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#cleaning tips
disabilityreminders · 8 months
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Tips for Cleaning
Cleaning is one of those tasks that a lot of us find exhausting, overwhelming or just overall daunting for a number of reasons. It could be related to executive dysfunction, disabilities or just feeling overall burnt out. 
While it’s a good reminder that your space not being clean doesn’t affect your worth in any way, sometimes being in a mess makes us feel worse and we really want to fix it. The question is, where can you start when it’s already so overwhelming? 
Please keep in mind that a lot of my suggestions might not work for you personally. And if that’s the case, that’s really valid but hopefully they can help you come up with your own ideas! 
This might be more overwhelming for some, so don’t do this if you think this wouldn’t work for you. But for me personally, I like to go into a room and make a list of that room. This list might include wiping things down, sweeping, moving garbage, etc. I do this for any and all rooms I have the energy for. Having a written list makes it feel less overwhelming to me. I can just pick an item and cross it off. I tend to cross off the quicker/easier items first because making my list look smaller makes it seem more manageable. You can break the tasks down as much or as little as you want. I personally like to have “wash dishes”, “put away dishes” as two separate tasks while others might just want to put “dishes.” 
If you can’t think of things to put on the list, I find that googling some generic cleaning lists helps me get started and reminds me of what tasks to include. 
Now I’d like to share some general tips for cleaning when it’s overwhelming that help me! 
Break it Into Little Steps
There aren’t really any major rules for cleaning. Things got a lot easier for me when I realized I don’t have to do it all at once. When I’ve had the dishes pile up in the past beyond a point of manageable for me, I made a deal with myself. Every time I went to use a new dish, I had to wash that dish and one other dish (or a couple utensils). This ensured that the pile gradually got smaller each time I used a dish but made it a manageable amount for me. 
The same can be said for things like folding laundry. I would fold a piece anytime I walked into my bedroom. I would pick up garbage anytime I walked by it and toss it. Over time, it felt like it looked more manageable and I was able to just focus and get it all done. Sometimes we find this helps us jumpstart the task because for me, starting is the hard part. But once I start, I’m able to keep going. Telling myself I only have to do “two dishes” or “dishes for 5 minutes” made it seem a lot more manageable to look at it as a small thing. But often I’d find as I got going that I was able to keep going. 
Combine it With Something You Enjoy
For me, cleaning while doing something I enjoy has helped a lot! I love to fold laundry while I watch my comfort show. It’s one of those tasks that I can do while still doing something I love. I find I don’t focus so much on the folding and the pile is getting smaller before I know it. 
Some other ideas of things you can do: 
Listen to a playlist that makes you feel pumped up (maybe even have a dance party if you're up to it.)
Listen to an audio book or podcast
Have a show playing in the background that you enjoy
While it’s considered its own thing as “body doubling” sometimes, having company helps. Even if that’s just talking to a friend on the phone, or even texting with a friend while we both clean our own spaces. It’s kind of like an accountability buddy and leaves me feeling like I’m not doing it alone. 
Make cleaning a game! This might include things like picking a colour and then only dealing with things with that colour like only folding blue clothing, washing blue dishes, etc. This might include rolling dice and assigning certain tasks to certain numbers. Or it might be something silly like cleaning while pretending you're your favourite character or even something like a robot. You could use mannerisms or phrases that they would use and react to things how you think they would. (It might be fun to pretend to be a villain having to do your own chores because your "minion" disappeared for the day. How unimpressed would they be? What would they say while they folded laundry?)
Adjust the Tasks to be Easier for You
One thing that holds me back from cleaning is I’m in a lot of pain usually. Things got a lot easier for me once I realized that I can make adjustments as needed. For me, even though I can’t do it all at once, I found sitting to sweep was really helpful! 
Other ideas:
Use disposable cleaning wipes. There are even disposable options for toilet wands and things like that! I found the act of filling up a bowl with hot water and cleaner to be the thing that would freeze me. Just grabbing a wipe, or using a spray and paper towel was a game changer for me. 
