* Vacuuming too often weakens the carpet fibers.

* Dust bunnies can evolve into dust rhinos when disturbed.

* Layers of dirty film on windows and screens provide a helpful filter against harmful and aging rays from the sun.

* Cobwebs artfully draped over lampshades reduces the glare from the bulb, thereby creating a romantic atmosphere.

* The haphazard tower of unread magazines and newspapers next to your chair provides the valuable Feng Shui aspect of a tiger, thereby reducing your vulnerability.

* The mound of pet hair brushed up against the doorways is being saved to stuff handsewn play animals for underprivileged children.

* If company is coming, pile everything unsightly into one room and close the door. As you show your guests through your tidy home, rattle the door knob vigorously, fake a growl and say, “I’d love you to see our Den, but Fluffy hates to be disturbed and the shots are SO expensive.”

* If dusting is REALLY out of control, simply place a showy urn on the coffee table and explain, “This is where Grandma wanted us to scatter her ashes…”

* Rather than repainting, scribble lightly over a dirty wall with an assortment of crayons, and muster a glint of tears as you say, “Junior did this the week before that unspeakable accident… I haven’t had the heart to clean it…”

* Mix one-quarter cup pine-scented household cleaner with four cups of water in a spray bottle. Mist the air lightly. Leave dampened rags in conspicuous locations. Develop an exhausted look, throw yourself onto the couch, and sigh, “I clean and I clean and I still don’t get anywhere.

As you know, housekeeping tasks are ongoing. They have to be repeated regularly—some daily, some weekly, others less frequently, but they are never finished once and for all. By their very nature, they become so familiar that they can be done almost automatically. For the most part, people who become visually impaired can accomplish those chores as well as sighted people. But special adjustments can make some common tasks simpler to perform. Here are some suggestions:

* Dusting. Keep all cleaning supplies in a bucket or plastic bin. Dust in an organized pattern. Concentrate on one area of the room at a time. Spray polish onto a cloth, not directly on the surface of the furniture. Use a feather duster to dust small objects.

* Sweeping. Sweep one small section of the floor at a time. After whisking the accumulated dust into a dustpan, wipe up any leftover dust with a damp paper towel.

* Laundry. Put a lamp near the washing machine. Mark key dial settings with fluorescent tape. Put socks in a mesh bag or use safety pins to keep pairs of socks together. There are many fabrics that shed wrinkles if they're removed from the dryer as soon as they're dry. If you smooth and fold things promptly you can avoid a lot of ironing.

* Ironing. Whether you stand or sit while ironing, raise the ironing board as high as you can, if the position is not too tiring for your arm. Choose a solid-color ironing board cover, rather than one with a pattern. Mark the fabric settings on the iron to avoid scorching fabrics that require a cool iron. Use a funnel to pour water into a steam iron. To find out if you've smoothed out the wrinkles, run your hand lightly over the ironed part of a garment.

* Mending. Use a metal-loop needle threader or self-threading needles. Or stick a needle in a bar of soap while threading it, so both your hands are free. Place the fabric you are sewing on a contrasting surface. Keep a magnet nearby to pick up dropped needles and pins.maid services