17 Cleaning Hacks For Spoonies

When you are confined to bed for long periods of time due to a chronic illness or disability, it would be nice to make your bedroom cozy and smell good. It’s hard to think of anything better than taking a nice bath and climbing into a clean bed with some lavender wafting through the air. We all like different things but I’m sure we can agree that having our bedroom the way we like it and clean does help us feel a little better. I put together some cleaning hacks for your room that may just make it a sanctuary when you’re done.

Did you know there are even plants for your bedroom to help you sleep? Cleaning hacks for disabled people are hard to come by and some of us can’t clean but maybe this list will help you, your caregiver or a volunteer. Feel free to share this post with anyone you know could use it.

I also put together a printable Cleaning List PDF because I have memory problems and needed something to keep track of my progress. Print it out, slide it into a protective plastic sheet and use a grease pencil or erasable marker to check items off as you go.

Below is my spring cleaning checklist for my bedroom as well as my go-to tips and some ideas to help you organize:

1. Use baskets to organize prescription medication, OTC medications, other medicine bottles, and supplements:

   • I have one basket for daily medications and another for the medication you take as needed.
   • Use a different basket for vitamins and supplements you take daily.
   • If you take medication or supplements after meals, use a separate basket and label them “breakfast”, “lunch”, “dinner” or whatever makes sense for your routine.
   • Label the baskets with sharpies or print out some cute labels.
   • This can make it easier for caretakers or paramedics if there is an emergency. In fact, see if your caretaker won’t help you make the baskets.

2. Keeping your bed clean and comfortable. Use a duvet cover:

   • A duvet cover can make cleaning your bedding and making your bed much easier.
   • Take your comforter to the dry cleaners so you don’t have to ruin your washing machine or go to the laundromat to wash it.
   • Have a spare set of sheets to replace the ones you put in the laundry.

3. An extendable duster:

   • Along with a cleaning spray that attracts dust and dirt, this gem means no ladders.
   • You can get to hard to reach places without as much work so it makes it easier on your body.

4. Use table runners or tablecloths:

   • Throw them in the wash rather than dust.
   • Keep another tablecloth or set of table runners on hand to replace the ones you just threw in the laundry. This helps when you are too tired to do the wash right then.

5. Ask for help:

   • Have your family or friends chip in so you don’t end up in bed flaring for a day…or month.
   • See if a church in the area offers cleaning.
   • I haven’t tried this but maybe a local cleaning company will donate some cleaning services in exchange for a review or as a tax write-off.

6. Take your time:

   • Rome wasn’t built in a day so why clean everything in one day?
   • Break down your cleaning or organizing bite-sized chunks.
   • One day change your bedding, the next day you could dust.
   • Breaking down your tasks can help you from being exhausted and may help avoid a flare.

7. Use shelves or baskets to plan your outfits:

   • Put together an outfit for each day, put it on a shelf or in a basket to be used during the week. I’ll be honest, all my baskets would include jammies because it’s rare I am able to go out.
   • Doing this makes it easier to just grab that day’s clothes when you are done bathing and may be fatigued.

8. Have a lot of meds that won’t fit in a normal pill organizer?:

   • Use ziplock bags with each day and time you’re supposed to take them written with a sharpie.
   • There is also a new gadget out that allows you to pack and seal bags of medications that makes it easier to manage, medication, days and times.

9. Use one drop of Dawn dish soap per 8 oz. of water to clean almost anything:

   • Baseboards, ceiling fans, cabinets, etc.
   • Make sure to dry areas quickly then use a dryer sheet on baseboards to keep dust and dirt from collecting there.
   • I haven’t tried it but next time I clean the ceiling fan I am going to use a dryer sheet to see if it works there too.

10. Keep a trash can and liners next to your bed:

    • This makes it so you don’t have to get up to throw trash away.
    • Emptying the trash is easy because it is a smaller container than the usual kitchen trash can.
    • Wash the trash can once a week or spray with Lysol to kill germs.
    • Don’t forget to leave a roll of trash can liners under the new trash liner.  Now you always know where they are…just in case you have CRS like me.

11. If at all possible, have everyone leave their shoes at the front door:

    • Keep a mat outside the door for them to wipe their shoes off.
    • Keep another mat just inside the door to get any leftover dirt.
    • This will keep many germs and dirt from ever making it inside your house AND your bedroom.
    • Hopefully, this will keep things cleaner for longer and help your immune system by not inviting any more germs inside.

12. I have read that using vodka in your shower can keep mold away:

    • I’ve also read that it can be used on your mattress to kill odor-causing bacteria and bed bugs.
    • I use lavender and peppermint oil mixed with distilled water on my mattress every time I change my sheets.
    • I have also used hydrogen peroxide and baking powder on my mattresses:
      • Spray the peroxide all over the mattress
      • Sprinkle the baking soda until it covers the mattress and let it sit until dry then vacuum.
      • You will probably want to do this on a ‘good’ day because going back to bed won’t be an option for a while.

13. Don’t forget to clean your phone and phone cover:

    • Use rubbing alcohol all over but make sure the alcohol doesn’t get into any ports.
    • Did you know your phone can carry more germs than some of the germiest places in your home?

14. Clean your TV remote with rubbing alcohol:

    • Clean top to bottom and front to back plus the battery storage area.
    • Use a clean cloth and cotton swab to get to every nook and cranny.

15. Don’t forget the light switches and door handles:

    • These can carry germs from that flu you had in 1902…just kidding…but seriously, clean them.

16. Your favorite bathrobe needs some love too:

    • Maybe buy 2 at the same time and while you are washing one with the sheets you have another one at the ready.

17. Keep the baskets you keep your medications and supplements in clean:

    • In fact, wipe down all the bottles every so often too.

Here’s the link for the PRINTABLE PDF CLEANING CHECKLIST to download.

While not everyone does a spring clean, cleaning still needs to be done and having fresh bedding and a clean room can do wonders for your mood. I find I’m a little less grumpy if my room feels and smells good. I sleep better too! That’s why these cleaning hacks make everything better.

Some of us can hire someone to come in on a weekly or monthly basis but others have to do it themselves. Having a plan and some hacks to make it easier or tips that work well for us spoonies can make cleaning and organizing faster.

Try some of these tips and don’t forget to ask for help. There are lots of people who would jump at a chance to do something for someone. Check with your local church or youth groups and ask your friends on social media for recommendations of those wanting to volunteer. If you can’t find help then pace yourself and don’t overdo it.

You might also like 14 Steps For The Chronically Ill – Use Your Time More Effectively To Save Energy And (Hopefully) Avoid A Flare

Do you have other cleaning hacks or organizing tips? Please share with us in the comments?

I will be adding more cleaning and organizing hacks to this post over time as well as updating the printable cleaning hacks PDF. Let me know if you would like something added to the list by emailing me or commenting below. I look forward to hearing from you!

Here are some more spring cleaning tips you may like: How to Spring-Clean Your Entire House In a Day by House Beautiful

I love hearing all about how you tackle your struggles with chronic illness!

Do you have other tips you can share with us? Most spoonies have found workarounds for all types of things and I’d love to share your advice. Write a comment below or send me an email.

Chronic Chimera

Kim is a freelance blogger, writer and VA. She loves sharing resources for other “spoonies” to help them create lives they love. Hoarding crochet patterns on Pinterest is her second favorite thing.