carry them. And try to keep good posture at all times.
Posted 3/24/2013 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
I hear you, AM. I can't bend very far, can't kneel, can't get on the floor and also can't scrub!

I haven't been able to vacuum for at least 15 years. Thought when we traded in the Kirby for a lighter one I'd be able to, but then my DDD progressed. Hubby does it about every 2 weeks, which really isn't enough with 2 big, shedding dogs, but - -

On most days, I can put a few 1-lb cans into the cupboard, reach into the dishwasher with my reacher and pull out some silverware (or even stagger my feet and reach them by hand), wash a few pans, and dust a few objects. I also buy the groceries and make supper.

Hubby loads and unloads the dishwasher, brings the heavy groceries in from my car, puts my sheets on for me...a lot of little things that I can't do. Otherwise, he does what matters to him in the house, but he works full-time and has never really cared what it looks like, so there's an awful lot that never gets done. It only really bothers me now when people come over, which is seldom. C'est la vie. I know now that there are worse things.

Debbie
Posted 3/25/2013 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
I will begin with 'I Hate Housework"! I just can't stand a messy, dusty, etc. house. I use to do 5 loads of laundry a day, not any more. I now do laundry 2x a wk, and my DH helps me fold & put away. I also used to have 2 dishwashers, but they moved smilewinkgrin . Just before they moved, we remodeled much of the house. I insisted on a dishwasher, that has always been the hardest job for me. I can't stand that long, my back gives out quickly.

My DH has vacuum detail and dusting. I clean the bathroom. It kills me, but DH can't bend over to do the large shower. We got rid of the tub, and had a beautiful large shower installed. At least this way we don't trip on the side of the tub going in or out.

My DH & I divide the jobs around the house. We try to do the things that knock the other one down. I can't kneel or crouch. I can only bend so long before my hernia goes nuts and I'm done. I can't stand an unmade bed, when I get out of bed, I make it before I even get dressed.

Since it's just my DH, 2 puppies, and me, I don't have a lot of the mess & cluter I had when the 3 children were home. Now I have the cabinets set the way I want them. If I use something, I put it back when I'm done. My DH is still working on cleaning up after himself, that is my biggest job yet. lol

Tomorrow is Monday and so begins another week of cleaning fun! I can't wait!! JK

God bless.  Alice.

Posted 3/25/2013 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
I use my crockpot alot in cooking. I double recipes for casseroles and freeze them for bad days. I use a stool in the kitchen and have learned I can do almost anything in the kitchen sitting down, even cleaning out the refrigerator. I run my dishwasher every other day.

I do laundry twice a week. I try to pick up clutter daily.

I have a lady that comes twice a month and does my heavy house work. Best investment in the world!
Posted 3/25/2013 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
smilewinkgrin  ubby HATES housework with a passion, and was raised by a father who taught him "housework is woman's work"...so he rarely lifts a finger to help mad

BUT, he is getting better, and has started cooking more :-) ,  but won't do dishes very often..except for the other day when we were almost out of propane for hot water..so dishes had not been done in 4 days!!! THen when it got delivered, he did 3 loads :-) .. so he is getting better, but not quite there yet. 

It has been a chore to convince him that if I didn't have to do all this housework, I would have more energy for "wifely" duties..hahahaha, but is starting to undrstand that too!

And our daughter (11) is starting to understand that mommy just can't do all she used to..so she has been pitching in more too, and that is nice! She knows on days I work to start running me a hot tub at 5:45, so when I get home at 6, I can get in.. then she comes in to read to me and tell me about her day..

She is soo funny!

Just not really sure how to handle this weekend rolleyes ,  traditionally Easter is at our house.. HUGE kickball game, and (luckily for me) a covered dish dinner..so all I do is a roaster of pulled pork bbq..and everyone else fills in with other food. BUT, this year some out of town family has decided to come  and I am super excited..but they are ALL staying wth me! rolleyes

SO I am pretty nervous on how this will all go...but I have faith it will go smoothly, and that the other 40 people at my house will help a lot..

Posted 3/26/2013 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
We bought our Kirby about 8 years ago, and it has both "drive" and "neutral" buttons. When it is in neutral, it moves around very well. When we turn on the vacuum and put click on the "drive" on, it moves itself with very little effort from us. However, I can still only do one room every few days.

I also use collapsible hampers and we sort our clothes when we put them into the hampers. That way, I can drag the hampsters into the laundry room and not have to deal with a lot of weight.
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