Handy household hints

To prevent injury or avoid further damage

• When making a cup of tea only fill the kettle with the amount of water required so that the kettle is not too heavy to lift.
• To drain vegetables or pasta do not lift the saucepan from the stove. Instead, place a colander in the sink, place a wooden bread board next to the cook top and slide the saucepan from the cook top across to the board. Slide the board and saucepan together along the bench top until you reach the sink and simply tip the contents into the colander while keeping the pan balanced on the drainer.
• When ironing, either lower the ironing board and sit to iron, or adopt a stride stance and move your weight from one foot to the other, instead of standing front onto the ironing board and rotating from side to side.
• Use a trolley to carry laundry to the line. Lower the line as much as possible to avoid reaching when hanging the washing out or taking it off the line. When taking sheets off the line fold them on the line by folding the sheet in half and then half again before pulling it off. If gripping is a problem use push on pegs.
• When vacuuming, use an upright vacuum cleaner or if you have to use a barrel or in built system, place the vacuum hose behind you and support the hose with your left hand while using the right hand to operate the vacuum head. This will stop you bending too far forward.
• Do not sit for prolonged periods of time in front of the TV or home computer and change your posture frequently.
• When knitting or doing embroidery, sit well back in the chair and support your arms on pillows to minimise the strain on your shoulder muscles.
• When peeling vegetables, use large handled utensils and sit at the kitchen bench to rest your back and legs.
• Whenever possible use modern technology to minimise effort – food processors, beaters, microwaves. Microwave rice cookers make excellent rice.
• Think about using fibre technology cleaning which minimises effort, is good for the environment, and saves you carrying heavy buckets of water when you mop.