Mobility aids are essential to the majority of the population, especially to a person who has arthritis. You have to walk with a walker, a cane or a wheelchair, and all these aids can go a long way towards making living a lot easier. They, nevertheless, like any other equipment, should be maintained and washed regularly to preserve their good condition of functionality. In this guide, you will find easy yet handy tips that will help you how to clean and maintain your mobility aids regularly and keep them working more efficiently by cleaning and taking care of them regularly.
The Importance of Maintaining Mobility Aids
Maintenance of your mobility aids can be done regularly so that they will keep on supporting and give you stability. Proper preservation of your aids will help reduce stress on the joints of arthritic people and prevent accidents or pain. Washing them not only makes them look better but also makes them hygienic, thereby preventing accumulation of bacteria or dirt that may be irritating to the skin or be harmful to the equipments themselves.
How to Clean Your Mobility Aids
1. Start with the Basics: Wipe Down Regularly
The initial move towards keeping your mobility aids is to wipe them down on a frequent basis. This is notably significant to arthritis wearable aids (such as braces, splints, or gloves). These devices may get dust, dirt and sweat and may lead to irritation or even damage in the long run. Wipe the surface with a soft cloth that has warm water and light soap. Keep off hard chemicals, which tend to dissolve your aid materials
2. Inspect and Lubricate Moving Parts
You should ensure that you maintain the moving parts by regularly cleaning and greasing them, in case you use any tools to assist in moving around, i.e. wheelchair or a rollator. Ensure that all the screws/bolts are tight. With the case of the wheels, it is important to make sure that a lubricant, which is a silicone-based lubricant, is applied to ensure that the wheels roll easily, but do not get stuck. This assists in sustaining the productivity of your equipment, particularly in the case of outside surfaces.
3. Focus on the Handles and Grips
Mobility aids have very crucial accessories of handles and grips, which provide the necessary assistance to support balance and stability. Grips can become greasy or worn over time and can be awkward or difficult to handle. Wipe it off with an anti-bacterial soap or water. To get cleaner, you can take the grips (they have them) off and scrub under them. In case the grips are too damaged, then replace them to find comfort and safety.
4. Clean the Seat or Cushion
Where the handicapped mobility aids like the wheelchair or scooter are in play, then it is significant that the seat or cushion be washed to avoid the build-up of odour or bacteria. The cushions can be washed in the washing machine and removed, hence, it is easy to clean. As an alternative, remove the cushion in case the cushion cannot be removed by use of a vacuum cleaner, wiping it with a disinfecting wipe or cloth. Always make sure to use a dry cushion.
5. Maintain the Tires and Wheels
It is always good to check your moving aids, for example, a wheelchair or an electric scooter, and make sure that you do not damage any of the tyres on them. Wash the tyres in warm soaps and water, and ensure that they are properly inflated to the stipulated pressure. In case you are using arthritis vehicle aids, then the tyre pressure should be checked regularly to allow a comfortable travel.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
First thing is to keep your aids clean, and the second is that it is important that you prevent the most frequent mistakes that are likely to break your equipment. Do not use rough cleaners or chemicals on your aids, as they may leave the materials bare, and as a result, they will be broken down. Also, do not forget to test the functionality of your aids on a regular basis; you would avoid bigger problems in the future when you spot the problem at an early stage.
Keeping Your Mobility Aids in Top Condition
How to maintain and clean your mobility aids? It is a never-ending process, yet it is worth doing. With timely cleaning of the surfaces, inspection of the moving parts and proper checking of your aids by confirming their proper working status, you will prolong the life of the equipment and assure yourself of their reliability in continued service to you. Regardless of whether you have arthritis household aids or any other arthritis aids, proper attention will save the world of both comfort and functionality.
With these few tips, you could maintain your mobility aids in excellent condition and make sure that they can serve your independence for a long time. Routine cleaning and maintenance may be a minor commitment, yet it makes a massive impact in making sure that your mobility aids are stable and comfortable to operate.
