For seniors who are living independently, your spring cleaning can be a point of stress and frustration in your life. You know the tasks need to get done around the house, but with each passing year your physical ability to complete them may decrease.
We want to offer you some tips for helping take control of your spring cleaning and turn it into a reasonable, and dare we say enjoyable task that can involve the whole family. Take a look!
- Prioritize Your Most Important Projects
It can be overwhelming to think about deep cleaning every corner of your entire house. So don’t! Let’s be honest, your house will never be 100% free and clear of dust or clutter. Rather, prioritize the rooms that are used daily and in most need of a good cleaning. Your living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom are great places to start. Other rooms like your guest room or basement, are not nearly as urgent.
- Tackle One Room at a Time
With your list of prioritized rooms, start with just one. Don’t feel like you need to spring clean four rooms in your house in one day. First, you won’t have the time to really dig into the corners of any of them. Second, you will surely get tired and could put yourself as risk for an injury. Make it a goal to tackle one room in a day (or over many days) before you start on the next room.
- Have the Right Tools on Hand
When you have the right tools, cleaning is so much easier! Make note of any items you need like scrub brushes, cloths, cleaning products, step stools and long reaching dusters. With the right tools you will protect yourself from injury and greatly reduce fatigue and frustration from trying to clean with inadequate tools.
- Ask for Help
For many, this will be the most important piece of advice. Ask for help! Spring cleaning is hard on anyone, especially seniors. Your family and friends want you to be safe and will gladly step in to help you. Plus, when you tackle these chores together, they will be done in a fraction of the time and you will make some new memories along the way.
- Make It Enjoyable
Speaking of making memories, use your spring cleaning as a time to bond with your friends and family. Sure, it’s still cleaning, but by playing music, taking snack breaks and setting a reward (like a movie night!), you will be motived to knock these tasks off your list with a smile.
How do you plan to tackle your spring cleaning this year? Share your ideas or ask a question by leaving a comment below!
