Laundry looks harmless until you can’t do it. Carrying a full basket, bending into a front-loader, reaching to the bottom of a top-loader and climbing stairs to the laundry room are all movements that surgeons and physical therapists often ask patients to avoid during recovery.
Whether you’re preparing for a planned surgery or dealing with an unexpected injury, here’s how to keep clean clothes coming without putting your recovery at risk.
Why laundry is tough during recovery
After many common procedures, patients are given lifting, bending or twisting restrictions for a period of time. That includes knee and hip replacements, back and spine surgery, abdominal surgery, C-sections, hernia repair, shoulder surgery and broken bones. A basket of wet towels can be far heavier than the limit you’ve been given. Stairs add a fall risk, especially if you’re on crutches, using a walker or taking pain medication.
Always follow the specific instructions from your surgeon or therapist. They know your situation. When in doubt, don’t lift it.
Before a planned surgery: get ahead
- Catch up on everything the week before, including bedding and towels.
- Put clean sheets on the bed the day before you go in.
- Move your everyday clothes to drawers and shelves at waist height, so you don’t have to bend or reach.
- Stock up on loose, easy clothes that fit over bandages or braces: button-front shirts, wide-leg pants and slip-on shoes.
- Set up laundry pickup in advance so it’s one less thing to arrange from the couch.
During recovery: simple rules
- Use small bags, not big baskets. If you must move laundry, move a little at a time.
- Keep a hamper in the bedroom so clothes don’t end up on the floor where you’d have to bend for them.
- Use a reacher or grabber tool for anything that drops.
- Accept help. When a friend asks what they can do, “bag up my laundry” is a perfect answer.
A note on blood and wound stains
Small spots on sheets and clothes are common after surgery. Rinse them with cold water as soon as possible, never hot, since heat sets blood stains. If you can’t deal with them yourself, flag the stain when you send laundry out so it can be pretreated.
How laundry pickup helps you heal
With pickup and delivery from The Elementals Laundry, you don’t carry anything farther than your front door. A family member or friend can even leave the bag out for you. Laundry comes back washed, dried and folded, ready to put on a waist-high shelf. You can book a single pickup, or set up regular pickups for the length of your recovery with no long-term contract.
We serve Acworth, Kennesaw, Marietta, Woodstock, Cartersville and nearby areas. See the full list, or call (770) 975-0739 with questions.
Helping someone who’s recovering?
Adult children, spouses and friends often book pickup on behalf of the person recovering. It’s practical help that keeps going long after the casseroles stop arriving.
Common questions
Do I need to be home or come to the door? No. Leave your bag in an easy spot and add a note to your order.
Can I include bedding? Yes. Comforters and blankets are priced per piece.
Bedding too bulky to handle? See what to do with bulky bedding.
This post offers general information, not medical advice. Follow your care team’s instructions.
Focus on healing. Let The Elementals Laundry do the lifting. Schedule a pickup or call (770) 975-0739.