The main thing that helps us is keeping a spray bottle of all purpose cleaner (a nice, refillable one) and a supply of rags HANDY, like RIGHT THERE, in the kitchen, on the counter. That way you can clean off the stove top, counter, spills in the fridge, coffee maker, faucets, spot clean floor, fronts of appliances, all while you're waiting for your coffee to brew or your pizza to warm up. SO EASY. Your kitchen will always look nice too. Look for dirt, you'll find it. And kill it. You are brilliant for trying to do better!

And gas up the car.

Smart to go with a friend who already has the membership! OP, In a pinch, it's always good to keep an open box of baking soda handy to pour over for electrical fires, or grease fires, you can also smother it with a pan lid. NEVER use water.

Get a little fire extinguisher for the kitchen. use a daily shower cleaner and a magic eraser in the shower, clean it while you're in it, keep essentials like rice and potatoes and olive oil and chicken breasts (individually frozen) broccoli, on hand so you're not blowing money and your health on fast food. An air fryer is a fabulous thing!

Don't make big decisions regarding your life or large purchases after your loved one passes, for a year, give yourself time to grieve and really think about what you want. Your brain isn't thinking clearly, and you can be unduly influenced.

Go to a weekly grief group meeting, they can be really comforting!