Top 10 Cleaning in Chronic Pain Tips— by YOU!
I reached out to our Chronically Ill Communi-tea to ask what your must-have products for keeping a clean home were, and discovered some real life-savers! I have compiled them here as well as creating an Amazon List so you can purchase easily! As always if you’re trying to avoid that website you can find them elsewhere, but I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to buy through Amazon, so there is a silver lining! Accessibility > Sustainability when it comes to your health.
This deliciously soft washable duvet was introduced to me by a friend (Thanks Jennie!!) and then very kindly gifted to me by the wonderful people at Night Lark! Easily washable with beautiful designs on recycled fabric, say goodbye to wrestling with your duvet cover and, in my case, subluxing an arm or two in the process! Wash n dry in 90 mins (Mine does take two runs in the tumble dryer!) and let out a huge sigh of relief. Use BLOSSOM15 for 15% off!
The Basket Hack
Note where things pile up— laundry you don’t have the energy to fold or put away, tissues that missed the bin, dishes that are yet to return home to the kitchen, and place a basket, bin, or tray in these ‘hot spots’. Now, at least, your space will appear neater, and when you do have the energy to tidy, you can more easily move items!
How to Keep House While Drowning
Hack #2 is also mentioned in How to Keep House While Drowning which was one of the top recommendations when I asked for cleaning tips! An excellent, short book, particularly helpful if you are neurodivergent.
Having a two-sided hamper dedicated to clean and dirty clothes can be very helpful in energy reduction. I have listed a few different options on my amazon store, but the one linked here also has side pockets!
A chair or stool with wheels so you can move around your space or rest when you need to can help increase stamina for cleaning, see also an anti-fatigue mat! A wheeled trolley to store cleaning products for easy manoeuvrability can also help.
Be warned, this item is a little heavy, but can help with the repetitive strain of scrubbing and getting into hard-to-reach places such as the shower!
(IF your space is designed for it!) Many of you have said this is a game-changer and I cannot wait until I am in a space where I can properly try it out!
These last 3 tips are more about mindset but I believe sometimes that can be just as helpful as a good product:Romanticise it!
Get a good playlist going- I like to listen to a musical (dear evan hansen or encanto!) - or pretend you are in a studio ghibli movie and put on the soundtrack (that one scene in Spirited Away, anyone?)
Pace!
This video by Jessica Kellgren-Fozard is a perfect guide to pacing. Start small- 1% is better than nothing, et a timer for five minutes and do as much as you can in that time if you struggle with motivation. Try to do a little bit each day— even if it is so hard to break out of ‘the zone’, your body will thank you!
Grace!
Give yourself lots of it! You are not a hideous swamp creature, you are just a human with limited capacity and resources. Ask for help when you need it, build up a support network, and don’t expect yourself to cope with all of this alone. You are doing exceptionally well, even if it doesn’t feel like it!
