[BlindTlk] House Cleaning

Sun Jul 18 04:01:49 UTC 2021

Judy, thanks for this amazing post. Yes, I'm talking a dry mop with a detachable head.

On Saturday, July 17, 2021, 06:55:07 PM EDT, Judy Jones via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote: 

Hi, Jen,

I take it you're talking dry mopping and not wet mopping?

One trick to vacuuming/mopping is to do it barefoot!  Any dirt you missed on a floor, you will feel it underfoot.

Again, my mom, my original "teacher" always did floors in bare feet, as it was comfortable for her, and is a great technique for me as I can't see the dirt.

If you use a vacuum, you can hear the dirt being sucked up into the unit.

Decide ahead of time when mopping where you want your dirt pile.  You can pick an outside doorway, an alcove, or corner.  You will need a dust pan and brush or broom to sweep the pile off the floor and throw it out.

The only thing I don't like about mopping is that you really can't see whether or not you are getting everything.  I do my floors the good old way by using a five-gallon bucket  of warm soapy water and rag.

If you have wood floors, you can put a drop of Dawn or detergent in a five-gallon bucket of water and damp wipe.

I would recommend getting a light electric broom if you have non-carpeted floors, or a regular vacuum if you have any carpeting.

I first vacuum up everything I can get, and I do the room in overlapping squares, starting around the edges of furniture or walls, then working around the room and covering the middle at the last.  However you do it, keep track of where you are in your room and do it a section at a time.

After the vacuuming is when I do the bucket and rag method mentioned above.

Maybe this is my lack of skill, but I have found that when I try to use a mop, wet or dry, although I have covered all my area, I tend to miss some.

There is nothing like feeling for yourself with your hands, which will require you to get on your hands and knees to do the spots you missed and know for sure you have a clean area.

One thing you can do with a dust mop is to regularly wipe your walls down to keep dust from collecting.

>From time to time, of course, you can ask a sighted person if you've missed anywhere as you get more familiar with a total cleaning.

You'll find techniques of your own if you keep in mind to use your hands to check for cleanliness.

Judy

-----Original Message-----
From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jen via BlindTlk
Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2021 3:28 PM
To: Humberto Avila via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jen <spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [BlindTlk] House Cleaning

I've never used a vacuum before, so I'm practicing with a mop. The challenge for me is - how to keep all the dirty stuff in one pile without spreading it around? And not forgetting where I am?

On Saturday, July 17, 2021, 06:23:07 PM EDT, Humberto Avila via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote: 

Hello Jen, 

I, just like Justin, am a bachelor. Or at least, as long as I can still live in apartment an. I'm currently in career transitioning, but that's another story. 

Anyways, it really is possible to keep an apartment / home clean. What I've usually done, is make sure that the cleaning around the table, kitchen and counter areas I use every day are always clean, daily. I use disinfectant wipes and water. I usually clean in a grid pattern. For example, clean the area(s) moving vertically over the surface, and when you are done, move horizontally over said surface. But the key is to always be proactive and do it as often as possible. The concept applys also to floors. I bought a portable, battery powered vacuum cleaner that I can use for cleaning floors, and can also do corners quite well. It seems to work for me. As per windows, I always use Windex, cleaning and applying it with paper tissue, the thick variety. 

Hope it helps. 

> On Jul 17, 2021, at 2:27 PM, Jen via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Floor sweeping, cleaning windowsills and dusting. Is it even possible for a blind person to keep an immaculate house, or is sighted assistance always needed?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Saturday, July 17, 2021, 05:02:19 PM EDT, Jim Portillo via BlindTlk <blindtlk at nfbnet.org> wrote: 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hi there,
> I think you're going to have to be more specific. There are certainly 
> techniques, but what are you wanting to clean or have look nice?
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: BlindTlk <blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jen via 
> BlindTlk
> Sent: Saturday, July 17, 2021 12:31 PM
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Jen <spiderweb1 at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: [BlindTlk] House Cleaning
> 
> Are there alternative techniques for cleaining what you can't see so 
> the house is immaculate? Thanks.
> 
> 
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