Re: house keeping

[Guest guest]

I get help thru the State's Department on Aging and Disability. Maybe your

state has something like that?

Pam

Kendra asked:

> How does everyone deal with keeping your house clean? My back limits me

> from bending/lifting or even standing too long.

[Guest guest]

Try getting a stool with wheels, kinda like the one your doctor uses, or a small

computer chair with wheels to sit on while mopping or running the vacuum. If it

will raise enough it will even let you sit and do dishes.

Jennette

wrote:

I have a steam mop but it hurts me to use it because I have to bend over to use

it correctly, I have a bad back as well as other issues. But I love my swiffers.

[Guest guest]

I use the fly lady methods. Just go to flylady.net and you will see that using a

egg timer will help a lot. It is the best method in the world. I have been using

it for the past few years.My house is always company ready and my sink is shiny.

Gentle hugs,

Ms.Katurah

Kendra wrote:

How does everyone deal with keeping your house clean? My back limits me from

bending/lifting or even standing too long.

[Guest guest]

I moved into a RV just because I was not able to keep up an apartment. I

tend to hoard and not having extra space helps. I try to do a little every

day like keep the dishes washed up. The main problem is sweeping. I have a

cat that sheds something awful. I always ask her where the other cat is

since there is always so much hair when I sweep. Kitty hair and kitty

litter! LOL

Christie in AZ

>Kendra wrote:

>

> How does everyone deal with keeping your house clean? My back limits me from

bending/lifting or even standing too long. I really can't afford to hire anyone

so I've been looking into buying a Roomba and maybe a steam mop.

[Guest guest]

Hi. I live in an RV as well, in the Phoenix, AZ area. I would have a tough time

with a house. Our biggest challenge is keeping up with the laundry. I need to

do a load or two every day but we let it pile and pile. Hubby and I are both

I'll. It's rare we have a day together when we both feel good.

Anybody have laundry tips?

Thanks. Candy Cares

>Christie Pegoda wrote:

> I moved into a RV just because I was not able to keep up an apartment. I tend

to hoard and not having extra space helps. I try

to do a little every day like keep the dishes washed up. The main problem is

sweeping.

[Guest guest]

Are there income requirements for that?

Lori

Pam wrote:

I get help thru the State's Department on Aging and Disability. Maybe your

state has something like that?

Pam

[Guest guest]

Housework is my enemy. I have dogs, and one of them is a former puppy mill

dog who lived in a cage for 4 years, so we have puppy pads for her. Bending

over to pick them up KILLS me.

As to what I do. I try to do a LITTLE every day, but in reality, I end up taking

a day when I feel " ok " and doing a room.

After my last Lumbar Sympathetic Block, I did clean totally the dining room.

That took it out of me for a week and a half or so. Then yesterday, I cleaned

the living room and cat boxes and kitchen. Tomorrow, after my homework is

done, I'll do my bedroom and MAYBE the bathroom.

That's it for here. Someday, if we can, I'd like to add a second bathroom, but

for now, this is it.

One thing I just CAN NOT do anymore is mop. Sweeping is iffy. Sometimes I can

do it, other times, not a chance in he**. I bought a wet/dry swifter, but even

that takes too much out of me.

Luckily, if I can catch him on his days off, my roommate is ok doing the floors.

Otherwise, I clean up messes and try to keep it as clean as possible. I can

vacuum, and do so twice a week at least, and often every day. My vacuum is a

self propelled, bag less one,

so it's easy to use. AND, I keep it out, so I don't have to lift it.

Other things, like the fridge, I have my daughter do before grocery

shopping. The shower/tub I have one of those " automatic shower cleaners and it

REALLY works! I want to get one of those electric broom/steamer combinations,

but $139 is a bit high for me. I have a carpet shampooer, but it just died. So

I found a different one at a thrift store. I haven't tried it yet, maybe

tomorrow. I try to clean my carpets at least once a month. Once a year we rent

a professional carpet cleaner to clean all the carpets thoroughly.

Marta

[Guest guest]

Please visit www.flylady.net She has wonderful ideas on

housekeeping,laundry,and organizing. I have been following her steps for a few

years now and it does work.