While a lot of people do this already, I’ve heard others that don’t but I definitely recommend soaking your dishes in hot, soapy water. It makes them significantly easier to wash. 
Get a duster with an extendable handle so you don’t have to get up on chairs or things like that. 
Invest in a grabber tool. This is a tool that can be used to grab things in hard to reach places, or if you have difficulty bending. 
Get a chair that's easy to move around. This can allow you to do tasks like sweeping or wiping stuff down while sitting. I personally have a rolling chair!
Some General Tips 
If you’re finding it too overwhelming to start, try setting a timer for something like “10 minutes” and then see what you can get done in 10 minutes. You could start by grabbing all the garbage, or clearing a table or something that’s straight forward and can help you start. 
Don’t overdo it. It’s okay to pace yourself. In fact, you should. Take your time getting caught up, and once you do, try to do something small every day rather than trying to cram a lot into one day. 
It’s okay to just do one thing. This kind of ties back into how I caught up on my dishes. My friend has to pack to move and she’s having to organize her things into what she’s packing, donating, or discarding. She made a deal with herself that each day she would handle a set number of items. (A number like 5, 10, or 15). If you need to de-clutter, planning on finding just 5 items a day to get rid of might be a good place to start. 
Find some structure. I personally like printing a cleaning planner that breaks down my weekly, monthly and sometimes tasks that are every few months. It also helps me because I’m not sure how often I should be doing things like cleaning out my fridge, or bigger tasks like that. Having a check list and when I should be doing it helps a lot. 
It’s okay to ask for help! I know that we often feel ashamed of asking for help, or showing someone our space if we don’t think it’s clean enough. But it is absolutely okay to ask a friend for help. My friend regularly found laundry exhausting and overwhelming. When it fell behind on her, it paralyzed her. I would go and fold her laundry for her. And it helped her feel less bad about that when she’d do me a favour. (For example, she loves to cook and I’m often too drained to, so she made me some meal prep.) 
Find products you like! I love using certain scented products and while I never get excited about cleaning, there is something I enjoy about smelling them! 
Focus on one room at a time if you can. When it’s overwhelming, I even just pick a corner of the room and work my way out. 
Reward yourself! This might not work for everyone, but I love doing this. If I do this one task, then I get to do something fun. I’ve actually assigned tasks certain point amounts because I love seeing my “points” climb up and then I get a bigger reward at bigger numbers. (Also I always recommend cute stickers for your lists!) 
Take a before picture or video. Sometimes, we find that we can’t see progress despite being at it for awhile. It’s easier to forget where you started and seeing the progress can be really motivating! 
You don't have to follow a set of rules! What I mean by this is it's okay if you don't put away your dishes. Just because you've been taught that's a part of doing dishes doesn't mean you have to put them away. If it doesn't bother you, it's totally okay to leave the clean dishes in the sink and use them as needed! Try and get it out of your head that you need to follow a certain set of rules and do what's right for you.
Cleaning is overwhelming. While a cleaner living space can make us feel better mentally, I do want to remind you again that living in a mess is not a moral failure. You aren’t less worthy if you’re in a mess. You are still worthy, valuable and enough as you are. 
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asafeplaceforus112 · 3 months
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I currently just feel so overwhelmed by cleaning
Does anyone have any ADHD cleaning tips?
Rant below
I have no clue on how to fix this but I'm sick of having no space and being treated by my parents like I'm a slob
You know even though they never bothered to teach me how to clean, how they clean is based on their dopamine "time to do this task now" and how I've never lived in a clean house my whole
I just feel so frustrated
Currently my brain thinks that if I get storage (because I do not, and it resulted in me just having shit everywhere)
I just feel so frustrated and it's keeping me awake and I just want to sleep and not think about this
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1ittle-sunshine · 3 months
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Hi little ones! If you're like me you suffer from task paralysis (thank you ADHD and Autism) so I've made a task cube! It's super simple. If you don't know where to start when cleaning a room, roll the task cube. If finishing up one task helps you start another, that's great! If you finish one and still don't know what to do next, roll again! Here's some cleaning tips for a big mess, get 3 different colored trash bags. One for clothes, one for trash and one for toys, then you can separate things as you need to and clean things individually once you have a clear space.
