5 Spring Cleaning Tips for Seniors

Date: March 20, 2018 Tags: family life, home safety, senior living, spring cleaning, spring cleaning for seniors, spring cleaning safety

Today is the first day of Spring, and if you’re like most folks, you’re already making a list of “Spring Cleaning To-Dos” that need to be checked off. For seniors, the job of daily cleaning can be difficult, but the thought of whole-house spring cleaning is downright intimidating. Spring cleaning is also a time for purging and organizing – which is always a smart idea for senior citizens to help prevent clutter and other dangerous hazards around the home. Here are a few 5 ways to get your spring cleaning done safely and efficiently.

1. Make a list

Start with a list of things to be done – items that need cleaned, places that need to be decluttered, any areas that need repair or replacement, and things that need to be checked and updated. When you have a list and a plan in place, it’s easier to break the job up into smaller, more manageable tasks and the entire thing seems less daunting.

2. Purge

Now is the time to go through the areas of your home that you don’t frequently dig through – the medicine cabinet, under your kitchen and bathroom sinks, infrequently used closets, and the back of your bedroom closet (you know that area, the section with all those clothes you keep meaning to get rid of).  It’s especially important to assess your medicine cabinet and throw out any expired medications. Clear out old magazines, and unneeded other paperwork. Look for plants that are just beyond help and get rid of them, check the basement for old boxes or other items that could be cleared out. And if you have help, it’s not a bad time to do a review of what’s in the attic as well.

3. Hire or ask for help

Seniors should never try to take on a spring cleaning entirely alone. Ask for help from family, friends or neighbors. You don’t have to approach them by saying “Can you spring clean my house?” You could simply start with “I could use some help washing windows, could you help me? Start with a smaller request for help on the tasks that are most difficult for you. You can also hire companies that will do your spring cleaning for you if your budget allows.

4. Use adaptive tools

A while back, we wrote about adaptive tools that help with everything from getting dressed to reaching objects well above or below your normal reach. Find adaptive cleaning aids with extension handles to alleviate some of the bend and reach movements that come with thorough cleanings, or power scrubbers that take some of the heavier work off your hands and arms.

5. Take your time

Remember, your home didn’t get dirty or messy in a day, so it’s fine if your spring cleaning efforts take a week or month to get done. A pulled muscle or other injury is not worth exerting yourself over – go slow and steady with your checklist in hand, and before you know it, you will have accomplished the task.

Categorised in: Daily Life