Spring Cleaning to Make the Home Safer

The spring season is usually associated in people’s minds with new life, growth, rejuvenation, and new beginnings. With warmer temperatures arriving, flowers and plants blooming with all the colors of nature, and longer days, people are naturally drawn to the outdoors for fun under the sun.

Spring also brings the opportunity to clean, organize, and declutter the house. Spring cleaning isn’t just beneficial for the house, it can also lift our moods. Completing a cleaning project can make you feel accomplished, improve focus, and even help to fend off depression and other negative mental states.

For those of us with senior citizens we love and care for, it also gives us an important opportunity to check in on those of them who are aging in place. Spring cleaning is an excellent chance to help them out with a tidier home, and also make sure it is safe in addition to being clean. The following steps will give you an idea of where to start.

• Clean out the fridge and pantry: It happens to all of us. We cook dinner and then package up the leftovers and the spare ingredients. Next thing you know, they’ve worked their way into the back of the fridge, and simply live back there for ages. Or you bought some canned goods because they were on sale, and then the next time you see them, you find they expired five years ago.
   
• Expired food can be harmful if consumed, regardless of whether it’s in the pantry or the fridge. According to the FDA, all perishable foods that are open or prepared should be thrown out no later than seven days. Always refer to the expiration dates printed on the packages, as well as food safety guidelines, to learn how to handle specific foods.

• Seasonal safety: On a seasonal basis, it’s a good idea to go through the house and check on all the fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, or radon detectors, making sure they’re all operational and free of dust. Fire extinguishers are important to take a look at as well, as an undercharged, depressurized, or expired fire extinguisher will likely not be effective in an emergency where it is needed. If you live in a part of the country with severe weather, make sure you know what to do in the event of a tornado or hurricane, and have flashlights, batteries, and candles handy for if the power goes out.
   
• Clean out the medicine cabinet: Expired prescription or over the counter medications lose efficacy over time, and can potentially even become harmful. The best time to throw them out is today. The best way to dispose of old medications is through a drug take back program. Many pharmacies will also have a receptacle purpose built for throwing away old medicine.
   
• Deep clean: Dust tends to build up in the winter, as there is less air circulation from the outdoors. Occupying a home with poor air quality can cause headaches, eye irritation, congestion, and more.