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pacificnorthwitch · 1 year
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ADHD brain hack: don’t clean the entire room.
Just pick up five things.
Five is a nice, round, attainable number. Your room won’t be fully clean, but you’ll have Improved the Space, even if only slightly, and it helps combat the “oh no I haven’t done anything today this space is getting gradually messier” feeling.
It also helps me when I’m having a REALLY hard time getting out of the “oh gosh where do I start there’s just so much” overwhelm because I don’t have to deal with ALL of it. Just the five easiest out-of-place objects. A pair of socks can count as two things if you’re having a bad day.
For example; I’m finally getting up to pee after willing myself to do so for like an hour. Already on my feet, so might as well put Shoes in the shoe spot, laundry in the basket, mug in the sink - that’s three things already! Toss a couple pieces of trash, and you’ve done it!! Every tiny bit helps!
For extra Modivational Juice, try to do this in a short time period, like while your water boils or you’re heating something in the microwave. The false sense of urgency gives me the Speed to get the five things done Fast!
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diycraftsnmore · 1 year
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🎥 kami.larae (TT)
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wifegideonnav · 4 months
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wanted to share this v important pair of videos from this woman on ig that i absolutely adore, nottheworstcleaner/brogan! she does free deep cleans for people in really unfortunate situations after starting as a psychologist studying the connection between mental health and cleaning.
the first video here talks about the negative effects of cleaning being used as a punishment for children, and the second talks about how to start overcoming that as an adult. personally, it was really revelatory and validating to watch these videos, and they helped me understand another level of why i find it so hard to clean. like i said, i love this account, brogan is so non-judgmental and positive, and really dedicated to truly helping people (i know she’s on tiktok too but i don’t know her @)
anyway, i hope this information can be helpful to other people as well! remember that there’s no shame in finding it difficult to keep your space clean. if you have trouble, that means there’s something there that hasn’t been addressed and needs help, and that - not getting the support you need - is not your fault no matter what! healing is possible, always.
side note: i don’t have the spoons rn to transcribe these videos, if anyone does i would be so grateful 🙏
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lowspoonsfood · 1 year
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Not sure if anyone brought this up yet, but! I bought one of these silicone over-the-sink drying racks for having more space drying dishes, and it turns out it's helpful in multiple aspects.
Too tired to hold the pot while your drain your pasta? Rest the pot on this, put the colander in the uncovered half of the sink, and just tip the pot towards the colander. Need to fill a bowl up with tap water but, once full, the container gets too heavy to lift from the inside of the sink? Set it on this and you wont strain your arms as much. Holding up a dirty dish to clean makes you exhausted? Rest it on here, scrub, rinse, bam you're done!
Of course, I clean it between uses, but it's pretty lightweight so it's not as tiring as washing, say, a full size plate. The one I have also rolls up and I can even fold it in half if I want to save space. All in all, a very good investment of like, $12
🚰
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bluebyrd-screaming · 9 months
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Very serious pro tip if you struggle with cleaning due to adhd: put a fucking basket under it
If there is clutter piling up in a specific area, go through it and throw out legitimate trash and then keep the rest in the basket. It makes the space visibly neater and it also has a clear number of simple steps for the cleaning (the steps being place in basket)
I know it kinda sounds goofy, but it has been really helpful for me because those objects are going there anyways but now they are organized
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daisiesonafield-blog · 8 months
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chatdomestique · 4 months
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ADHD/Executive Dysfunction Tip
Put at least one trash can in Every. Single. Room.
Especially pay attention to the spaces that tend to collect trash, and place your trash cans right next to them.
For me personally, my bedside table and my coffee table have been the worst spots in the past, so now both of them have small trash cans tucked underneath them. I also intend to get a trash can for my bathroom and another to put next to my desk.
