Everyday Cleaning--Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs:
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Regular cleaning and maintenance will repay the effort with better performance and longer life for your wheelchair.

To clean a wheelchair, wash the frame, wheels, tires, seat, and back with warm water.  and a little dish-washing detergent.with a clean cloth or sponge, rinse with plain water, and dry with a
clean cloth. Don't get water in the wheel or caster bearings. This kind of cleaning should be done about once a month. For daily cleaning, wiping with a damp cloth is usually sufficient.

To clean the caster axle bolts, remove the bolt, wipe crud away with a cleaning cloth, and put back the bolt. This spot tends to collect hair, string, and other debris that will make the chair harder to propel.

To clean the axles, remove the wheels and wipe the axles with a clean cloth containing a few drops of oil (whatever oil is recommended by your owner's manual). This area, which can accumulate mud and dirt quickly, should be cleaned once a month or more.

To clean between users, disinfect the chair with a disinfectant. One product that is used by hospitals is HB Quat Disinfectant Cleaner. It is made by 3M and is available at medical supply stores and on Internet.

Whirpools
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Whirlpools have two dimensions that require cleaning: the seen and the unseen.

To clean the tub surfaces, wipe with  a cloth after each use. Clean periodically with a solution
of hot water and dish-washing detergent and rinse. Don't use abrasive scrubbers or cleaners, which
will harm the glossy finish.

To clean the circulation system, follow the instructions that came with your unit. Or do this:

1. Adjust the jets so they are not drawing air.
2. Leave the water in the whirlpool after using.
3. Add 2 gallons of white vinegar. Or add 2 teaspoons of powdered dish-washing detergent and 2 cups of chlorine bleach.
4. Run the whirlpool system, following the operating instructions, for 5 to 10 minutes.
5. Drain and refill with cold water. Circulate for five minutes.
6. Drain and wipe dry with a clean cloth.

  How often you clean the circulation system depends on the recommendation of the manufacturer and how often you use the whirlpool. Recommendations vary from once every three months to twice a month or more.

Wicker, Rattan, and Bamboo
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Wicker is not a single material. It's a term for something made of any of  several natural materials
that are bent and woven together. /The most common are rattan ( a solid-cored vine of a climbing palm), cane (the skin or bark of large rattans), reed (swamp grasses or rattan core), bamboo ( a large
grass with a hollow core), willow, and twisted paper fiber. Wicker comes in many finishes, ranging
from natural to oil, varnish, shellac, or paint. There are also synthetic versions of wicker made from
resin, plastic, or fiberglass. And when it comes to cleaning, the materials aren't all created equal.

When cleaning synthetic wicker, you can be aggressive. This is the only wicker that should be allowed to remain outdoors, /Clean it with a garden hose and plain water, using a cloth or sponge,  or scrub with a stiff brush and a solution of a little dishwashing detergent in water. Rinse with the hose and dry with a clean cloth.

expert advice

Grace Under Pressure >

You can wash some wicker in the car wash, says Cathryn Peters, owner of  The Wicker Woman in
Angora, Minnesota. She restores antique wicker and offers tips at, www.wickerwoman.com.
She nixes the car wash for antiques, bamboo or paper fiber pieces. But it won't hurt synthetic wicker,
and it can make short work of removing paint from painted pieces before refinishing.
,
To clean natural-fiber wicker, keep pieces free of dirt with a vacuum cleaner, using the brush attachment. Other useful tools are a toothbrush, a stiff paintbrush, and a pencil-sized dowel sharpened in a pencil sharpener. Wipe the wicker with a damp cloth or sponge, but undertake more extensive wet cleaning cautiously.  Consult an expert before doing any major cleaning or re-finishng  of antique pieces. /To find an expert, check with antiques dealers or on the Internet.

To wash most natural-fiber wicker, use a solution of a little mild soap---dish-washing detergent or Murphy Oil Soap, for example--in warm water. Wipe with a cloth or sponge wrung out in the solution. Rinse with a garden hose and dry quickly--in the sun or with a hair dryer or fan. Don't sit
on the furniture for two or three days, because you could stretch the fibers and cause them to sag.

Some exceptions: Don't hose down bamboo or twisted paper wicker. Clean these with a sponge dampened with soapy water, followed by a sponge dampened with clear water. Wipe dry.

To treat for dryness and cracking, use 1 part turpentine to 2 parts boiled linseed oil on natural-fiber
wicker, except for bamboo. Apply with a paintbrush, using as much as the wicker will absorb.
Wipe off any excess with a cloth and let it dry for three or four days. For bamboo, you should apply a
thin coat of liquid or paste wax periodically.

Wigs
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Wigs are made of synthetic materials, human hair, or a combination of the two. Synthetic wigs are
easier to care for but not as versatile in accepting styling. For example, heat, such as in a curling iron,
can ruin them. Human hair wigs can be colored, permed, and curled with a curling iron or heated rollers.

To wash a wig, follow these steps:

1. Gently straighten the hair with a comb.
2. Draw water---cool to lukewarm, not hot---into a pan large enough to immerse the wig.
3. Dissolve about 1 tablespoon each of shampoo and baking soda in the water.
4. Swish the wig around in the solution.
5. Rinse well in cool water.
6. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of conditioner in a pan of fresh water. Swish the wig in the solution. Then rinse.
7. Lay the wig on a towel and roll it up to remove as much water as you can. Don't wring!
8. Remove the wig from the towel and gently shake it out. Use your fingers to loosen the fibers, but don't try to remove tangles with a comb or brush while the wig is wet. 
9. Set the wig on a bottle or some other tall item to dry.

Simple SOLUTIONS

Canned Air for Hair >

Yet another use for canned air--from the maker of Dust-Off:
Between washings, use it to blow away loose dirt form your wig. Set the wig on its stand and hold the
can upright so it doesn't spew out propellant. /Separate the layers of hair and have a blast!


To clean makeup from the front of the cap or hair area, make a paste of baking soda and shampoo.
Apply it during the shampooing process with an old toothbrush and scrub gently.