Powerchair - ideas to clean wheels

Cyclamen

Hello.  I wasn't really sure of where to post this as its not directly a money thing.

I have been prescribed a lovely new powerchair from NHS and its making a difference already.  The same chair is for inside as well as walks outside the house.  The freedom to go to post box or corner shop is great but when i return the chair wheels are very mucky. They have a deep tread and need cleaning.

I cant have a doormat immediately inside door as its wheelchair low threshold. so tend to park on a mat in kitchen and then someone else cleans the chair.. or it sits there until i can manage myself... sort of defeats purpose of having a chair to use in house. So I am less likely to venture out for a walk. 

So i am looking for ideas and tips please..?

i have looked at football boot cleaners which seem to be a bottle of water attached to a brush.

I have a concrete path to my door and wondered about some sort of matting outside but then it needs to be weather proof and all options were pricey so nervous to try and waste money.. equally thought about soem artificial turf.

then soem sort of battery power washer ? again pricey .

so please does anyone have any tips? 

coffeehound

Hello, maybe one of the small pressure washers would work?  E.g.  [Karcher OC3]

 

If you could easily run a mains lead then the mains powered ones are cheaper than the fully portable ones.  Longer lances can be replaced by a short 'hand gun' if required

Savvy_Sue

But that would have to be done outside!

Spoonie_Turtle

Savvy_Sue said:

But that would have to be done outside!

Most options would, for the wheels to be clean to go inside the house.  Maybe if the pressure washer can be kept just inside the front door, to be pulled out and used just before going inside?  Any mat then would only need to help dry off the wheels rather than needing to catch mud.

Cyclamen

Thank you both.

I hadn't realised pressure washers came that small.

I think what ever we use will have to be done outside.. sadly. 


Frustrating I asked the team who prescribed chair and they said bowl of soapy water and scrubbing brush. Really not sure how that works if on my own.

I have been on Google and there just doesn't seem an option..some prototypes for automatic cleaners you drive on but they don't exist.

Frustrating .. hadn't realised how mucky they would get just from pavement use.

Pressure wash may speed job up for someone else.. but need outside electric.

There goes my plan for now of going out solo and coming home and riding in so I can nap to recover .. 

KxMx

Is it possible to have a big towel (bath sheet size) laid inside the door, roll the chair onto it when you get home. 
Saves the floor from dirt and can soak up any water from cleaning it. 

Hopefully in the drier Spring/Summer weather there will be less dirt and mud around, no dead leaves either, I brought some of those home on my shopping trolley wheels this week! 

molerat

How about something like these ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Streetwize-Operation-Pressure-Spraying-Cleaning/dp/B00GOLJLLI/ref=sr_1_26_mod_primary_new?keywords=dog+washer&qid=1639218799&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sr=8-26

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mud-Daddy-99000DS1GREEN-Portable-Washing/dp/B074W3F6BJ/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=dog+washer&qid=1639218799&sr=8-5

theoretica

I guess the other approach is looking at carpet protectors indoors or other ways of making dirty wheels there more tolerable.

MatyMoo

Rather than cleaning when you get back could you cover the wheels with something like shower caps before you go?

Spoonie_Turtle

MatyMoo said:

Rather than cleaning when you get back could you cover the wheels with something like shower caps before you go?

A nice idea of prevention but no - it would reduce the grip of the tyres and likely make using the chair unsafe.  Especially this time of year with damp pavements, slippery wet leaves already, etc.

Cyclamen said:

There goes my plan for now of going out solo and coming home and riding in so I can nap to recover .. 

I empathise so much with the disappointment and frustration of this.  

You say you have a concrete path; if the pressure washer isn't an option for you when you get back in, then matting outside that is sufficiently stiff and with the pile long enough to be brush-like might be the simplest option for independence.  Driving round in circles on it should help clean better than just back and forth.  I don't know how to clean those in the long run though, nor how expensive it might be.

I have a vague recollection in my head of a handheld, non-powered washer brush thing but I cannot at all recall what it might be, what it was for, or whether it might be suitable or not.  It's not something I've seen or used in person but I'll come back if I ever remember what it was.

EDIT: well that was quicker than I expected - having looked at the Amazon links above I think it was something similar in principle to the Mud Daddy!  That would depend on whether you're able to bend down to reach the wheels (whilst still seated) with the brush part.  If not, then something similar with a longer brush attachment perhaps?

I don't know, it's complicated (and often expensive) being disabled isn't it?!

theoretica

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I have a vague recollection in my head of a handheld, non-powered washer brush thing but I cannot at all recall what it might be, what it was for, or whether it might be suitable or not.  It's not something I've seen or used in person but I'll come back if I ever remember what it was!

Something like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mud-Daddy-99000DS1GREEN-Portable-Washing/dp/B074W3F6BJ?