I have always hated cleaning! Not disliked, HATED! However, I found that my mental health is so much better when my house is organized and clean. Tidy home, tidy mind.
Sometimes I have a cleaner come in, but when you’re on disability, that is an extra expense on an already tight budget.
I recently received a quote for a deep clean of our 1,200 sq ft suite, and it was $500 for two cleaners for two hours. Needless to say, I cleaned my fridge and washed my walls myself. Which really wasn’t too bad as long as I had the tunes cranked.
The other issue is that when you’re chronically ill, cleaning an entire house can be taxing. You just don’t have the energy to do everything in 1 day.
Kitchen
So, I found spreading things out to be helpful. We have a huge marble counter that must be shiny and decluttered at all times. I clean that first, so when I empty the dishwasher, I have some place to organize the dishes before putting them away.
My sink is stainless steel, and you guessed it, it must sparkle. This has become a fun chore because our kittens love playing with the water. I scrub with a handheld wand, Dawn dish soap, and they swat at the water stream when I rinse.
- Removes 99% of grease and grime in half the time* (*vs. Dawn Non-Concentrated)
- 5X FASTER* Grease Cleaning (*vs. Dawn Non-concentrated)
- 3 cleaning boosters not found in traditional dish soaps
- NON-SCRATCH: The amazing Vileda Scrunge Dish Wand sponge features a non-abrasive scouring pad to deep clean without scra…
- IDEAL FOR NON-STICK POTS AND PANS: Vileda Dish Brush easily remove dried-on, cooked and embedded dirt on all pots and pa…
- LONG LASTING DISH SPONGE: Our dish want sponge features a rippled scrubber surface that breaks up and lifts away dirt th…
When I didn’t have the strength to scrub, I bought scrubbers that attached to a drill. Great way to clean sinks and tubs.
- Adjustable torque output for every DIY job
- Convenient 1/2 in. Keyless Chuck
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- [Different sizes]：The five different sized brush heads(2/2.5/3.5/4/5.5inch) and microfiber drying towel allow you to eas…
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- [Deep cleaning]：Extended reach attachment have the slip joint and magnet, It allows you to go into tight Spaces and hard…
I dislike a dirty drain. Not only does it smell, but it is the perfect environment for fruit flies. A great way to get it sanitized, fill the drain with baking soda and add vinegar. Gotta love chemistry!
Being a cat home, fur gets everywhere, especially stuck to greasy cupboards. So I bought a steamer. No chemicals, and it leaves everything streak-free. I could use it on my floors, but I don’t have the patience to do those slowly, so the steam can do its thing.
- Comprehensive scene coverage: Waitbird can generate high-temperature steam up to 248 ℉, with 21 multifunctional replacea…
- Efficient cleaning: The steam cleaner can effectively remove dirt and grease with only water. The high-density, uniform,…
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Speaking of Floors
I love my Swiffer! I have the dry and the wet jet. No more dust bunnies, and cleaning up cat puke is easy. Because I’m grossed out by mops and buckets, I find the Swiffer system more sanitary. When the cloth gets dirty, you just chuck it and add a clean one. Even if I don’t have the energy to wash the floors, just using the dry cloths makes a huge improvement.
- Kit Includes: PowerMop Spray Mop, 2 Mop Pad Refills, 1 Floor Cleaning solution with Fresh Scent, and 2 batteries
- Mop smarter with Swiffer PowerMop and clean in half the time*!*vs. mop and bucket – includes cleaning and drying time
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- Includes 8 PowerMop Multi-Surface Mopping Pad Refills
- 5X cleaning power* with hundreds of scrubbing strips that fit deep into tough to reach places*Pad layers vs. Swiffer Wet…
- Scrubbing strips ABSORB + LOCK your toughest messes and get them off your floors
- Includes 2 25.3 fl oz bottles of Swiffer PowerMop Floor Cleaning Solution, Unstopables Fresh Scent
- Pre-mixed solution breaks down tough, sticky messes and dries fast – no need to rinse!
- Reinvigorate your home and enjoy freshness for hours**Leaves behind up to 2 hours of freshness after initial product use
My husband won this vacuum. I’ve got to admit, I’m obsessed with the light. You see every crumb. The only problem is that it doesn’t work on carpet. But because it’s so lightweight, I honestly use it more than the Swiffer.
- 18000Pa Strong Suction & Motorized Brush Head: The iwoly C150 cordless stick vacuum, powered by a 150W motor and boastin…
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So, to sanitize the bedroom carpets, I first sprinkle baking soda. It absorbs any lingering odors. Just let it sit for 10 minutes prior to vacuuming. After I vacuum, I have a spray bottle with vinegar and tea tree oil. This kills any leftover allergens and pests, plus it helps to naturally deodorize the carpets. I shampoo the carpets once a year, but this is a good holdover in between.
- ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda is a household staple with 100’s of uses
- Versatile, effective and affordable for over 170 years
- From the Number 1 baking soda brand
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The Bathroom…
I loathe cleaning this room, so I have a system to make it flow better. The litter boxes are just outside, so I presoak the tub and toilet. Cleaning solutions need 10 minutes to effectively sanitize.
We use wood pellets for cat litter, so the boxes are easy to clean. With 2 healthy kittens, I sanitize the boxes every other day. Not to mention, their boxes are their sandboxes, so I have to sweep up the sawdust. Then I spray the boxes and liners with Dawn and wipe with wipes. In the summer, I take them outside and wash with soap and water, but this is the way to do it otherwise.
I scrub the tub and walls first. I can not stand the red sludge that gets on grout and caulking. What is in our water that makes this happen?
Because I’m squeamish, I like a clean toilet brush, so you guessed it, disposable. I spray the toilet tank, lid, seat, rim, sink, and counters with Lysol and wipe with clean paper towels. I never understood using 1 cloth for everything. That seems like a biohazard to me. I polish the mirrors and taps with Windex, and now we’re done! 15 minutes tops!
- Kills 99.99% of Viruses & Bacteria*
- Cuts through tough grease & soap scum
- Ideal for hard, non-porous surfaces throughout the house
- COMPLETE CLEANING SOULTION: Includes 1 ergonomic handle, 2 heavy-duty toilet bowl cleaner pad refills, and 1 convenient …
- POWERFUL CLEANING PADS: Heavy-duty pads power through tough stains and limescale, leaving your toilet bowl fresh and cle…
- FRESH SCENT: Infused with a refreshing fragrance, the cleaning pads leave behind a pleasant scent that lasts after clean…
- AUTOMATIC BATHROOM CLEANER: Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel Stamps automatically cleans and freshens your toilet f…
- FRESHENS WITH EVERY FLUSH: Our Fresh Gel stamps helps eliminate toilet rings, limescale, and other toilet build up with …
- CONVENIENT: Apply a gel stamp inside the toilet bowl for continuous freshness. No touching, no scrubbing.
- EFFECTIVE CLEANER: Windex effortlessly tackles smudges, dirt, fingerprints, and various messes on windows, mirrors, stov…
- STREAK-FREE SHINE: Trusted for generations, Windex glass and window cleaner solution not only removes grime but also lig…
- POWERFUL CLEANING PERFORMANCE: Starts working on smudges and smears even before you wipe.
Super Tidy Home
My girlfriend is a cleaning wizard. She taught me to do the baseboards with a dryer sheet. Not only does it degunk but also keeps them from getting dirty again for a longer period of time. Honestly, I would rather paint them than clean them, but I digress.
- 3x more pet hair repelling power vs. Bounce dryer sheets
- Free of perfumes
- Reduces wrinkles and static, adds softness
For That Extra Clean
Mold and mildew I have found to be resistant in our bathroom. I’ve steamed, used the drill scrubber, baking soda, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide to no avail. Because of our kittens, I try to avoid chemicals when possible, but sometimes you just need bleach. Not to mention, I love a bright white bath towel.
Ever since I survived sepsis, I have a bionic nose. I smell everyhting! I love these to keep the toilet bowl clean and plug-ins around the house. I even sprinkle eucalyptus oil in my tub for that spa smell.
- AUTOMATIC BATHROOM CLEANER: Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel Stamps automatically cleans and freshens your toilet f…
- FRESHENS WITH EVERY FLUSH: Our Fresh Gel stamps helps eliminate toilet rings, limescale, and other toilet build up with …
- CONVENIENT: Apply a gel stamp inside the toilet bowl for continuous freshness. No touching, no scrubbing.
- Scented oil plug-in warmer continuously diffuses scent with easy adjust capabilities which gives 5 different levels of f…
- Contains natural essential oils for a better fragrance experience
- Provides up to 60 days of continuous & LONG LASTING FRAGRANCE per refill
- Pure and natural, steam distilled eucalyptus essential oil; non-toxin, no additives, unfiltered and undiluted with no fi…
- Extracted from the leaves using a chemical-free, double distillation process to ensure the highest level of purity
- SAFETY WARNING: For external use only. Other than aromatherapy, dilute with a carrier oil. For topical use, rub a very s…
I am no Martha Stewart. The fact that I’m writing this is laughable, but living in a tidy environment is a necessity. Having been only able to do the bare minimum for years, doing a weekly clean has improved our well-being. Split up the tasks to make it less overwhelming. Listen to music or a podcast to distract yourself from the job at hand. Do a little bit every day so you don’t have a huge job at the end of the week. I love being in my home!
