House Cleaning Tools & Tips for Arthritis Sufferers
Arthritis is one of the most common physical ailments among seniors. It can develop before you even hit retirement years, well into retirement, or not at all. It is unpredictable, but for those who do suffer from arthritis, it can make daily tasks a lot more challenging.
Cleaning can be a big hassle for people with arthritis. Pain, limited range of motion, and fatigue can all make cleaning a big chore, even with mild arthritis. But life doesn’t have to stop due to arthritis pain. There are a number of house cleaning tools for arthritis that can make the job easier and pain-free, as well as tips that can make the process easier.
Recommended House Cleaning Tools for Arthritis
Traditional cleaning tools weren’t necessarily designed for seniors with arthritis. Many of them require physical work that can be painful or just not possible. Fortunately, there are several helpful cleaning tools that can allow you to clean without worrying about pain.
Robotic Vacuum
Vacuuming takes a lot of effort, no matter what age you are. If you are suffering from arthritis, cleaning your carpets can be difficult. One of the best house cleaning tools for arthritis is a robot vacuum.
Robot vacuums have come a long way over the years. A robot vacuum can clean your entire home without you having to lug a vacuum to different rooms and spend a significant amount of time cleaning each room.
Gripped Tools
Some mops and brooms can have slippery handles that make them harder and more painful to grip. If you can’t keep control of your cleaning tools, it will take you longer to complete your work, and you may irritate your arthritis.
Look for tools that have gripped handles; they can make it much easier to get control of your tools and complete your cleaning job.
Extendable Tools
Almost every household cleaning tool comes in a version with extended or extendable handles. This means that you can reach high or low places without having to stretch, bend, or climb. Everything from brooms and mops to sponges and brushes can be purchased with extendable handles.
In addition to extendable tools, you can also purchase an extendable handle that can be attached to your existing cleaning tools. This can be a lower-cost option, and you’ll avoid having to replace multiple cleaning tools.
Tips for Cleaning with Arthritis
In addition to investing in house cleaning tools for arthritis, there are a few general tips that can make cleaning with arthritis easier:
Plan
Some people leave all their cleaning to a single day of the week. While this can seem to be more convenient for your schedule, it can put more stress on your body and irritate your arthritis. Plan to spread your cleaning over two or more days to lessen the load.
Take It Slow
Cleaning may not be your favorite activity, so it can be tempting to rush through it. However, overworking yourself to get the cleaning done more quickly can be difficult on your body and make arthritis worse. Take your time, and take breaks when you start to experience stiffness or pain.
Avoid Heavy Lifting
Lifting heavy objects is one of the fastest ways to make arthritis worse and leave yourself with pain and stiffness. You can do this in a number of ways, like buying smaller bottles of cleaning products, only filling your cleaning buckets halfway, and investing in lighter cleaning equipment.
Arthritis does not have to prevent you from doing your everyday chores, and you do not have to fight through the pain just to clean your home. With a few tweaks and a little investment in house cleaning tools for arthritis, you’ll be able to complete your cleaning chores pain-free.
If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.
Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices throughout California including: Campbell, CA, Roseville, CA, San Marcos, CA, and San Mateo, CA.
