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Daily Chores

Cooking Aids

Stool

 

For many people with ME/CFS or Long-COVID, the simple act of sitting for chopping, stirring, and other tasks makes cooking possible by reducing the energy/effort required by just enough not to trigger exhaustion or a full crash.

Image by Alyson McPhee

Ergonomic Kitchen Tools and Organization

 

  • Knives, peelers, measuring cups with padded handles can reduce the strain and effort in using them.

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  • Jar openers may be necessary if fatigue, weakness or joint pain are an issue. Some folks like the ones that attach under the counter and can be used one-handed while others prefer a “rubbery” style that just makes the normal opening action easier.

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  • Lighter-weight cookware like plastic bowls, lighter pots and pans, and aluminum (often meant as single-use) instead of heavy glass baking dishes are easier to move and manipulate.

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  • ​Keep cooking utensils and knives on the counter for easier access; make sure things you use the most are within reach.

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  • Use padded mats or slipper/shoes when you can’t sit, to decrease fatigue and foot pain.

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  • Replace standard shelves with shelves that roll out, if you can. 

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If you own your house/unit, you can claim up to $10,000 on your taxes under a disability housing accommodation.

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Cleaning Aids

Long-Handled Tools

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Brooms, mops, and dusters with extended handles can help avoid bending and reaching.

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Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

 

 

These can clean floors without physical exertion.

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Cleaning Caddies

 

Keep cleaning supplies in a caddy to avoid multiple trips, and keep them in an easy-to access location (safely away from pets and kids, of course!).

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Laundry Aids

Front-Loading Washers

 

For some, these are easier to load and unload than top-loading machines, while for others, the act of bending over and standing up can cause dizziness and nausea (especially if you have POTS or other orthostatic issues).​

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“Best thing I did: I got a front-loader washer/dryer set and put them up on a raised stand-thing. No pulling stuff out of a deep pit. No bending over to the floor.”

An ME/CFS patient in Manitoba

Grabber Tools

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Use these to pick up laundry without bending over.

Stools, Chairs, Tables

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  • Sit on a stool while folding laundry. 

  • Fold on a full-height table (instead of the coffee table or your bed), to decrease the need to bend and stretch.

  • Use the seat of your walker, a rolling chair, or rolling table, to transfer laundry to folding area.

General Strategies

Pacing

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Break tasks into smaller steps and take regular breaks.

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A Man Preparing a Salad

Planning

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Schedule chores during times of day when energy levels are higher.

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Month of January_edited.jpg

Assistance

 

If possible, enlist help from family, friends, or a cleaning service.

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Washing Dishes
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