Mundane daily tasks like cleaning, from being plain boring, can turn into being physically tedious or even painful as you get older.
Things that you could do with your eyes shut aren’t as eabsy as they used to be and your body has to put in an additional effort for all the mopping, vacuuming and dusting that has to be done around the house.
Age catching up, however, does not mean that your house will not be in the best shape possible.
There are a number of ways in which senior citizens can keep their living area neat, clean and organized with minimal time and effort, making sure that the dust bunnies and diseases stay away!
Cleaning doesn’t necessarily need to be a mammoth task and here is a list full of some easy ways to ensure that your house is spotless without you suffering from a backache!
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Don’t Take On Too Much At A Time
The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that cleaning will be a tiring ordeal whatever your age may be.
As you grow older, however, you must ensure that you aren’t over-exerting yourself in the process of getting your home sparkling clean.
Don’t keep all the cleaning for one day and do a little bit at a time.
If you’ve been vacuuming for 15 minutes, be sure to take a 15-20 minute break so that your body doesn’t get too tired at one time.
Take some time off and relax!
Segregate And Get Rid Of Clutter
Getting rid of some of the older things may break your heart a little, but keep in mind that hoarding will only break your back in the longer term!
Making piles to deal with such a situation is always helpful.
One can accommodate all the things you must absolutely have, second for things that can go immediately, and a third for things that you really want to keep but don’t know if you should.
Ask an objective family member to help you decide on the items in the third category.
Prevent Spills By Protecting Surfaces
Accidental spillage in the fridge can be a nightmare to clean especially with age.
Bending down to get all the corners can give you a backache in no time.
To deal with this efficiently, you can line the shelves of your refrigerator with some sort of disposable covering like Press ‘N’ Seal.
This will keep your shelves clean for longer and even in case it does get dirty, it will be much easier to clean.
Choose A Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner
A good vacuum cleaner is essential for keeping your home clean but the selection process becomes even more complicated as you grow older.
A senior citizen will need a vacuum cleaner that does all the work without straining their body.
The first step in choosing the right vacuum cleaner if you’re a senior citizen is to check the weight.
In order for it to be easy to manoeuvre, the vacuum must be light.
Some good options are Bosch’s GL30 Compact All Floor, the Miele Compact C2 Cat & Dog Powerline, Dyson V6 Fluffy or the V8 Absolute, and the Karcher VC5 Premium.
Read More: Which vacuum cleaner in the UK is the lightest?
Get More Out Of Your Dishwasher
If you have just been using your dishwasher for cleaning dirty dishes, you’re missing out on its many other uses!
The dishwasher is a very useful appliance and can clean, sanitise and deodorise any household item that can withstand heat.
The list of the things that can go in your dishwasher ranges from things like potatoes to toys, combs and hairbrushes, air vents, as well as oven knobs.
You can also use it to get rid of the grime and dust on other household items like faux flowers and garden tools.
Storage Bins For Better Organization
One of the main problems when it comes to cleaning up is the accumulation of clothes or other household items across the house.
There is an easy way in which you can avoid getting stuck picking up these things around the house all day long.
Use separate bins that can accommodate all the clothes or miscellaneous things that you may find lying around.
It will help you cut down on clutter and you will always know where things are when you need them!
Increase Accessibility By Moving Essentials To Counter Tops
As one gets older, it becomes tougher to reach up to those higher cabinets for things that you use regularly.
Instead of reaching up to such cabinets that put pressure on your back, use stackable bins and containers on your countertops to keep things like fruits, vegetables and other groceries that you need often.
This will help in organizing your household items in a systematic way and relieving any stress on your body that could arise from heavy lifting.
Ask For Help!
In the end, there is no shame in asking your loved ones for help when you need it.
There can be some tasks in the process of cleaning that need a little more manpower.
This should not stop you from completing these with the help of your family.
Whether it is setting up a new appliance, bringing in heavy bags of shopping (always better to just get it delivered to your home) or cleaning out the driveway, it requires strength and time.
Depending on yourself is always a good thing but calling someone for a little bit of help is always a good option.
If you plan your days well and do not leave everything for one day at the end of the week or month, cleaning isn’t as bad as it may sound before you start off.
Get rid of all the clutter, invest in a good, lightweight vacuum cleaner, utilize your dishwasher well and do not be afraid of asking for help.
Finally, be sure to divide your cleaning in a way that you don’t feel too tired at the end of it.
Slow and steady is the way to go!
