Day 13: What is "Deep Clean"?

Today, we're touching on a subject that many cleaning books and schedules will go over, often with monthly or bi-weekly tasks that keep deep clean items on a regular rotation.

So, what is the definition of deep clean? Basically a deep clean is all the tasks that a regular clean wouldn't cover that you'd be expected to complete before selling your home, or leaving your rental. We're talking wiping down the insides and outsides of cupboards, cleaning behind the stove and fridge, cleaning the inside of the dishwasher, washer, dryer, etc.

These tasks only need to be done every six months to a year. They certainly aren't a main priority for people with  chronic conditions (unless your condition requires a hospital-level of sanitation). They are something to keep in mind, however, as some of them can help extend the life of your home appliances.

Today, we're going to determine what deep clean items we want to worry about, and which items are less important. This way, we can customize a schedule that suits our family, our budget (if we're hiring this out), and our unique needs.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Some appliance cleaning tasks will help extend the life of the appliance. Certainly this is a great place to start with your deep cleaning schedule. See this guide on what tasks will help your appliances last as long as possible.

Some cleaning tasks will make an impact on you personally and your condition. These positive-impact items should be done more frequently to help you give yourself the tools you need to do your best with what you have. (Think washing windows inside and out to get a clear, beautiful view outside, sanitizing all around the bathroom if you have a condition that drags you in there all the time, ensuring your home's filters are changed/cleaned regularly if allergens pose a threat).

Hiring out a deep cleaning may be a great way to get caught up, or just check these items off. According to Angie's List expect to pay an average of $227 for a whole-home deep clean. See day 6 to see how to earn money from home to help cover this expense.

Here is my deep cleaning schedule, based on my needs. Yours may look very similar or quiet different, just be sure to think through what your circumstances need.


Every-Other Month

• Clean and sanitize:
• Fridge
• Cupboard fronts (and insides as needed)
• Bathtub/showers
• Behind and around the toilet
• Oven inside
• Wash:
• Windows
• Doors
• Walls and baseboards as needed
• Run a sink full of water and cleaner down disposal

Every Six Months

• Replace/Clean
• heater/A/C filter
• Filter in washer/dryer
• Dryer hoses
• Dishwasher filter
• Oven filter
• Clean
• Blinds/drapes
• Storage Areas
• Replace fire alarm batteries

Every Year (or so)

• Hire/get help to do a thorough deep clean

Keep in mind, these are predicated upon my body's needs. What once I may have done monthly or bi-weekly, I'm now doing bi-monthly. Is it ideal? Well, no. Is it functional, yes! Surprisingly most people don't go around inspecting your blinds and such for dust when they enter your home, especially when you are stuck on the couch. 

Learning to live with your condition isn't expecting perfection, it's accepting yourself and the way you work with love. 

So, look around you, look at your individual needs and put together a schedule that although imperfect, is workable for you. Then remember that much of the deep cleaning that needs to be done can be helped by family and friends. The next time someone asks you "what can I do to help?" tell them, my blinds haven't been cleaned in ages, do you think you could do just a couple for me?

Then be sure to show your gratitude, no matter the answer. If needed, your blind's dust will wait for you to have a good day to get to it! 

31 Days to a Chronic Clean

Day 18: Begin Organizationish

Back when I was fully capable of any and all everyday activity, I loved organizing things. I would organize our pantry every month or so, ensuring that all the cans and boxes of food were facing out, the shelves looked freshly-painted white, even labeling things (clearly I needed a life).

Organization, when you deal with a chronic condition that limits your ability is much more practical. I mean, I'm pretty sure I can figure out where the boxed pasta is, without a label directing me, you know?

So today, we'll start becoming organized in ways that are super helpful for life in our circumstances.

First thing we'll tackle is what I call condition-related organizers. These organizers are not for those without physical difficulties, they wouldn't know what to do with them. They are for those of us who need things like medications, tissues, activities to do, pain journals, etc.

To begin, think about where you spend the most time, and where you do different things. Maybe it's the kitchen, maybe you're like me and there is a couch or recliner where you often are, maybe it's your bed. Wherever the majority of living happens when your condition is at it's worse is where we're working today.

To organize this space, you'll first need to determine everything you'd like to have within hands reach. Here's my list to help you formulate your own (with explanations as needed).

List of Items for Condition-Related Organizer (next to recliner)

• Medications
• Lotion
• Hairspray, spray-bottle, brush (to do hair with)
• Mascara, lip gloss, hand mirror (to get ready) 
• Tissues
• Journal, pens and pencils (to help record life)
• Scissors (Surprisingly always handy)
• A couple grocery sacks (for quick garbage containers)
• Sunblock (so I can put it on the kiddos when they want to play in the back) 
• TV remote
• Water bottle

My laptop also could be added, although it's kept separate from everything else. 

Other ideas could include wet wipes, non-perishable snacks, other medical supplies, etc. 

So, all of this stuff is SUPER handy to have within hands reach. Having it already set-up for me ensures that if I wake up in the morning and start feeling weak, I can get to the couch and not have to worry about whether or not I have what I need. I basically have everything I need to survive several hours (except maybe a toilet...). 

