It can be easy to get overwhelmed with trying to keep a clean house when you have a chronic illness—and even for those who have a lot on their shoulders. We’ll talk today about some cleaning hacks to help with the never-ending chore of keeping house.
Picture this: you walk into your home. It smells like lemon-scented PineSol, the floors sparkle, and there is not a dust bunny in sight.
Wouldn’t it be nice?
You may have a home like this—bless you if you do—but I’m guessing many of us do not. Instead, you feel overwhelmed at the amount of work that needs to be done—the never-ending never-really-finished work.
No one probably needs to tell you the benefits of having a clean home. You know there would be fewer allergens in the air, less sick-causing bacteria everywhere, and it would be one of the best morale boosters you could think of.
That’s probably not your problem. Your problem is you have a chronic illness, or maybe you work all day to come home and take care of your family’s needs. Whatever your issue is—because I’m guessing we all have something—we could all use some time-saving cleaning hacks.
Cleaning Hacks for Chronic Illness
#1 – Allow cleaners & disinfectants to set a few minutes.
This is really a good idea anyway for disinfectants to actually work. Most of the instructions on cleaners recommend you leave it sitting for about ten minutes to kill germs.
But I’ve learned to let the cleaner do the hard scrubbing for me, too. It amazes me constantly how dirt and grime can sometimes just be wiped away after a cleaner has worked its magic on it. Gotta save that elbow grease whenever we can.
#2 – Set a timer.
I’ve become a staunch believer in timers lately. There’s something about just having the timer going that increases my focus on a task. Don’t try to tear through like a tornado; just work at a comfortable pace.
Now sometimes I forget to actually use a timer, but if I can remember to use it, it’s amazing the work I can get done in even a few minutes. In fact, I have gotten more done in ten minutes before with a timer going than an hour without.
#3 – Use gadgets as much as possible.
Scrubbing and bending over is a no-no for someone with a chronic illness. Nothing wipes me out more than scrubbing something on my hands and knees. Whew.
Let your gadgets help you. A scrubber with a wand can help you scrub your shower or tub without exhausting yourself by bending over on your head, and motorized scrubbing tools can really help you get all the grime without all the elbow grease.
#4 – Do a little extra with your usual cleaning.
So many extra things need to be done. By extra I mean those things that don’t necessarily need to be done once a week, but always seem to need doing.
Just add a little in while you’re already cleaning. Clean the ceiling fans while you have your duster out. Wipe down the microwave as you’re wiping down counters.
Doing a little adds up as I like to say. And on a bit of side note: it’s okay to do part of task. Sometimes I think I may as well work on part of a bigger job—like cleaning toilets; it’s okay to clean one toilet in the house when you’re in that room and see it needs doing.
#5 – Minimize clutter.
Cleaning is so much easier without a bunch of clutter. The fewer things you need to move while cleaning the easier it’ll be and the longer you’ll probably hold out.
Work on making a home for everything and purging what’s in the way.
#6 – Rip up that magazine-perfect standard in your head.
It’s wonderful when we can sit down and say ah to a magazine-clean house, but that may not always be realistic. Let go of those expectations of how things must be done or how often. With cleaning, there is no time when everything is completely done. There is always gonna be more next week—um, this is meant in a positive way.
Keeping a clean house can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be quite as hard as we make it sometimes. Let your products work for you, do what you can, and let go of the impossible standard you have for yourself.
So tell me: Is it hard to keep up with cleaning your house sometimes? What cleaning hacks help you? Let me know in the comments below.
More reading…
- Chronic Illness: 5 Tips for Dealing with Memory Issues from HISsparrowBlog
- 5 Unavoidable Side-Effects of Living With Chronic Illness from HISsparrowBlog
- Chronic Illness: 5 Truths I’ve Learned From Fabry Disease from HISsparrowBlog
Fabry Resources
- National Fabry Disease Foundation
- Fabry Disease News
- Fabry Support and Information Group (FSIG)
- ReThink Fabry (Resources and Support)
- Mindfully Rare (Mental Health Support)
I frequently link up with the following: Grace & Truth with Embracing the Unexpected, Tell His Story with Jeanne Takenaka, and Let’s Have Coffee with Joanne Viola.
Great advice!
Thank you for your never-ending support!
Ashley I LOVE THIS POST! I do not have a chronic illness, but working full time in a demanding job, writing and ministering to others leaves me with overwhelm in the cleaning department! These tips are fabulous for anyone, and I plan to implement every one of them! Thank you for breathing new life into my days!
I’m so glad you found these tips helpful, Donna! Thank you for your encouragement today. Blessings.
Timers are my friends. I use them all the time when cleaning and doing chores. But the most important one is ripping up the picture perfect standard we have in our brain and let our expectations be set on human.
Love that, Theresa: “let our expectations be set on human.” YES.
Hi Ashley,
These are such helpful tips. Since I developed fibromyalgia, I have had to drastically change my approach toward cleaning and its been so frustrating.
I’d love to feature your post this week. Thanks for linking up!
Blessings,
Tammy
Thank you, Tammy!
These are helpful for all of us. I’m learning to be more content with what does get done each day than what does not 🙂
That’s an excellent way to look at it, Joanne: focus on what does get done. Love it. Thanks for stopping in!
Ashley, As someone with chronic illnesses and fibromyalgia I love reading your tips and insights. This is a true treasure.
I’m so glad my journey can help someone else, Paula. I’ve really appreciated your encouragement on this series!
I love using timers, too. You know, your idea of doing something a little extra spoke to me; because at the office I’m always trying to work ahead. Why not work ahead in the cleaning department as well?
Excellent point, Jerralea! Thanks for stopping in!
I love #6! Those perfect home magazine pictures are staged by a team of 10 or more people! 🙂
Oh, my goodness! I didn’t know that. And here we are thinking our lived-in homes should look like that. Thanks for commenting, Lynn!
I’m all about timers too. I actually just set a timer for 15 minutes to comment on blog posts! ha. Thanks for these tips.
I love it, Lisa! I forget to use them sometimes, but if I would just stick to that…Commenting on blog posts is a perfect use for them; I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten lost in that activity. 😉
I really needed this info. I have arthritis in my knees and kneeling down to clean the shower isn’t happening. I appreciate this list.
Yeah, the knees really don’t like kneeling. So glad you found a tidbit or two, Jenny! Thanks for stopping in.
Great ideas! I especially like using a timer and doing something when there isn’t time for everything. I’m still working on letting go of the magazine perfect standard. ; )
Yes! Doing what I can—instead of nothing at all because I can’t do it all—helps me make lots of progress. Thank you for your comment!