Your whole house will be way cleaner if you do this, I swear, it’s life changing
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eastaltus · 1 month
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topdogslandscape · 3 months
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Property Clean Up Washington NC
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actually good cleaning hacks from someone who’s been through some shit
Get a steam mop I don’t care how much it is or cheap, just get one
if you have a pet invest in a wet dry vacuum, you will thank me.
get cleaning cloths you actually like the feel of, if you hate microfiber get a cheap set of tea towels and use them instead. Or chop up a dead tee shirt and use that.
plug in vacuums are 2x more powerful than non-plug in vacuums. You trade sucking power for mobility with cordless, so think that over when you get one.
buying a cheap mop every time one gets moldy is cheaper than having to deal with any mold you get from using a moldy mop.
invest in disinfectant/antifungal/antiviral/antibacterial liquid for your laundry, because that stuff makes getting rid of moldy musty musky shit easy. And it cleans your cleaning cloths without getting them greasy or soapy.
to fix “I accidentally left my clothes in the washing machine too long now they smell like mold” thing, you will need antifungal laundry liquid and the literal sun. Wash your clothes on the hottest setting you can with your clothing materials in mind, add the antifungal before you start, let it go for like 2 hours. And put it in the sun to dry. Repeat if it still smells moldy, until it doesn’t anymore, works like a charm!
to clean crystalline dog piss, you will need water, a steam mop, a wet dry vacuum (depending on if it’s in a carpet) dog cleaning spray or vinegar. Basically , rehydrate the piss, clean it up with dog spray or HOT vinegarish water, grab a steam mop and steam it (if not on carpet) and viola it should be okay now.
If it’s in the carpet you will need to rehydrate the piss, then just dowse the piss with water, use the wet dry vacuum to suck up the water, repeat until water comes up clean. Use whatever pet cleaner that’s good on your carpet to get the smell out, Patch test it in the corner of the carpet before you do it on the piss spot, soak up and remaining water from the carpet until it’s dry or blow dry it if you have to. And tada you have a cleaner carpet! The same works for dog shit too.
drain snakes are your best friend if you don’t remember to get the hair out the drain.
have one sponge for wiping down the sink and one for washing your dishes, because sometimes it’s easier to use a sponge to wipe down the sink than a cleaning cloth.
You can put sponges in the dishwasher and it cleans them REALLY WELL, do it everyday if you can.
Invest in a good glass cleaner for glass because when it gets greasy it’s hell.
Koh cleaner will literally cut through grease and oil, and fat. Like it wasn’t even there, if you don’t have the money white vinegar and bi-carbs does the same thing. Though be careful because it’s reactive and might destroy your countertop or pots, just invest in koh your life won’t be the same. (I can clean all the grease off things, that’s how good it works. Plus it doesn’t smell!!!)
Replace your toilet cleaner every 3 months, or make sure you don’t let it fester. That’s more of a hassle than replacing it every now and then.
Get a good dish soap, because you can use it for everything because of how mild it is.
After mopping always steam mop otherwise it will always be streaky or tacky, idk why but steam mops fix this 9/10 times.
there’s more, but I;m too tired.
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My mum recently opened a dance studio. She cleans the wood floors on her hands and knees with a spray bottle and rags. I was wondering if you could recommend a better tool or method. Sorry if this isn't your wheelhouse -- I just hate to see my mum working so hard!
First, I want you to give your mum a hand massage, or pay for one. That's incredibly hard work and I wish her well with the success of her new studio!
For application, just a regular mop and bucket with a wringer will work. Even if it's from the dollar store, that's okay. The chemical you're using is going to be the important part
As for recommendations, there are a few brands I'm going to throw out and then we'll look at everything they have in common and differ from in case they aren't available to you
Swish - Wood and Floor Cleaner
Diversey - Bona Commercial System Hardwood Floor Cleaner
Murphy - Original Oil Soap Concentrate
Now, I am partial to the Swish cleaner just because it's EcoLogo certified meaning it has no harmful chemicals in it and it wont smell strongly in an enclosed space (The VOC isn't even applicable to the SDS Sheet)
That being said, all three are going to have different PH levels with the Swish brand being the most basic at 4.25-5.25, Diversey at 6.0 - 8.0, and the Murphy at 11.0. This is important.
