A safe, comfortable living space is essential to maintaining independence and wellness in your golden years. With the warm weather rolling in and life blossoming outside, spring is the perfect opportunity for a thorough house cleaning for seniors to refresh the home, rejuvenate the spirit, and make independent living easier. This simple and effective senior spring cleaning checklist will breathe life into your home and prepare you for the sunny days ahead.
Why senior spring cleaning matters
A tidy living space promotes physical wellbeing. Senior spring cleaning can help:
- Reduce the risk of trips and falls: By organizing commonly used items, removing obstacles, and decluttering walkways, you can comfortably and safely navigate your home, which promotes mobility and reduces the risk of accidents.
- Prevent illness: House cleaning for seniors helps minimize the presence of germs and pathogens that cause illnesses like colds and flu.
- Control allergies: Spring is the season of pollen-related stuffy noses, but a deep senior spring cleaning helps eliminate dust, dander, and allergens that exacerbate respiratory issues.
- Improve sleep quality: Studies show that a clean, comfortable room is vital for quality sleep. Adequate sleep is essential for overall health, improving cognition, mood regulation, and immune function.
The benefits of a clean environment extend to mental wellness as well. A hygienic living space fosters a sense of tranquility and orderliness that promotes mental clarity, concentration, and peace of mind. Research shows that senior spring cleaning may help reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, which in turn minimizes stress-related health issues like high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Senior cleaning tips
Below are our favorite spring cleaning hacks for seniors that will help you have a clean, comfortable home in no time.
1. Get rid of visual clutter.
Studies show that visual clutter impacts memory and mental clarity. So, the first action on your senior spring cleaning checklist should be clearing your home of clutter.
Put away “loose” items on hard surfaces, like floors, countertops, and tabletops. Start with the floors to ensure you don’t trip or fall while cleaning, then move to countertops, nightstands, coffee tables, side tables, and other places where items have accumulated outside their intended organizational “home.” If something doesn’t have a home, designate a space for it in closets, drawers, boxes, or bins.
2. Declutter with purpose.
One of the most important senior cleaning tips is to move slowly and systematically through the house. Deliberate decluttering ensures you don’t get overwhelmed and helps you enjoy the process. You can make decluttering fun. Look at everything you own. Uncover hidden gems of nostalgia as you go. Take pictures on your smartphone of items to send to your family.
Think of your spring cleaning checklist as a chance to curate a home of meaning. Keep those things that matter to you and respectfully rehome those items that no longer serve you.
To help do this, create three piles: keep, donate, throw out. 1) Keep items that bring you joy. 2) Donate items that are in good condition but no longer serve a purpose in your life. 3) Throw out or recycle items that are old or not usable.
3. Break down your senior spring cleaning checklist.
Divide cleaning tasks into manageable segments to prevent fatigue and maintain your energy. Rather than trying to tackle all your spring cleaning in one day, set aside an hour every day to avoid overwhelm. Move room by room – or even drawer by drawer – to break your senior spring cleaning checklist into bite-sized pieces.
4. Prioritize accessibility.
Simplify your daily life by organizing items intelligently. Store frequently used items at hip-level and towards the front of closets or cupboards for easy access. Place heavy items on lower shelves to prevent strain when reaching. Consider investing in storage bins, drawer dividers, or other organizational tools to assign homes for all your belongings.
5. Choose ergonomic senior spring cleaning tools.
Some cleaning products and tools are heavy and cumbersome. If you dread cleaning due to heavy vacuums or uncomfortable mop handles, consider investing in ergonomic cleaning tools. Lightweight vacuum cleaners, microfiber dust cloths, Swiffer extendable dusters, and reusable mop pads are excellent alternatives to simplify your senior spring cleaning.
If you need to move heavy furniture or use large tools, enlist the help of family, friends, or GoGo home professionals. Don’t try to do it all yourself, especially if you have any mobility issues or arthritis.
6. Go green.
Some seniors find that traditional cleaning products aggravate asthma, respiratory ailments, or skin conditions. To minimize exposure to harsh chemicals, consider switching to natural alternatives that are just as effective. Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice are great for most senior spring cleaning jobs.
Try out this easy DIY all-purpose cleaner, great for all-over house cleaning for seniors:
- Fill a new spray bottle with 2-4 cups of distilled water. If you don’t have distilled water, you can boil water, let it cool, then add it to the spray bottle.
- Add 1/4 cup of vinegar, one teaspoon of castile dish soap, and 12-20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Citrus essential oils are a favorite for senior spring cleaning but are not pet-friendly. Lemongrass essential oil has that same fresh scent but is safe to use around dogs and cats (if they don’t eat it).
7. Freshen your fabrics.
An often overlooked but essential part of your senior spring cleaning checklist is to refresh your fabrics. Upholstery and linens can hold a lot of sneaky odors, so taking the time to wash these will instantly make your home feel fresher and cleaner.
- Use vacuum upholstery attachments to remove dust and debris from furniture surfaces.
- Use an all-natural upholstery spray to help lift and get rid of hidden odors.
- Wash any fabrics that are machine washable.
- Air out throw pillows, blankets, and other linens in the sun. (Be careful not to leave them out too long, or they might lighten in the UV rays.)
8. Check your smoke detectors.
One of the most important senior cleaning tips is to check your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors. Make sure these detectors have fresh batteries, and run a test to ensure they function properly. This small step may save you and your loved ones safe from serious harm.
If your detectors are too high to reach, call a GoGo Home Professional to help run these tests and assist with your senior spring cleaning checklist.
9. Clean your dishwasher and washing machine.
Just because your dishwasher and washing machine clean, doesn’t mean they don’t also need some attention on your senior spring cleaning checklist.
For your dishwasher, buy a specialty dishwasher cleanser like Affresh. You’ll also want to use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the dishwasher filter and rubber seals. The next time you run your dishwasher, your dishes will come out sparkling.
For most washing machines, use 1-2 cups of white vinegar in the detergent dispenser on the longest hot cycle. The vinegar will help remove and prevent mildew and bacteria. Your clothes will be smelling better in no time.
10. Outsource your senior spring cleaning checklist.
Senior spring cleaning can be daunting, so don’t do it all yourself. Enlisting the help of a professional cleaning service will alleviate the burden of physically demanding and time-consuming tasks. That means you have more time and energy to focus on activities that bring you joy rather than spending hours scrubbing floors and dusting hard-to-reach areas. Plus, professional cleaners have the expertise and equipment to handle senior spring cleaning efficiently and effectively, so you can rest assured that your home is in capable hands.
Use GoGo Home Services to find trusted, reliable cleaners in your area. With GoGo, you get experienced, trustworthy professionals that fit your preferences, needs, and schedule. Our GoGoGuardians screen all professionals and monitor your requests so you can feel confident about the cleaners you invite into your home. Schedule your cleaning with GoGo today to get the cleanliness, convenience, and peace of mind you deserve for your senior spring cleaning this year.
