Mastering Messes: My Love Affair with Vacuums

Mastering Messes: My Love Affair with Vacuums

My home is a lively and bustling place, filled with love from six humans and three furry companions. And, as someone living with chronic illness and chronic pain, I often find myself unable to do as much around the house as I would like due to my physical abilities. Simple household chores can quickly become overwhelming tasks. That's why having multiple vacuums, including ‘Doris’ our robotic vacuum, has been a game-changer for my family (And I have to admit, I have a small obsession with vacuums). With our five vacuum cleaners, we can easily stay on top of the mess without exerting the excess energy that I need for other aspects of our lives. It's a small adjustment that has made a big difference in our home, allowing us to focus on what truly matters while keeping our space clean and comfortable.

The Family

We are a busy household. My husband works hard at his job while also coaching rugby, and I have physical limitations due to my chronic illness that I need to work around. However, we both try to help each other out as much as possible. "My husband has taken on the role of my caregiver, and he likes to do as much as he can around the house to ease my burden. However, I also try to do what I can within my limitations to ease his burden.

Our two older sons are dedicated to their respective careers - one as an engineer who is always thinking, and the other as a carpenter who often brings sawdust home. Then there's my youngest son, following his father's footsteps onto the muddy rugby field. And, my little girl who loves anything crafting or baking.

The Furry Members

Adding to our bustling lifestyle is our dynamic trio - two gorgeous Beagles with dense short fur that tend to leave traces behind on every conceivable surface (we call it beagle glitter), and one mischievous mini Dachshund whose sole mission appears to be wreaking havoc on any mail that is popped through our letterbox, or one of her many toys she stumbles upon!

My Companion – The Vacuum

A home where messes are made quicker than they can be cleaned up! This is where our vacuum cleaners come into play; there are not just one but four different types, each playing its role perfectly in combating dirt around our home, including my best purchase in a long time our robotic vacuum ‘Doris’.

Considering my chronic illness that often acts as an unwanted hindrance, these machines truly lighten the load off both my and my husband’s shoulders after long days at work, enhancing our accessibility and comfort.

Vacuum Heroes- Everywhere To The Rescue

Here’s introducing our nifty little vacuum army – let’s start with my favourite, our iRobot vacuum. This autonomous device takes charge of cleaning the downstairs, making our lives a little less strenuous. Next, we have a dedicated upstairs vacuum which spares me the struggle of lugging one up and down the stairs, an ordeal that my illness makes particularly difficult.

A compact handheld vacuum finds its home on our kitchen counter - perfect for quick clean-ups around the countertops. The cordless vacuum is primarily intended to tackle the tricky staircases, sofas, and skirting boards, while we also have a traditional corded vacuum as a backup, all of which are essential cleaning tools.

I have a bit of a vacuum cleaner addiction.

Final thoughts:

Our household may be bustling with activity and more than its fair share of messes, but thanks to my beloved army of vacuum cleaners, I’ve found not just solace but also an unexpected ally amidst my chronic illness journey. And trust me when I say this – if you find yourself in a similar spot as mine, or also suffer from chronic illnesses, these tireless helpers could be your best friend too, enhancing both accessibility and comfort in the home.

About me

I am a married mother of four children, in my mid 40's. I run a small business and enjoy writing, which is why I blog. My blog focuses on my experiences of living with chronic illnesses and disabilities such as ME/CFS, spinal stenosis, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia.