Cleaning and laundry equipment

This section includes equipment that may assist with cleaning the house and doing the laundry.

Vacuum cleaners and powered sweepers that may be lighter in weight, have adapted controls or may function automatically.

Long handled dustpans and brushes may assist you if you have difficulty bending to the floor to use a regular dustpan and brush. Some have a lid which closes automatically when lifted from the floor.  

Mops, dusters and window wipers that are longer or adjustable in length may help you clean awkward spaces, prevent you from over reaching, or may assist if you have pain or stiffness in your wrists, elbows or shoulders.

Wall-mounted, pull out and table top ironing boards. Pull out boards are usually made to fit into suitably sized drawer space in kitchen cabinets, with the board fixed to pull-out runners. Wall mounted boards can be fixed at a height that allows you to sit during ironing, but can be folded against the wall when not in use. Table top boards can be placed on a table which may enable you to sit whilst ironing - they tend to be smaller than standard ironing boards and therefore may not be as appropriate to use when ironing larger items.  

Clothes dryers including adjustable height washing lines or racks may assist if you have mobility difficulties or if you use a wheelchair, as a standard washing line may be difficult to reach. A tumble dryer is an alternative way to dry clothes if you are unable to use a clothes rack or washing line.

Bottle holders may enable you to carry bottles or filled by users who find it difficult to reach for or hold them in place, due to reduced strength in the arms and hands or a limited range of movement.  

Brushes, scourers and holders are designed to assist with washing dishes, but may also be used for other household cleaning tasks. Included are sponge holders with moulded handles, sponges with longer handles and scrubbers with adjustable grips. These can be useful if you have reduced movement in your wrists or hands, or experience pain in hand, arm or shoulder joints.