18 replies to this topic

[wriggley]

hey there,

for cleaning the walls in the bathroom/shower i use a squeegee like you would use on a car. Scrub with one side then wipe it of with the other or cover it with a cloth for windows

[Lucydog]

Im afraid I dont do it. Yep call me a domestic slut but there we have it!!!!

Basically I do most housework every blue moon. No one seems to notice and I dont live in a pigsty, so it works for us I guess!

[Joed]

rollerbaby84....

Yes, the vacuum is maddening for me too! What I would give to have central vac in my house.

Not only does the cord and hose get under 'foot', but in tight places, I find myself trapped...not able to back up because of the hose, or go forward because of the cannister. My vac hose is now so crushed in places from my wheels running over it, that it keeps getting clogged. And you're right, I spend more time wrestling with the damn thing than getting any cleaning done. And then, of course, I pay in spades for the next few days.

I'm seriously considering having central vac installed in my house...but it's expensive, I'd guess.

I don't know how well those robotic vacs work, but that's another option I've had in mind. I know they keep getting better, so maybe I'll wait awhile and let technology catch up to where it's most effective.

For the tub/shower, I use an extendable handled scrubber, but to be honest, it's still easier for me to just get into the tub and clean it the old way.

For mopping, I resorted to buying one of those Swiffer mop thingys, with disposable cloth covers. That way, I don't have to continually lift and wring it out, or lug a bucket around.

I'm waiting for the new all-in-one washer/dryers to come onto the market. They may be selling them already, but I haven't seen them advertised yet. Pulling out heavy, wet blankets and such is painful for me, so that would cut out the 'middle man'...which would be me!

This is a good topic, and I'm interested in hearing how others manage with the heavier tasks around the house.

[jane]

I got a cleaner!! - she comes once a week for 4 hours. In between time, my husband hoovers.

I manage the washing though - I sort it into piles on the floor and the either me or my daughter put it in machine.

[mrhoopermd]

Dustbuster between the feet and use the wheelchair back and forth. That way you get a work out at the same time. Sometimes it hits and falls forward or back but mostly it's good. No cords to run over and lightweight.

[AHolland]

I won't get into any jokes about "womans" work. Hey, I can try to lighten up this forum if I want to....I'm a big dumb male so I cling to the jokes.

I really don't do much of the work. My wife does. One little thing that comes to mind is I roll around the house and pick up all the dishes the kids seem to leave everywhere. "not mine. not mine"...yah well I guess a ghost drank from that cup."

hardwood, and tile floors mostly. Swiffer, flat mop for me.

I do my half. I make the mess not clean up the mess...'



Ohhhh I'm gonna get it now....

[Jilly]

Oooooh! are you ever!! I hope your wife doesnt read these forums!

My other half has home help come in twice a week paid for from ACC. Its free!!!
Even when I move in he will still be eligible for the same hours of home help, for life, as part of his contribution towards running the household!! Yippee!!!!

[Jilly]

Hi ACC is accident compensation corporation. Its not exactly free....Im in New Zealand and every worker here no matter how old they are or what job they are doing gets a percentage taken out of their taxes to go to acc. The premium is determined by the level of danger involved with your job....Im not sure how its all worked out but the employers pay it as part of their tax things. But since its part of tax you dont even notice it.

It doesnt have to be a work related accident to be covered. And it covers people of all ages. (I work with a 6 year old girl who fell off a horse when she was 5 and sustained head injuries... my pay is paid for by acc to assist with her education as part of her recovery, and her situation is reviewed regularly.)

If there is an injury you have to apply to acc for financial assistance, and they dont always oblige! depending on what the accident and injury is, sometimes you can get a percentage of costs covered. Its a bit like a built in insurance....some people never need it but its nice to know its there.

My guy is T5 complete from a motorbike accident when he was 20 and much of the equipment (wheelchairs, car modification etc) and help he needs to do with his disability is paid for from acc. His situation is reviewed regularly as well. Thats pretty much what its all about... I hope Ive got it right.

[sjean423]

I recently bought a cordless rechargable stick vac by dirt devil (http://www.dirtdevil...l.aspx?id=23529)
It works pretty good and doesnt have a cord or hose to get in the way. It certainly doesn't replace the regular vacuum but will keep the house presentable. We have a black lab that sheds a lot, and it handles all the dog hair with no problem. As far as a central vac goes, we have one of those and I can't use it .... you still have the hose that gets in the way, and traps the wheelchair on one side of it.

