Cleaning Home During Pregnancy in Singapore: Expert views on What to Do and What to Avoid?

October 17, 2023

Cleaning home during pregnancy is not prohibited. With a slight change in the approach to doing things, you can do the usual work you do at your home. However, you have to be careful and pay attention even while you engage in small activities. You would also have to keep the safety concerns in mind and avoid some tasks while cleaning home during pregnancy as they can be hazardous to you and the baby. 

You may pass the duty of doing those heavy tasks to someone else in your home or get the help of a professional part-time cleaning service provider in Singapore to get things done without fail.

We have listed down some simple activities you can do without strain along with activities you should stay away from for a while. Let us have a look at those. 

Household Work You Can Do During Pregnancy

You can attend some household works you usually do with ease, and here and those. 

Cutting and Cleaning Vegetables 

The cutting and cleaning of vegetables and fruits is a task that doesn’t involve strain, and hence you can do it effortlessly. You might be used to cutting vegetables standing, but we recommend you sit on a chair and do it, while you are pregnant. 

Sweeping and Mopping

You can bring in a little innovation and do both these tasks. Use brooms and mops with long handles as they save you from bending too much; you can also use a thin mask to avoid dust. Women are likely to develop additional stress due to weight gain while they are pregnant, thereby causing marginal shifts in their bodies’ centre of gravity. It can cause pain in the sciatic nerve and hence you shouldn’t bend too much while sweeping or mopping floors. You should not attend any of these tasks if you don’t have long-handled brooms and mops at your home. 

Cleaning with Eco-friendly Cleaners 

You should attempt cleaning chores only if you have eco-friendly cleaners at home. The use of harsh chemicals should be strictly avoided while you are pregnant. You can clean utensils in the kitchen using natural cleaners. Baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, etc., are some of the natural cleaners you can use while you are pregnant.

It is best to leave the heavy cleaning jobs like cleaning bathrooms that demand the use of harsh chemicals to your partner, friends or a home cleaning service provider.

You should also refrain from standing for more than fifteen minutes while cleaning, even if you are using a natural cleaner. Use gloves while cleaning dishes in the kitchen as your skin is more sensitive during pregnancy. 

In the table below, we have listed down a few cleaning tools and supplies a pregnant household should have.

Ergonomic Broom and Dustpan Set Look for a broom and dustpan set with an ergonomic handle to minimize bending and strain on the back.Opt for a lightweight design to reduce physical exertion.
Long-Handle Duster A duster with an extendable handle can help reach high and low areas without stretching or bending.
Reusable Rubber Gloves Invest in reusable rubber gloves that are free from latex and have a comfortable, snug fit.
Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner Choose a vacuum cleaner that is easy to maneuver and lightweight, reducing the physical effort required.
Steam Cleaner A steam cleaner can effectively sanitize surfaces without the need for harsh chemicals. It's gentle and safe for pregnant women.
Non-Slip Cleaning Shoes Slip-resistant shoes will provide better stability while cleaning to prevent accidents.
Low-Stress Mop and Bucket Consider a mop and bucket with a wringer or spray mechanism to reduce bending and twisting.

Tasks to Avoid While Cleaning Home During Pregnancy

You would be able to do almost all household chores during the first few weeks of pregnancy. However, it is best to avoid certain tasks as it puts unwanted stress on your body and puts the baby at risk. Engaging in monotonous tasks could also increase the level of stress hormones in your body, which is bad for pregnant women.

Here are a few tasks you should avoid while cleaning home during pregnancy:

Lifting Heavy Weights 

Tasks that involve lifting or movement of heavyweights such as carrying laundry and moving furniture should be avoided at all costs. Such heavy tasks can cause high blood pressure and preterm labour symptoms in you. 

Tasks that Demand Climbing 

Avoid any tasks that require you to climb on something - such as changing curtains and cleaning ceiling fans. You are likely to gain a lot of weight during the pregnancy period, and it will result in the alteration of the centre of gravity of your body. It could result in you losing the balance, and hence you should not climb on anything. 

Cleaning Litter Tray of Your Cat 

You should completely stay away from cleaning your cat’s litter tray as cat litter consists of a parasite called Toxoplasma Gondii. This parasite can cause a serious threat to both you and the baby. So, it is best to delegate this task to someone else in your home. Ask them to use gloves, dispose of the gloves properly and wash their hands well after they get done with the task. 

Eliminating Pests

It is understandable when you say that you feel like eliminating pests like cockroaches and ants right after sighting them in your home. However, do not go after them with toxic sprays and put you at risk as these chemicals can cause a threat to you and the baby. Instead hire Sendhelper pest control service that uses environment-friendly chemicals for safe cleaning.

Vacuuming

Moving the vacuum cleaner in and around all rooms of your house is a tiring thing to do, especially while you are pregnant. In addition to that, the filter of your vacuum cleaner would be full of dirt and dust, which can irritate your eyes and lungs, even if you wear a mask. 

Painting Walls 

If you are considering to re-paint your home, you should wait for your baby to be born to do it. Paints emit fumes on their application on the walls, and they can persist for many hours until they dry completely. These fumes can cause adverse effects on both you and the baby. 

Get Help During Pregnancy. Hire a Part-time Cleaner in Singapore

Doing light household chores is a good way to remain active during your pregnancy period. But it is equally important to know while cleaning home during pregnancy what you should not attempt doing and what to refrain from during this period. Instead of taking chances, listen to your body and relax while you book a cleaning service with Sendhelper to get tasks done. 

Schedule weekly or fortnightly cleaning on the Sendhelper app or website from $25 per hour.
Sit back and relax while our experienced cleaning professionals manage your household chores.

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