Do you have a sick friend or loved one recovering from surgery? Maybe you want to help an elderly neighbor or a busy, overwhelmed mom? It’s probably hard for either of them to handle everyday tasks—ones you take for granted. So whether you’re repaying a thoughtful gesture or trying to be the kind of friend you’d want to have, go ahead and reach out.
1. Be a Prep Chef
A little help in the kitchen can go a long way. Ask your friends if they’d like your assistance washing and cutting up fresh fruits and vegetables to store in
Ziploc® Brand Fresh Produce Bags. These handy bags will help food last longer and make it easy to get to. When you’re ready to put everything away, you can give your friends another hand by taking a
quick organizing pass through the fridge.
2. Deliver Ready-Made Meals
Check out
Five Ingredients or Less or
A Healthy Twist on Family Favorites for recipes requiring minimal shopping and prep work. Deliver your prepared meals in
Ziploc® VersaGlass™ Containers along with a cheerful note and heating instructions. All they have to do is remove the plastic lid before cooking in an up to 400° F oven (if frozen, let thaw first). Leftovers? Pop the plastic lid back on before storing it. And, of course, a good friend always remembers to bring dessert!
3. Show and Tell Your Cleaning Smarts
For an elderly relative or friend, cleaning a bathroom can be a big bonus. And remember to work smart, not hard. Daily and weekly maintenance can prevent major scrubbing at the end of the month—helpful to those with bad backs or arthritis. For example, always pull the shower curtain closed so water can’t collect in the folds and cause mildew. Then let
Scrubbing Bubbles® Automatic Shower Cleaner do the rest. (Depending on the extent of mildew stains and soap scum, it may take two weeks of daily use to see a noticeable reduction). Wipe away any soap spots or toothpaste splatters with
Scrubbing Bubbles® Antibacterial Bathroom Wipes, and line trash cans with plastic grocery bags to keep the pail clean and emptying easy.
4. Help with Big Laundry Loads
Do a few loads to help a friend catch up on her laundry. Items like tablecloths, sheets and towels are often time consuming, especially for someone who may tire easily. Be sure to observe the washing instructions: some pieces may need extra care, so offer to take items to the dry cleaner. Laundering bathroom and kitchen rugs can also be a big help. And remember to air-dry anything with a rubber backing.
5. Suck Up the Dust
Vacuuming can also be a big chore. Offer to run the vac over items that can be big dust collectors and need extra effort—like upholstered furniture, blinds and draperies. If your friend has a two-story home, stairs are high-traffic areas that might be neglected, so giving them a quick clean will likely be appreciated.
6. Run Two Errands with One Trip
Cross a few things off your friend's to-do list. The next time you're heading to the drug store, dry cleaner or post office, ask if you can save her a trip by picking up things she needs.
7. Help Keep the Lights On
For some friends, getting on a stepladder and reaching up high can be a problem, which makes changing light bulbs next to impossible. Replacing old ones with long-lasting compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) will mean fewer trips up the stepladder. While you’re there, check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. And speaking of batteries, replacing the old ones in TV remote controls can be a great gift to someone laid up in bed!