Fell off the stepladder again,

Having recently fallen while trying to leap onto a small platform, breaking my humerus in the process, I believe my leaping and climbing days are over. I am in a lot of pain and cannot shower or dress without assistance. Consultant at the fracture clinic reckons that it will be months rather than weeks, of rest and physiotherapy (because I am "ELDERLY")
before I can drive, change duvet covers etc.

Being used to being the carer, rather than the "cared-for" I am finding this situation very difficult and have vowed to exercise caution rather than bravado in future.

I recently tripped on the first of a flight of stone steps (in the middle of a crowd of people naturally) knelt down neatly (said a prayer ) then got up as if I’d meant to do it all along and carried on. I’m glad to say nobody offered to help except DH! When I got home I realised I’d ripped my jeans so it was obviously worth it as I’m now in fashion!
But seriously, my friend fell off a step ladder several years ago in her early seventies and her ankle has never been right since - so be careful everybody.

Some years we seem to get lots of those little 'harvest spiders' which come in and make webs in the corners of the ceilings but so far I haven't noticed any this year.

I always dust ceilings a day before I do the rest of the cleaning. We live in an old timbered house, so lots of spiders and several high ceilings (as well as low ceilings).

Dust the ceiling, which only gets done occasionally, the day before so that the dust descends onto furniture and other items you dust before vacuuming.

I'm with you Margs dust first and then hoover. Not both in the same day.

Quentin Crisp — 'There is no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse.'

i follow that wise man's approach.
it's true by the way.

please avoid working at height. your health is more important. think of your loved ones, if not yourself.

I won't be going up any ladders though. If it's out of reach it doesn't existas far as I'm concerned!

I'm relieved to hear that many of you consider cleaning as something to be avoided as much as possible. I admit to being a slut so if I was to dust after hoovering I'd need to hoover again for sure. I'm currently trying to build myself up to a bout of cleaning during the half term holiday, but cleaning is the easy bit. It's the tidying I'm really dreading. I've just got to set my procrastination to one side. I've already wasted the first day!

Margs, you always hoover last! You have to, all the dust falling to the floor. Just makes sense.

thisisnotme....I really have nothing to say but you really made me laugh! xx

I have a long handled (bamboo) soft brush that belonged to my grandmother, it must be over a hundred years old. Perfect for dusting high ceilings.

I like to sing along to the radio as I’m cleaning and it may or may not involve (Uhum) a bit of hip/bottom wiggling (can’t call it dancing). As I can trip over my own shadow I don’t climb up things so use those extendable feather dusters which are great.
OP maybe you should listen to a debate or play on Radio 4? Just don’t shout at the radio and fall off again lol

I have quite a small home with not too high ceilings, I have an IKEA step stool which allows me t reach most things. As there is nothing in the loft I don't need to use the step ladder. So climbing is not a factor for me but then cleaning is seldom a factor either.

why cant the OH do it and you hold the step ladder for him

I suppose someone has to Fennel
I could send you some of ours!

Callestimon - I love spiders, as I've said before.
But sadly we don't seem to see them here in NE England, as we did in SW France.

When I want to get the cleaning over quickly I don't wear my reading glasses But when the likes of my Super Houseproud (but otherwise very nice) sister-in-law is coming .... on go the bins .

‘Taught to clean and dust’ don’t you just do it if and when you see anything getting a bit overwhelmed
I have a great bit of kit it’s an unused fishing rod gets any cobwebs down easily
4allweknow doesn’t sound my kind of past time

Thinking about the cleaning issue - why on earth clean the ceiling of a conservatory?
We have a couple or more of resident spiders who get busy making lovely webs overnight.
I am the meanie who takes them down again (well, it keeps them in a job).

I always start the rare event of a house clean in upstairs rooms and work down. No idea why

Surely you would dust and vacuum at the same time- isn't that what the little round brush attachment is for?

I have an extendable ceiling brush. Closed it is roughly the size of a broom, extended it is twice as long. Our bedroom is in the eaves of our house and the ceiling is around 10 - 11 feet in the centre, 5 foot at window level. I can clean the peak of the room with both feet firmly on the floor.

thisisnotme - you have been very lucky not to be badly hurt after falling off a stepladder. A fall can be very serious indeed if you land wrongly, whether down the stairs or in the street or whatever. We all need to take care as we get older, so please look after yourselves everyone.

I was taught to Hoover first then dust as small particles are blown out of the vac.
However if using a non electric carpet sweeper (Ewbank in our case) you dust first then use mechanical carpet sweeper as it doesn’t blow out dust!

What is this "cleaning" malarky. Sounds too dangerous for me.