Gentle hugs,

Ms.Katurah

[Guest guest]

I do laundry once a week on Friday. I am renting a space from a friend who

has hook ups on her property. She lets me use her washer and dryer as part of

the deal. Friday is my day off, as I work part time and

just have no energy left on the days I work - Monday thru Thursday.

Plus she has her laundry to do and her daughter comes by and uses the washer and

dryer once in a while. Friday just worked out to be the best day for me to do

it.

Christie in AZ

[Guest guest]

Both my boyfriend and I would love an RV to live in. I would love it for

several reasons and one is for the little extra ease of cleaning. Keeping up

the big house my boyfriend and I live in is pretty difficult for me with my

health challenges. Although my boyfriend also has a couple of health issues,

one of which is pretty serious but not chronic pain, he doesn't do much cleaning

very often which drives me up the wall, lol. My extreme chronic pain makes it

difficult for me to clean or keep up the house without the regular help I need.

Needless to say the house isn't that clean all that often. So he wouldn't mind

living in an RV since it's less to clean either lol.

As for laundry tips, I don't know what to say other than what you already do,

which is a load or two a day. I am the one who does the laundry and I have to

use the neighbors (my boyfriends aunt and uncle) washer and dryer since we don't

have gas or electricity and have some things hooked up to the neighbors

electricity so we can run an electric heater in the bedroom. It's very

difficult for me to do the laundry since I have to carry the laundry back and

forth, well in reality I end up dragging it lol.

But, since I have to drag the laundry back and forth as well as it not being my

washer and dryer, I have to do laundry once a week or so which means extra work

lol. Yes I do ask for help but it doesn't always happen lol. Part of me is

fine with that since I want to do things myself as long as I can since I won't

be able to when my RSDS worsens even more to where I am unable to do anything

anymore lol.

Anyway! I hope everyone here can benefit from the suggestions brought up! :-)

Love,

Becky in NM

Candy Cares wrote:

Hi. I live in an RV as well, in the Phoenix, AZ area. I would have a tough time

with a house.

[Guest guest]

I tried flylady and I have tried some of the ideas and they work. Thnx

>Ms Katurah wrote:

Please visit www.flylady.net She has wonderful ideas on housekeeping,laundry,and

organizing. I have been following her steps for a few years now and it does

work.

[Guest guest]

Get yourself one of those carts that folds. They are wire and hold up very

well. The one I have has two wheels which is easier to navigate over rough

ground.

Jennette

>Rebbecca Nix wrote:

It's very difficult for me to do the laundry since I have to carry the laundry

back and forth, well in reality I end up dragging it lol.

[Guest guest]

If it weren't for DH I wouldn't have a clean house. Even though he has Crohn's

disease and a leg amputation he does all the heavy housework like laundry and

cleaning the floors and doing the bathrooms. If I don't feel like it on one of

my bad days he will even dust and do the kitchen!!! He is a doll and I love him

so.. We've been married 18 yrs in September and have been together 19 yrs

total.

SHELL

[Guest guest]

You are very lucky to have a great husband that helps you, I haven't got a man

so I try and do the house work on my own, sometimes my kids help but not very

often, it is very difficult especially if my pains are bad so I try and do

little bits at a time

Sent from my iPhone

x

> If it weren't for DH I wouldn't have a clean house. Even though he has Crohn's

> disease and a leg amputation he does all the heavy housework like laundry and

> cleaning the floors and doing the bathrooms. If I don't feel like it on one of

> my bad days he will even dust and do the kitchen!!! He is a doll and I love

him

> so.. We've been married 18 yrs in September and have been together 19 yrs

> total.

>

> SHELL

>

>

[Guest guest]

>I haven't got a man so I try and do the house work on my own, sometimes my kids

help but not very often, it is very difficult especially if my pains are bad so

I try and do little bits at a time

Hi

Even very young kids can be helpful. They can fold towels, keep things picked

up,

and even stand on a chair to wash dishes.  Just be sure all your dishes are not

glass etc.

They will be better off in the long run, if you can manage to be firm, fair, and

consistent.  I know it's much harder when you are the only parent, and when you

aren't feeling well, but it's worth it.

