Wheelchair Maintenance DIY: Cleaning Your Wheelchair
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Keeping your wheelchair clean, dry and odor free is an important task. This will help extend the life of your chair and all of its parts. It will also help you look and feel better engaging in social interactions throughout the day! Watch this video for some quick DIY tips on how to properly clean your wheelchair.
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There are many different components of wheelchairs depending on the user. No wheelchair should ever be put through a wheelchair washer as it will seriously rust unseen parts (i.e. nuts and bolts). If the chair has a rigid backrest, it won't fit into the machine unless it is removed and the washer will soak the back rest and all the foam. I work in a senior's home so staff are responsible for cleaning chairs. Often they just hose them down. That's also not recommended. A completely soaked chair can take a long time to dry and you will still have a rust issue eventually. The chair should only be wiped down - a variety of options here including wipes but most ecological is to use a soft cloth and some water and a little bit of soap. For sanitizing, you can use bleach or baking soda mixed with water. Wipe down everything, particularly under the armrests where a person's hands grip. Make sure you wipe underneath. Often there are food spills down the sides and in nooks and crannies. If it's hardened on, you may need to chip or scrub it off. That's the punishment for not cleaning it up at the time (just like any kitchen task left undone for too long - welded on grime). So decide how hard you want to work now or later. Cushions need special care as they generally cannot be washed (unless they are a VicAir or a ROHO). But all covers can be washed in machine. You can turn inside out and close the zipper. If it's an incontinent cover, just wipe it off. Don't put any cover in the dryer. Hang them to dry. As for the backrest, If it's a removable sling, it can be machine washed. But if it has foam inside, remove that before washing. If it's a rigid frame covered in foam, you won't be able to remove the cover as the hardware might prevent you from taking the cover off. Your best bet is to brush it and try to get the skin cells etc off of it. Beating it like an old rug works. Same for the headrest. You can do a light damp wipe or a light scrub as needed for faces stains.
Thanks for all of your insight! We should get you in our next video.
I make my own seat cushion covers. I like getting a variety of colors and prints. I have a spare cushion insert.
Nice! Our video team is in the process of developing a new series on considerations for buying a new manual wheelchair. We'd love if you shared any tips, advice, or particular topics you may have.
Thanks for watching!
Hi. Please could you do a step by video showing how to fit all the fabric back onto the frame? Thanks.
Hi Jessica, we will pass this along to our team to see if this can be a new resource! Thanks for your comment.
I've just paid for my new chair, Kuschall K Series 2.0, ( I can still hear my wallet crying). I've never really bothered about looking after my chairs before but I think I will with the new one. I would also like to try modifying and adding to it with stuff.
That sounds awesome! Let us know if you'd like some content that explores other wheelchair specific tips/tricks with maintenance.
@@NCHPAD that sounds great :)
I take my childs wheelchair outside use the holes put bleach & gain & start scrubbing
Baby wipes,, good idea.
Thanks for watching! Let us know if you'd like more content like this.
I have mudd on wheels how to clean wheels
Can you take to car wash
LOL!!!🤣🤣🤣 I actually did that once. They were so surprised
High pressue would soak the fabric, bearings... Prob not a good idea.