Cleaning the home of a cancer patient can be a challenge. Odors from cleaning products may be offensive or even trigger nausea. If the patient is incontinent or has frequent vomiting, those odors may be permeating bedding or carpets. but because a cancer patient may have a weakened immune system, it is important to keep the home clean to prevent illness.
Prevent Odors
Treat urine or vomit stains using a product made with enzymes to break down residue on carpets or mattresses. Nature's Miracle is one such product that is safe to use around humans and pets and has no perfume cover-up smell.
Avoid using chemical spray fresheners. Open the windows if possible to air out the home. Place shallow dishes of vinegar in the kitchen to soak up cooking odors. Sprinkle baking soda in trash cans and on carpet to absorb unpleasant smells.
Clean floors with water instead of powerful-smelling floor cleaners. Add about a tablespoon of mineral oil to the wash water to make vinyl floors shine.
Kill Germs
Clean the kitchen carefully to avoid transmitting food-borne illness to the cancer patient. If you use a kitchen sponge, run it through the dishwasher each night or zap it in the microwave for 30 seconds each day. Replace the sponge once a week. Sponges are the perfect breeding grounds for germs.
Scrub cutting boards thoroughly before and after use. Do not use the same board for meat and other foods. Clean spills in the refrigerator right away and throw out left overs before they begin to go bad.
Change bed linens weekly or when they become soiled. Use plastic mattress covers to keep bodily fluids from seeping into the mattress. Use cotton sheets and wash them in hot water and bleach to kill germs. Clean up urine stains, feces and vomit immediately. Wash towels after they have been used a couple of times. Damp towels in a humid bathroom provide a place for germs to breed.
Avoid Noise
Vacuum the house when the cancer patient is away or outdoors if possible if noise is bothersome. Noise can sometimes trigger nausea or anxiety. Be conscious of making unnecessary noise while cleaning and avoid cleaning while the patient is sleeping.
Add Beauty
Boil cinnamon or vanilla on the stove to provide a natural pleasing fragrance to the home if the cancer patient can tolerate it. Bring broad-leafed plants indoors to help keep the air purified while adding beauty. Place fresh flowers around the house to add some cheer and sweet fragrance.
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