Cleaning is hazardous to my health.

[poltr1]

A few days ago, athenawindsong suggested "microtasking" to me: doing a job for 5 minutes at a time. Although I'd probably expand it out to 15 minutes. I'd also want to do 1-2 microtasks a night when I'm home, when I have the energy to do so.

Last night, I tackled a job that I've been putting off: washing clothes in a laundry basket that had been sitting in front of my dryer since R moved out last fall. I thought they were all R's old maternity clothes, which is why I kept putting it off. But I can't use them, and it doesn't serve me to hoard them. So I finally washed them, with the hope of donating them or giving them to someone who could use them.

Inside the basket, I found more than maternity clothes. I found some old bedsheets and a comforter. I think these are from when I still had a full-size bed. I found some of R's non-maternity clothes. These will be hung up in her old closet. And I found some of M's old clothes as well. I don't think I can sell or give away M's old swimsuits (due to health department regs), so they went in the trash.


And the basket contained lots of dust as well. So much so that I had trouble breathing for an hour. I often think after-the-fact about wearing a dust mask when I do this sort of cleaning, but they're not very comfortable to wear.

Because I get so sick when I clean, it's a job that typically gets put off. I think it's a form of asthma. I should tell my doctor about this, so he can prescribe an on-demand inhaler for me. But I think he'd like to see the symptoms first-hand.

I've given some thought about hiring a cleaning service for future jobs, but 1) they cost too much, and 2) they'd probably throw out things I'd want to keep.

Maybe what I need to do is to have 1-2 trusted friends over to help me with cleaning tasks.

Comments

[yourmommma.livejournal.com]

My doc accepted my explanation of coughing and wheezing when I am exposed to dust, cleaning solvents, pollen or when I exercise heavily and prescribed a fast acting inhaler. I also sometimes wheeze and gurgle at night. First time asthma is becoming very common in adults so it might not take as much as you think for him or her to prescribe one for you.

[dagonell.livejournal.com]

Now try medicating a cat. Our little bit had constantly runny eyes. The vet asked if we had ever seen her sneezing. I replied, yes, everytime she comes down from the attic with a faceful of cobwebs. Turns out that was it. So, now she has little cat meds. :D
-- Dagonell

[yourmommma.livejournal.com]

I forgot that I have a couple of other cleaning tips with allergies: wear gloves even if you don't have a contact allergy and when you deal with something very dusty, spray it with a light mist of water to keep it from blowing up into your face.

As for you, Dag, with your kitty medication--you sure know how to have fun! I would rather do plenty of things other than give a kitty meds. :)

[poltr1]

I have. The cats like to spit out the pills. I found a device that holds the pill and has a plunger that pushes it into the back of the cat's mouth, reducing (but not eliminating) the chances of pill rejection.