Tips and Tricks for Cleaning
We may not be able to wave a magic wand and instantly make your home clean, but we can offer a few helpful hacks for improving your cleaning experience and tools that can make the job easier, so you finish cleaning faster and get on with your life!
Remember the “broken window theory,” and tidy as you go
Police officers follow the broken window theory. This is the idea that when a home shows visible signs of damage or disorder, this invites more crime. In neighborhoods where there are broken windows, for example, it appears that no one is caring for those homes. That encourages criminals to commit more crimes there.
Similarly, a messy home encourages more mess! Think of it this way: When your kitchen is sparkling clean, it doesn’t feel good to leave dirty dishes sitting in the sink, does it? A clean kitchen makes you want to keep it clean. But if the kitchen is messy, with dishes piled up in the sink and crumbs all over the counter, you might just think, “Well, what’s one more dish?” So you just keep adding, and before you know it, you have a huge pile of dishes to clean. Now it feels harder to get started!
Instead, keep your home in a state of tidiness. Of course, messes happen, and we can’t always be cleaning. But try to spend just a few minutes each day putting things away, wiping up messes right after you eat, and putting shoes in your closet. That little bit of tidying up means that at the end of the day, your home won’t feel cluttered and cleaning up won’t feel so hard.
Use a cleaning app
There are many apps available for smartphones that can help simplify cleaning. There’s Spotless, which helps create task lists for each room in your home; Tody, which turns cleaning into a fun game; Sweepy, which helps you track, organize, and complete tasks; and many more. Just do an online search for “cleaning apps” and explore the ones that best fit your needs, whether it’s about remembering tasks, celebrating wins, or making it more fun.
Make sure everything has a home
Things you use regularly — such as keys, your phone, your wallet or purse, earbuds, or a hair brush — should have designated homes where they always live. Make it a habit every day to place these items in their homes, whether that’s a basket, a table, a drawer, or a shelf. If you find one of these items elsewhere, take it to its home right away, so you’ll never wonder where it went.
Use one plate, one glass, one utensil a day
If you can rinse and wipe your plate, utensil, and glass after using it, it’s ready to use for your next meal. That way, there’s less to clean at the end of the day.
Fill the dishwasher as you go
After using a pan, cup, or other kitchen item, put it right into the dishwasher. Keep filling as you go so you don’t have to spend a lot of time after meals doing it all.
Use baskets
Store baskets or plastic storage containers in each room for each person who lives there. When clutter appears in that room, toss it in the owner’s basket. At the end of the day, each person takes their basket and puts those items away. This is especially helpful for those in wheelchairs, as a basket can be easily carried on a lap.
Use colors and Braille labels
For those with low or no vision, try using brightly colored labels with very large text to identify supplies, or use Braille labels; there are numerous braille label makers on the market.
Remember dishwasher basics
When used correctly, dishwashers are a game changer! Here are some basic rules to get the most out of them:
- Dishwashers often have removable silverware baskets. Take yours out and sit it on the counter next to you to save having to bend over repeatedly.
- Glasses, plastic bowls, small bowls, and some large utensils go up top, where there’s less heat and less chance of getting blasted out of place by the water jet.
- The bottom rack is plates, trays, mixing bowls, pots, and pans.
- Pay attention to the bottoms of bowls, cups, plates, and vacuum-sealed tumblers to be sure you don’t put items into the dishwasher that aren’t dishwasher safe.
- Dishwashers aren’t just for dishes! You can wash garden tools, sanitize sponges, clean bathroom utensils, sanitize toys and sports gear, wash combs and brushes, clean stovetop grates, and more in your dishwasher.
Find one or two really versatile tools
Find cleaning products that can clean multiple things to cut back on equipment you need to use and store. For example, look for long-handled products that can change multiple heads or scrubbers.
Look for front-loading appliances
For many people in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues, the placement of a door on an appliance — microwave, washing machine, oven — can make all the difference. There may be a way to change the door so it opens on the right instead of the left, for example. Or, if you’re able to choose, pick appliances that offer front-loading options, which are easier to reach inside and load or unload. And some microwaves have oven-type doors that pull downward, which may be helpful for resting hot, heavy dishes on.
Come at it from a different angle
For people with disabilities who may struggle with dexterity or flexibility or who need wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, the “standard” approach to cleaning and using appliances may not always work.
For example, it might be hard to fill or unload a washing machine from the front, which involves leaning far forward. Maybe you can back up to the machine, pull in sideways, or even get yourself onto the floor? If unloading the dishwasher by repeatedly leaning and standing is difficult, think about ways that you can change the angle, such as by sitting in a chair and pulling multiple items out at one time, then placing them on the counter to be put away later. Get creative!
Make lists to stay on track and celebrate wins
Try making lists of what needs to be done so you don’t forget anything. This not only lets you see at a glance how much is left, but it also feels great when you can cross things off the list. It’s a small thing that provides a feeling of accomplishment and gives you energy to keep going.
Use timers to break up work
Whether it’s your time that’s limited or your energy, cleaning can feel much easier if you break it into small, manageable chunks of time. Try this trick: Set a timer for a small amount of time — usually 5 or 10 minutes. In that amount of time, focus on one cleaning task. For instance, maybe you give yourself 5 minutes to straighten up your living room, put the dishes in the dishwasher, or wipe down your bathroom sink and counter. Make it a fun challenge to see how much you can get done in that period of time. When the timer goes off, stop! That’s your cleaning for the day. You’re likely to dread cleaning less if you see there’s an end coming quickly.
Sing or dance your way through it
Instead of a timer, try seeing how much you can clean while your favorite song plays! Sing along at the top of your lungs, or even dance while you scrub, wipe, dust, or straighten. When the song’s over, you’re done and you’ll probably be in a great mood! You can also do this for a playlist, making your cleaning time a bit longer but also more fun.
Tackle one small area
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by everything that needs to be done around the house, remember that it can give you a big lift just to take care of one small area, such as a shelf, a drawer, a closet, or a corner. If your whole kitchen or bedroom needs to be cleaned, divide it up by areas. Maybe one day you do the toilet, another you do the sink, etc.
Arrange your home to make cleaning easier
If it’s hard walking or pushing your wheelchair across a room because of the way furniture is arranged, a rug curls up, or a cord lies across the floor, make it easier on yourself. Look at every room in your home and think about whether it’s arranged in the best, safest way possible. If there’s a better way that will make your life, and your cleaning, easier, why not rearrange it?
Use aids for movement
Items such as chairs, benches, stools, and grab bars can be placed in areas around your home where you need to do a lot of bending or lifting or where you could slip and fall. This can help a lot when you’re cleaning, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens, where floors can get slippery when wet or there might be a lot of bending to pick things up, scrub, or put items away in cabinets or on shelves.