If you know that the floor still has the original factory wax on it, you want a cleaner that's as close to neutral as possible (Swish does have a neutral floor cleaner as well that I've found works great) meaning something that has hydrogen peroxide in it and/or with a PH as close to 7 as you can get.
If you're unsure weather the floor has wax on it or not, now would be the time to find out. You may have to strip, clean, and re-coat the floor (Waxing keeps the floor from getting scuffed or damaged which keeps it healthier longer - especially wood)
As always, one capful of vinegar to 4L of warm water is the simplest thing you can do. It won't prevent or upkeep the floor but it will keep it clean enough for the time being. For a wood floor, this is not a permanent solution.
Now, I know this is a lot of information to wrap your head around. I understand if this is really confusing, after all, who knew that flooring needed such special care! But take the time to consider and plan with your mum on what you think is the best course of action
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princetofbone · 7 months
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you feel like a wreck? your room is a disaster? Let's fix it.
This process sucks to do and it can take a long time to get your room fully clean/refreshed, but this method works for me. Please note that you can take many breaks in between these steps
turn off your lights/fans/any noise- if you are like me, even thinking about dealing with your room can give you a headache
put all your clean clothes in piles according to where they need to live (i will fold my pants and lay out my shirts so i can put them on hangers more easily during this process)
now that a lot of your floor space is probably visable, get all the trash- I've been mia for a while bc i forgot about some food in my room and now i have *mice* which is awful- so get your trash out of the room
make a pile of things that need to live not in your room- mugs, plates, suitcase- whatever it is, make a pile
now that you've stopped looking at your clothing for a while, put it away (and put your laundry)
make piles of everything- clothing pile, paper pile- making a pile means it is condensed but you don't have to deal with it right now, which can be helpful
put your piles away
now that the floor is clean (hopefully), take some time to vacuum/mop- it does a lot
now change your clothes into smth a little fancier than your sweats- vacuuming is a workout and you are undoubtedly a little sweaty
now we start on tidying your surfaces- put things where they belong, and focus on one thing at a time- i will focus on only my vanity, then only my desk, then only my dresser- it makes it less stressy
wipe everything down with a damp cloth
make your bed
if you are feeling funky spray a nice scent in the air
now go take a nap or chug some ice water
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pastel-charm-14 · 4 days
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how to organize your room and keep it that way
a lot of people think of their rooms as just a place to dump stuff, but that's not the case! so here are a few tips on how to keep your room clean. it's not just for super organized people either; these are things anyone can do.
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-have a dump bin
have a place to throw things like clothes/extra items you have/anything you want to put away in the moment but will put away later. this keeps stuff off of your floor.
-sleep on top of your covers
put a blanket at the bottom of your bed instead and use that. this is so you don't have to make your bed every single morning to keep it looking decent.
-have a place to put all your papers
have a spot to put school notes, receipts, volunteer forms, coupons, anything you want to keep in a safe spot. it's hard to organize papers if you don't have a place to put them! you can get some cute dividers from staples/walmart/target, wherever. hanging folders also help keep things tidy.
-have garbage/recycling bins
kind of an uncommon tip, but yeah. bigger ones work better because they can hold more before you have to empty them. not huge but big enough so that you don't have to empty them all the time. set a time to empty the bins so it doesn't just accumulate and it looks nicer.
-use under-bed storage
this one is super important! have a bunch of bins/bags under your bed if you can to hold things you want to keep but don't know where to put. like extra bags/makeup etc.
-group "like" items
if you have drawers/bins, have a different category for each drawer/bin. plastic bins with different compartments like from walmart or ikea work really well for this.
-use hangers
this helps you avoid just throwing clothes on your floor or bed. you just hang whatever it is up and deal with it later (more on that in a sec). this works for bags too!
-purge regularly
dedicate some time each week to cleaning out your dump bin and putting stuff on your hangers away. set a reminder on your phone or put it in your planner to remember.
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