Laundry From Your Wheelchair: Managing the Chore Solo

It can be tricky doing all the chores you did before you were paralyzed. Even if you’re a T12 paraplegic, there’s tough things you’ll encounter – dusting ceiling fans, wiping bathroom mirrors, vacuuming stairs; boring chores no one wants to do but must be done. And one of the toughest, doing the laundry.

People with disabilities however tend to make rather mundane things more interesting, and these videos showing some of their best laundry tricks prove. There are loads of issues you can run into doing laundry sitting down – reaching into the washer/dryer, using stackable machines and so much more. Check out some of their clever tricks below.

Video #1: Using a stackable washer and dryer from a manual wheelchair

Our first video comes from Kristen of Living Able, a woman with Spina Bifida who loves making videos showing how she can manage her home on her own. In this video, “Saving Space: How to use a stack-able washer and dryer from a wheelchair,” she shows her very smart tip for using a stacked washer/dryer completely independently.

Her secret – she uses her handy dandy 22″ reacher. It seems like an obvious idea sure, but it takes a certain finesse to do it without getting incredibly frustrated, and she’s perfected exactly how to do it. The reacher is great for reaching in deep to get the wet clothes way back and then throwing them up into the dryer. She also uses a broom to turn on the dryer.

Kristen also shares a few cool tips, such as on how to make a homemade reacher and how to make sure you never lose a sock again. Watch Kristen’s stacked laundry video

Video #2: A recommended washer for wheelchair-users + washing tips

Our second video comes from the adorable couple Anita and Craig who are both wheelchair-users and it shows how they manage the laundry in their home. They run the blog walkingwayoverrated.blogspot.com and this video is one of their many helpful videos showing how you can do nearly anything without being able to walk.

In their video titled, “Laundry, Craig Style!” Anita films her husband as he shows how he uses their washing machine – a front-loading machine; the only way to go for a wheelchair-user they say (agreed). Plus they share a whole bunch of other tips.

My favorite of their tips – how shaking your laundry before throwing it in prevents wrinkles (and eliminates the need to iron. Win!). They also show how a cloth laundry bag is a must for toting laundry on your lap. Watch Anita & Craig’s kitchy cute laundry video

Video #3: Quadriplegic shows how he inserts coins in washer @ laundromat

And finally, if you have paralyzed fingers you will totally appreciate this video from youngd81, an active C5-6 quad who uses a manual chair. In his video, “Laundry Part2,” he shows how he uses a coin laundry machine completely on his own.

A crazy difficult task no doubt, he shows the patience and carefulness required to successfully pull it off. Anyone who’s been in this position can especially appreciate his talent at this. Watch how he uses a coin laundry machine

Fresh, clean clothes, the inner joy of completing a task. It may be one of the most annoying tasks we must do, no one likes an on-going chore, but being able to do it on your own, now that feels dang good.

What tricks do you have for doing laundry at home?

Check out the videos!

– How to use a stackable washer/dryer from a wheelchair

– A great front-loading washer for a wheelchair-user + washing tips

– C6 quad showing how he uses a coin washing machine