Housework with Less Legwork
Adapted from Arthritis Today®*, the health magazine published by the Arthritis Foundation.
Is it possible to have a clean, organized home without paying the price of a cleaning service or sore, overworked joints? You bet. It's worth it, too: An organized home actually can take stress off joints if frequently used items are placed where you can reach them easily. And less clutter means a reduced likelihood of trips and falls.
Try these tips to make housekeeping more manageable:
- Spread it out. Avoid the urge to clean your entire house in a day. Any one project can be spread out over days, if necessary. For example, vacuum or dust one room a day, and clean the windows the next.
- Use the right tools. Use joint-friendly cleaning tools, such as long-handled dustpans that reduce stooping, lightweight mops that cut down on strain and scrub brushes with large built-up handles to avoid the need for a tight grip.
- Squat right. When reaching for cleaning supplies in a lower cabinet, too many people compensate for sore knees by awkwardly bending and stooping, causing lower back pain. Instead, hold onto the cabinet top and use the muscles in your arms, thighs and buttocks to take the pressure off knees. You also can protect knees by sitting on a chair to reach low.
- Use joint-sparing techniques. When dusting furniture or wiping down countertops, use a large cloth and keep your hand flat. When cleaning with water, use a large sponge instead of a cloth, so you can squeeze the water out easily by pressing down on the sponge with the palm of your hand.
- Take it with you. Try using a wheeled utility cart to move cleaning supplies from room to room. If you have a large house, consider buying a set of cleaning supplies to keep in each bathroom. If your house has more than one story, consider getting a vacuum cleaner for each.
- Have a seat. When possible, use a bar-height stool when doing chores that can be done seated - for example, when washing dishes, polishing silver or folding laundry.
- Don't leave empty-handed. Make it a practice not to leave a room without taking something with you that belongs in another room. Putting away misplaced items on an ongoing basis means no marathon pickup sessions later.