Spondylitis Association of America Forums General Discussion Women Only Message Board House cleaning

If I had the money and didn't have the kids and clutter, I would get a roomba and a mint to help keep the floors clean.

I would kill for a roomba.

On my good days, I do the house cleaning. Both my parents work and they work long hours. My mom will help on my bad days. My 24-year old brother works strange hours and sleeps during the day. He thinks that since he works, and I do not, that I should do his laundry and clean after him. No matter what I tell him about ways he can help by taking his dirty laundry down or taking his dirty dishes out of his room, I almost always end up cleaning up after him Uugghhhh! I do most of the laundry, vaccuum, and do some of the cooking.

I have a good strategy of doing the laundry every other day and vaccuuming every two weeks. On the days I vaccuum, I also use a Swiffer to mop the tile floors in the kitchen, entry, and bathrooms. Since I do not have to bend over too much, the Swiffer has been a life saver. On the days I do all of the laundry, Swiffering, and vaccuuming, I usually am very tired after I finish the house cleaning. I either go swimming (if it is not raining outside) or get cleaned up and change into my PJs and watch a DVD or read.


I wonder how this will work out when I get hired for a full time job and I will not be able to do the most of the house cleaning as often. I may have to do the house cleaning over weekends or some evenings instead.

Diagnosed with AS in September 2010
On Remicade once every eight weeks
Methotrexate: 6 pills once a week
Folic acid and B-12 everyday

You are right JenInCincy I need to give up control and accept I have As. Lately I have been dwelling on the negative (everything I can't do and think I need to do) therefore I am soooo unhappy. Any ideas how I can snap out of this?

I find at times I struggle with cleaning....I tend to try and push myself and then regret it later. I own a daycare and well have 3 year old twins so cleaning is a must...I know down the line I will have to hire help...my husband works 6-7 days a week 12 hour days...I already feel bad for leaning on him for extra stuff when he already works so hard...good thing he thinks I am cute

Hi Tammy - There is lots of self-help advice out there - here's one example: http://www.debramoorhead.com/blog/index.php/how-to-conquer-persistent-negative-thoughts/ If her ideas don't solve the problem (which would not shock me!) then probably professional help is needed to get over the hump. Persistent negative thoughts are a problem that can be addressed with counseling and/or medication. My partner takes a drug called risperidone to help manage his persistent negative thoughts which are a product of his bipolar disorder. It has helped him a lot. I'm not saying you have bipolar - just that I have firsthand knowledge of someone with this problem who did well under a psychiatrist's care. I would imagine that some cognitive/behavioral therapy re: accepting the new reality of living with AS would also be a huge benefit, too.

Good luck! Let us know how you are doing!!

I try to do a little each day. I will spend one day on laundry. the next on dusting, the next on the bathrooms, the next on vaccumming and mopping up the spots. One day is devoted to kitchen, refrigerator etc. I can't do it all in one day. The house is never fully clean at one time but it works for me. My dr told me I should get a housekeeper but the one I hired was not quiet up to my standards. I went back over the house after she left and still found dirt and dust. I am not going to pay someone to half clean the house.

I am so glad to find this thread! I am not diagnosed but have been having symptoms for years. This morning I made the bed and washed down the bathroom sinks. It kills me to bend over slightly, so things like sweeping, dishes, making beds, etc can be torture. I also have trouble using my arms, especially in an "up" position like when folding laundry or fixing my hair. Does anyone have trouble like that, too?

It is so nice to not feel alone!

Two years ago, my husband bought me the best little gift. It is a stick vacuum called the Eureka Quickup. My husband does the vacuuming, but in between all those little things on the floor drive me crazy and make me feel helpless when I can't do anything about it. But with the stick vac I can pick them up easily. This one works well on carpeting and floors. I mention the brand because I have had others in the past that didn't work for me at all.

Sunflower, I have what for now they are calling chronic teninitis in my wrists and something wrong at the elbows, too. I have trouble with fixing my hair, too. So you are not alone there, either. Holding the telephone has been a thing of the past for me, too. I use a headset. I have to be really careful with keyboards and pointing devices, too. I use a touchpad instead of a mouse. Holding a book for long is not great, either. I'm sure there are more things, but it is hard for me to remember all of my limitations!

Brenda, I am with you on the stick vac. I have all hardwood floors, and I used to just dust mop. the problem was that I then had this pile of dirt I was unable to sweep up. So I got a stick vac that is convertable. It can be a little stick vac, or a hand vac, and has a crevice tool, all parts are easily interchanged, and it weighs less than 8 pounds. As for holding a book, have you looked at a NOOK or Kindle? These e-readers have covers that can double as a stand, and dont require the hand stregth and such that many books do. As for hair, I went short, with the instruction to my stylist being I need to be able to wash brush and walk away. She provided me with a short doo that works well.