4 replies to this topic

[Quad65]

File this tip under 'Never Too Old To Learn', subheading 'Duh!'. I've been a quad for over 45 years and worked out a lot of methods to do common tasks. Today I had a light-bulb, head-slapping moment. I was in the kitchen loading some dirty dishes into the dishwasher, something I've been doing for years. I use a plastic tray, about 18" by 12", with a rubberized mat on it to keep things from slipping off. When taking some dirty dishes off the counter to place them on the tray before putting them in the dishwasher, they slipped and fell on the floor. There was a cereal bowl and a bunch of silverware scattered on the floor. I thought, shit, how am I going to pick up that mess? Eureka! Flash of insight!. I sweep the kitchen floor frequently and use a regular kitchen broom and a dust-pan like you see those guys at the mall use. You know, the one with the long handle on it where they walk around flicking litter into it with the broom. When you lift it up, the bucket-like dust-pan is on a swivel so anything inside it stays inside until you empty it into a bin. So I got the broom and my long-handled dust-pan and pushed all the dirty stuff into it, lifted it up, and dumped it back on my lap tray in about 30 seconds. Easy-peasy, lemon-squeasy. I felt like an idiot for not thinking of this technique long ago.
The long-handled dust-pan thing is made by Rubbermaid company and cost me about $20 at the local hardware store. The pocket on it is big enough to hold a dinner plate or about 3-4 soup cans. If your grasp isn't too strong, you could wrap the handle with a spongy sticky tape or put a section of that thick spongy pipe insulator stuff they use on copper pipes to prevent condensation. Hope you find this useful.

[chrisarnold6]

Thanks for this info. Very useful.

[StillFingers]

Quad65, on 12 January 2011 - 02:44 AM, said:

File this tip under 'Never Too Old To Learn', subheading 'Duh!'. I've been a quad for over 45 years and worked out a lot of methods to do common tasks. Today I had a light-bulb, head-slapping moment. I was in the kitchen loading some dirty dishes into the dishwasher, something I've been doing for years. I use a plastic tray, about 18" by 12", with a rubberized mat on it to keep things from slipping off. When taking some dirty dishes off the counter to place them on the tray before putting them in the dishwasher, they slipped and fell on the floor. There was a cereal bowl and a bunch of silverware scattered on the floor. I thought, shit, how am I going to pick up that mess? Eureka! Flash of insight!. I sweep the kitchen floor frequently and use a regular kitchen broom and a dust-pan like you see those guys at the mall use. You know, the one with the long handle on it where they walk around flicking litter into it with the broom. When you lift it up, the bucket-like dust-pan is on a swivel so anything inside it stays inside until you empty it into a bin. So I got the broom and my long-handled dust-pan and pushed all the dirty stuff into it, lifted it up, and dumped it back on my lap tray in about 30 seconds. Easy-peasy, lemon-squeasy. I felt like an idiot for not thinking of this technique long ago.
The long-handled dust-pan thing is made by Rubbermaid company and cost me about $20 at the local hardware store. The pocket on it is big enough to hold a dinner plate or about 3-4 soup cans. If your grasp isn't too strong, you could wrap the handle with a spongy sticky tape or put a section of that thick spongy pipe insulator stuff they use on copper pipes to prevent condensation. Hope you find this useful.

Hey Quad65,

Been there, do the same, I have a habit of dropping rather large IT tomes (books; Windows/OS/Server/Office, etc) and have found the OXO set listed below to be very helpful, I even use it in the garage and garden...never thought to post about it's usage, well done


Oxo Good Grips Upright Broom and Dustpan Set, Silver
http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B0000CFNVN

Edited by StillFingers, 12 January 2011 - 05:15 PM.

[rue2you]

I use one too. An AB friend bought me one right after I became paralyzed. Kind of a weird "I'm sorry this happened to you" kind of gift but oh my, how practical!! I have 6 kids so I use it all the time to get stuff out of my way!!

[edlee]

I hadn't thought of those. Might have to get one. I use one of those grabber/reacher thingies for my floor picking needs. Mine has the pistol grip and the straight shaft. If I was a bit more computor literate, I'd post a link to show you.

I carry one with me most of the time,, as I tend to drop things quite often. It grips surprisingly well, and can pick up most anything. Everything fron my blood pressure pills ( individually), to medium size hard back books. And for 10 bucks, it's well worth it.
ed