Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Certified Senior Advisor and Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Doing the spring cleaning in my home always made me feel good. Now I notice I canāt do as much as I used to. How can I safely clean my home?
Spring cleaning always makes me feel good. I think itās just a natural instinct in me to roll up my sleeves and get to work. That being said, I have the same concern as you. I canāt do some of the things I used to do, and the last thing I want to do is hurt myself! I have some simple recommendations for you to follow as you āspringā out your cleaning arsenal. These tips will keep you safe as you tackle the spring cleaning in your home.
The most important tip I can share with you is to remember safety first! Take your time and donāt rush.
Take breaks while you are doing chores. Cleaning is hard work and can be exhausting. Take a time out to re-energize, and when you are ready, you can continue working. Remember to drink plenty of fluids while you work!
Be safe by wearing the proper closed-toe shoes. If you accidentally drop something, the right shoes will protect your feet.
Donāt move or lift heavy objects. Please leave the heavy jobs to someone more capable with this type of work.
Be careful when using a step stool. A step stool may seem like a harmless thing to use, but if you suddenly lose your balance, it may cause a sustainable injury. Be aware of your limitations.
If you wash a floor, make sure it is completely dry before walking on it. The floor can look dry when, in fact, it is still wet. A slippery, wet floor is unsafe to walk on. A non-skid shoe is always a safe precaution.
Just about every room in our homes can use a de-cluttering. Get rid of boxes and bags that are lying around. Donate old magazines and books.
You may be able to reach and bend easily, but remember that you can still hurt yourself. While you might not feel it while you are working, you may overdo it and feel it the next day.
Donāt use harsh chemicals when cleaning. They can cause reactions that are dangerous to your health. Read all labels before using a cleaning product and use protective gloves.
Make sure you store your cleaning products in a safe place, away from children and pets. Children can mistake a cleaning product for something that looks like another āsafeā product. Keep cleaning items out of reach so that children and pets wonāt be in danger.
Start slowly by choosing one room in your home to clean. Once you have chosen that room, pick one area in that room. For example, I might start with the kitchen and then zero in on the refrigerator. Use this system for other areas of your home.
Spring cleaning can be a heavy-duty job. It might be wise to consider calling a professional service to get you through the spring cleaning urge. A home caregiver can help you keep up with the day-to-day tasks on your own. They can take care of the light housekeeping so that you can enjoy doing the things you love to do.
If you would like a spring cleaning checklist, please call me. I will be happy to send one to you to help you get through your spring cleaning.
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