By the time a kid leaves home they should at the very least, know how to be able

to cook, do laundry, general sewing (buttons, hems), and how to keep a home

clean.  Mowing the lawn, and so forth.

When my daughter started college she was astonished to see how many kids

had no idea how to sort clothes, let alone use a washing machine.

My Mom was strict, and I'm glad she was.  I used to make two lists of chores

for my two kids, and they each picked one and the work had to be done by the

time I got home from work.

It wasn't perfect, but it helped. If they didn't do as they were told they had

to

clean the basement. It wasn't especially dirty, but they still hated it.

I'm sure others have suggestions about children doing housework.

Kaylene

[Guest guest]

My youngest Kaylene will help but getting my 15 year old to help is like getting

blood out of a stone it's to much Luke hard work for her even though she can see

me struggle

x

on-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

I was taught everything the hard way so I made it easier on my sons. They did

chores and got rewards.Some of the kids in the neighborhood didn't have to do

chores. My sons complained but I told them the only way you are going to be able

to take care of yourself is by learning how to do so.

My sons were taught how to do many things even things most kids don't know how

to do like ironing their clothes.

I was told that I was too strict as they were growing up. But now they can

cook, clean, sew (both by hand and machine) iron and generally take care of

themselves. Everything that I did,they did.

My Youngest was the only one interested in making soap, candles,

herbal teas and herbal baths. He also knows how to knit and crochet. He was

always Momma's little helper. Now he impresses his girlfriends with stuff he has

made. He had to learn everything he possibly could

and he is still like that

Gentle hugs,

Ms.Katurah

[Guest guest]

I will look into one of those when I have any extra money . Until my

boyfriend can find a job (job market sucks) and/or when my ex husband sends

alimony (which he hasn't done in a year and is going against the SD court system

and the military and I can't afford a lawyer to sue him for it).

Love,

Becky in NM

Jennette wrote:

Get yourself one of those carts that folds. They are wire and hold up very

well. The one I have has two wheels which is easier to navigate over rough

ground.

[Guest guest]

Becky wrote:

> I will look into one of those when I have any extra money .

Until my boyfriend can find a job (job market sucks) and/or when my

ex-husband sends alimony (which he hasn't done in a year and is going against

the SD court system and the military and I can't afford a lawyer to sue him for

it).

Becky,

You do not have to have a lawyer, you call his base and call JAG on that base,

or his orderly room and talk to his First Sergeant. E-mail me privately Becky

and I will give you the address of his pay section or if you have an old pay

statement, give them a call and they will garnish his paycheck.

Bennie

[Guest guest]

Hamilton wrote:

> If it weren't for DH I wouldn't have a clean house. Even though he has

Crohn's disease and a leg amputation he does all the heavy housework like

laundry and cleaning the floors and doing the bathrooms. If I don't feel like

it on one of my bad days he will even dust and do the kitchen!!! He is a doll

and I love him so.

Shell,

After having a jerk for ten years and supporting him, I got a real husband whom

I love and is the same as years as far as helping me out. We have been together

twenty eight years so we are okay now : )

Bennie

[Guest guest]

It has been interesting and informative reading all of the responses to how we

manage the day-to-day tasks of keeping our homes clean. Our individual chronic

pain problems likely dictate what we're able to do. And our personal situation

may strongly impact how much (or little) help we have from family and friends.

Many have remarked on tackling house cleaning a little bit at a time as we're

able. That certainly is how I deal with keeping the house clean. Also, my

expectations have drastically changed after getting RSD in my foot along with

the deformity that also causes a significant amount of pain.

Hubby cleans ALL of the floors in our house because I simply cannot do that

specific task any longer. Do I ever recognize how fortunate I am to have a soul

mate who not only understands my chronic pain but also helps so much!!!!

My heart goes out to the many here who live alone. I admire your strength and

courage in the face of pain that you probably never imagined you would live

with...it sure took me on a different path than I had planned! Aren't the 50's

and beyond supposed to be " the golden years " ? Hmmmmm...but it is what it is!!

.

~Carol in AZ