All this stuff is also a total mess just left out on the end table, but it makes life so much more efficient. Today we'll ensure our life is efficient AND organized by finding a simple organizer for our items. Desk organizers work GREAT for this purpose. I found one that's pockets fit my medicine bottles perfectly! You can find basic ones inexpensive, or splurge a bit on a decorative organizer that goes with the space you love (keep in mind, you will be using this frequently!). Just be sure that everything fits easily, with a bit of excess room for that item you are sure to want to add later. 

Depending on your circumstance, you may have two condition-related (or more) spaces. Perhaps there are a million things you use in the bathroom, or when you wake up. Wherever you need a lot of random items to make life work smoothly with as little extra effort as necessary, set-up an organizer and get everything you need, right where you need it. 

It's just another way we can make ourselves more independent, and save our energy for the important things in life :) 

31 Days to a Chronic Clean

Day 12: Enjoy the Lush Feeling of Falling on Clean Surfaces

Yesterday we talked about how to approach more difficult tasks, like vacuuming and mopping (although for each chronic condition, these chores may be more or less difficult).

Today, we're making space for our bodies to be complicated by enjoying that progress.

So, whenever your body hits this day, enjoy the feeling of having cleaned your space. As much as I hate being stuck on the floor during a cataplexy attack, it's so much nicer when the floors are clean. It reminds me of what I can accomplish, even though some days are hard.

So when you need to take a break, look around your chosen space, and rejoice in the daily tasks of cleaning you've been doing each day to help keep this space a space where you can be, without stress, on bad days.

We'll hit it again tomorrow!

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean.

Day 11: Vacuuming, Mopping and other "Normal" Cleaning

Hello all, and welcome to day 11. Today, we're going to talk about something that for non-chronic sufferers is a one-line to-do item.

For those of us unique enough to struggle with chronic conditions, it's a bit more complicated than that.

It's time to discuss normal cleaning chores like vacuuming and moping and other chores, that for you may present challenges.

I used to love vacuuming. Something about the smell of cleaning, mixed with all those pretty straight lines in the carpet, I dunno, it just spoke to me, I guess. Mopping?! Yeah, I was a sucker for shiny, beautiful floors.

On hard days, with my chronic condition, these normal cleaning activities are frequently ignored. Why? Because my walker can still easily navigate floors that don't shine. Floors left untidy are a bit more difficult, so they are a bigger issue for me. Also, these chores require time, often standing/walking. That can be hard to do when I'm weak. It's just not a quick 5 minute job. Finally, the noise of the vacuum can be a trigger for my condition, and we all know that part of respecting chronic conditions is learning how to pro-actively treat them.

What normal chores do you struggle with? They may be these, they may be others.

Today, our focus is on adjusting our life to accept our limitations, and still accomplish these normal chores. I'll walk you through the adjustments I've made, and hope they help you to honor your own situation and still maintain a level of clean.


First, it's important to note what "the issues" are for your situation. I've already talked through this, but here's my listing for both vacuuming, and mopping.


Why Vacuuming is Hard

• Time it takes (about 20 minutes for the main living areas) 
• Physical strain of standing/walking/pushing and pulling
• Additional time spent unrolling cord, plugging in, emptying container, re-rolling cord, etc.

Why Mopping is Hard

• Physical strain of pushing mop hard enough to remove dirt/standing/walking
• Set-up time required
• Time it takes to complete

Writing this list, I realize that pre-condition me wouldn't have thought twice about these issues. Remember though, that's why we're here and not reading the latest cleaning best-seller. What is easy for people with bodies that function predictably day in and day out, isn't as easy for us. 

That is alright! We're smart enough to work around it. 

Once we understand why the tasks we've identified are hard, we can start to find solutions. Keep in mind, calling in help is an acceptable solution, depending on your situation. 

I decided that rather than stress over always having perfectly clean floors, I'd accept that these two tasks wouldn't happen as often. Is the inner clean freak panicking? Remember that being limited is part of our lives and choosing in what way to limit yourself is infinitely more satisfying than allowing your condition to make the rules. 

Now, I do time cleanings to try to align with when people might come over, as well as when my family and I have strength to do them. Rather than set a weekly time that my body is sure to break with, I instead tackle these tasks whenever I have the strength to do them, and record when they were done so I can monitor how often I'm doing them and adjust as needed. 

I've also adjusted the tools I use and how I use them. For example: 

• I replaced the regular sponge mop with a light-weight steam mop (steam mops can simply go over a trouble area multiple times to remove, without needing to use elbow grease). 
• I use a stable, wheeled chair when mopping instead of standing (be wise with this, obviously).
• For my birthday I asked for a robotic vacuum (this model) when it was on sale.
• Vacuum more efficiently (see this great, how-to) 
• Get assistance (I've trained my kids to help with these tasks, and it's seriously paying back big!)

Finally, I try to keep the need for cleaning at a minimum by using wet wash-cloths on sticky spills right away and using house-slippers instead of shoes that may track dirt around. If you can minimize the mess from the start, you're only helping yourself! 

A final note, we don't have pets that add to the problem, but I understand that pets can require much more vacuuming and such (not to mention care overall). Keep this in mind if you are a chronic sufferer looking to get a new pet and try to choose something that again, minimizes the need for additional work, if possible. 

See 31 days to a Chronic Clean.