Laundry I don't do at all, washer and dryer are in the basement, so thats my kids job!!

We have 2 bathrooms, and cleaning mine isnt a problem, they market these tub cleaners with handles these days and it works in the shower. Its a "roll in". As for the other bathroom I can't get in the door, so it belongs to the kids. I have no idea what it looks like, and just ignore it.

Edited by sjean423, 03 April 2006 - 11:15 PM.

[sjean423]

ps I have considered just hiring someone too!

[LizzyB5280]

The took all the carpet out of my house while I was in the hospital, so now all I have to do is sweep or Swiffer. I can manage the sweeping with some effort, though getting it in the dustpan is tough, using a Swiffer is MUCH easier. For those of you who have carpet I've been seeing commercials (at least here in the US) for a product for a product called the Swiffer Carpet Flick. You roll it over the carpet and it sweeps debris up onto a sheet that you remove when you're finished.

Laundry isn't too bad since my parents got us a front-loading washer. My husband pretty much cleans the tub & shower, I do the toilet. For dishes, I load the dishwasher and start it, and he unloads the clean dishes. For right now, he has to wash anything that has to be washed in the sink, and he also has to do all the cooking. But right now we're building a wheelchair accessible house, so I'll have a lowered, roll-under cooktop, lowered sinks, and everything. September can't get here soon enough!

Edited by LizzyB5280, 03 April 2006 - 10:59 PM.

[Bob Clark]

I have a heavy bagless Hoover Whirlwind that I use on ocassion... but rarely. It's a little tricky to push and pull around since I don't have any brakes or wheel locks on my chair, but it can be done. I usually talk someone into doing it and reward them with a six-pack or a joint or whatever. Hey, I'm a bachelor and live alone... what do I really care about what the carpeting looks like. I just sprinkle some Glade Summer Rain carpet deodorizer on it every once in awhile and the dog and I trample it into the nap. Smells like fully bloomed lilies of the valley glistening with fresh dew in here.... for about a day!

But have you looked into those lightweight 8 pound Oreck vacuum cleaners? Or those self-propelled upright vacuum cleaners. My mother had a self-propelled (when you push it forward it engages the motorized wheels forward and when you pull the handle backwards the same thing) upright vacuum cleaner way back in the 70s and it worked remarkably well. It was even fun if you can imagine that. But I was walking then... lots of things seemed fun back then that I find to be work now. The cord will always be a pain in the arse but with practice.....

I think those small round computerized Rumba robotic vacuum cleaners are just for keeping the dog and cat amused. I need something a little more heavy-duty around here. Like a shop-vac!

[bubbleandsqueak]

one of my friends have one of those robotic vacuum cleaners, and i have all wood floors, about 2-3 times a month he brings it over and i dose a vary good job, but thats with wood floors no carpet.

[Sunshine Days]

My boyfriend has a Rhomba. Right now it is "out of commission" but he swears that the thing is a miracle worker and totally worth the price. He just leaves it in the house when he goes to work and it does its job while he is away.

He also uses a Rainbow vacuum cleaner, this seems to be easier for him instead of a regular upright, he just pulls the main unit around and since it has wheels on all sides it swivels well.

He has hardwood floors throughout, so floor cleaning is an at least once a week duty.

[lilbit]

Well I feel pretty fortunate to be able to do these tasks, Yes! they take time, and can take alot of energy,
Dont get me wrong I hate chores as much as the next guy, I think of it as exersize, for the most part, then
to make it easyier I try to eye the floor and plan the way for less cord troubles, I find stretching the cord to it farthest part of the room and working my way back to the wall plug, I find this easier to control that cord..
I guess it depends on your floor plan... I have a son I raised alone, and I'v no close family members. I had
no choice but to do everything myself.. I'm t-7-11 top of rib cage down, I had my wreck in 1982 and then had my son in 1986, All of this had made me stronger, and Heck the people whom are paralized from the neck up, lol, [ walkers] really are in ahhh that we in wheelchairs can do anything.. So you can say, I have been doing alot with what I got. proof Im alive and I want to stay healthy and as independent as I can.. trust me its not easy, but Im tierd when I go to bed and know that Iv done the best I can.

lilbit

[Bookjunky]

I start the vacuum at one end of the room in a corner and back up as I go covering the room into the diagonally opposite corner. Those swiffer mops have been a real Godsend for me. I can even clean up spills with them.