1. Focus on the areas of the house you use on a regular basis.
Do you have guest bedrooms or other spaces that you no longer use regularly? You may want to save cleaning those spaces for another day. Instead, focus on the areas of the house that you use most often as you start your spring cleaning. Leaving unused areas shut off can help you save energy and focus on the areas of the house that really matter.
2. Ask for help in areas where you struggle (or bring in a professional, if needed).
If you no longer feel steady climbing up on a ladder to change light bulbs or you have trouble with the bending and stretching needed to clean out from under the bed, ask for help! Ask a friend or family member to handle cleaning tasks that you no longer feel comfortable performing on your own, ask an in-home caregiver to aid with some of those tasks, or, if needed, bring in a professional cleaning service to handle the heavy cleaning that you're not able to do on your own.
3. Choose green cleaning products (and don't mix cleaners).
Not only do you want to make sure your house looks its best, you want to breathe clean air. Some traditional cleaning products may contain harsh chemicals that can hurt your lungs and make it hard to breathe. If you suffer from long-term ailments that already impact your breathing, those cleaners can have a severe negative impact on your health! Instead, choose green cleaning products that will get your home just as clean without the chemical impact.
If you do use traditional cleaning supplies, or even if you use new green products, take care not to mix cleaners. You can end up creating a toxic mess in the blink of an eye!
4. Tackle small projects one at a time.
Instead of trying to clean your entire home in one fell swoop, focus on tackling one small project at a time. You may not have the energy to manage large-scale cleaning all at once, but if you take on smaller projects, you may find that you're better equipped to get them done safely, without wearing yourself out.
5. Try not to leave things sitting out that could cause a trip hazard.
You may be tempted to leave the vacuum cleaner sitting plugged in, the contents of a closet you've been cleaning out spread across the floor, or a cleaning bucket sitting in the hallway for the next day. These items, however, could cause a serious fall hazard. Make sure you put away items in common areas so that you don't trip and fall.
Spring cleaning is an important annual task. As you age, however, it may pose additional challenges. Follow these steps to make sure that you take care of your cleaning as safely as possible.