The COVID-19 pandemic has brought fresh attention to the advantages of remaining at home in old age. Independent living is associated with numerous health benefits for seniors, including reduced social isolation, higher activity levels, and lower rates of depression and Alzheimer’s (Retirement Living, 2020). If you’re elderly, having your own home also allows you to reduce your risk of catching communicable illnesses, like influenza and the novel coronavirus.

Though aging at home is beneficial in many ways, it still presents challenges that require careful planning, creativity, and adaptation to overcome. As a senior living independently, you’ll need to manage safety and accessibility concerns, including the risk of getting injured while cleaning. In this article, we’ll share some helpful tips on how to change the way you clean to fit your level of strength and mobility.

 

5 House Cleaning Tips for Seniors

 

1. Invest in the right tools.

Strains, sprains, and falls are a concern for anyone who cleans frequently, regardless of their age. As you get older, however, your risk of experiencing these injuries increases and recovery becomes more complicated. You might also find that manual scrubbing drains your energy and stresses your joints more than it used to, making cleaning feel like an unpleasant chore. The good news? Today, there are a number of useful tools available that make backache-free cleaning a reality. Some of our favorite essentials include:

-Extendable microfiber dusters. As the name suggests, these dusters come with an extendable handle that makes reaching the tops of cupboards, light fixtures, and other high-up places a breeze.

-Power scrubbers. Power scrubbers are an absolute must for cleaning grout, floors, tubs, sinks, and other areas prone to stubborn stains and bacteria build-up. These scrubbers come with an electric head that does the work for you, so all you have to do is move the tool along the surface you want to clean. Many models also have extendable arms and multiple scrubber heads, making them incredibly versatile in hard-to-reach areas.

-Robot vacuums. Robot vacuum cleaners, like the Roomba, can quietly and unobtrusively vacuum your floors without any manual effort on your part. These devices are equipped with special sensors that help them identify dirty spots and avoid obstacles, for a hassle-free clean.

2. Choose natural cleaners whenever possible.

Even for non-smokers, the risk of developing respiratory illnesses increases with age. Along with leading a healthy, active lifestyle, avoiding the use of harsh cleaning products can help prevent common lung diseases, including pneumonia and COPD.

According to research conducted by the French Institute of Health and Medical Research, frequent use of chemical disinfectants can increase the risk of developing COPD by 22-32%. These findings highlight the importance of using harsh cleaning products only when the benefits outweigh the risks (i.e., in areas where dangerous bacteria might otherwise accumulate, such as the toilet bowl). Otherwise, it’s better to stick with natural cleaning agents, like vinegar and baking soda, to remove grime.

When you do need to use a chemical disinfectant, choose a bleach-free product and thoroughly ventilate the area while you work. (Keep windows open for a full half-hour before and after you clean.) If you already suffer from respiratory health issues, hire a professional cleaner to clean your bathroom and kitchen for you, and leave the area while they work.

 

3. Use shelf liners to make clean-up faster and easier.

Covering your kitchen drawers, cupboard shelves, and fridge with removable liners both protects these surfaces from stains and significantly reduces clean-up time. Look for non-adhesive plastic shelf liners for your cupboards and drawers, as these liners can be removed, cleaned in the washing machine, and reinserted multiple times. In the fridge, use disposable paper liners to line your vegetable and fruit drawers (paper liners soak up excess moisture, keeping fruit and veggies fresh for longer) and line shelves with peel-and-stick plastic liners. Glad “Press n’ Seal” food wrap can be used to make durable, low-cost fridge shelf liners that can be disposed of once they become soiled.

 

4. Store your cleaning products in easy-to-reach places.

Many of us store our cleaning products somewhere they’ll be completely out of sight, like a high shelf or the cupboard below the kitchen sink. While doing this reduces visible clutter in the home, reaching for products adds extra bending and stretching to your cleaning routine, thereby increasing the likelihood of muscle and joint strain.

Ideally, you should store your cleaning products at waist level; e.g., on the middle shelf of your pantry. You can also try storing them in a rolling cart, which can be tucked out of sight in a closet when you aren’t cleaning. This way, you’ll be able to wheel your products from room to room with very little effort.

 

5. Know when to ask for help.

Though most seniors are fully capable of doing light maintenance cleaning, tackling big jobs alone is often more hassle (and risk) than it’s worth. Before you attempt any cleaning tasks that involve moving heavy furniture or appliances, or reaching very high-up places, call a trusted relative or professional cleaner to assist you. Likewise, if you find routine deep-cleaning tiring, hiring a maid can preserve your energy for more important things.

As the leading domestic cleaners in Louisville, we’ll happily tailor our services to fit your needs, budget, and schedule. Whether you want a bit of extra help around the house or comprehensive housecleaning services, we’re here to help you enjoy your retirement to the fullest while you take a day to relax in Beargrass Creek Park. To learn more about what we do, contact Super Cleaning Service Louisville online or by phone at (502) 230-6735.

Vacuuming seems like one of the simplest household chores, but in reality, it’s one of the most misunderstood. The quick back-and-forth motions many of us use when vacuuming actually reduce the effectiveness of most vacuum cleaners, leaving residual dust and dirt behind. Other mistakes, like choosing the wrong vacuum cleaner or attachment, can also contribute to the buildup of dust, pet dander, and other allergens in your indoor air. In the guide below, we’ll examine the indicators of poor vacuuming habits and help you fix any mistakes or you can contact our team of experts to have your house cleaned professionally.

 

What Are the Signs You Aren’t Vacuuming Properly?

If you notice any of the following issues, you probably aren’t using the right vacuuming techniques:

 

-You often see dark lines on your carpet near the base of walls. These lines are caused by dust drifting down the walls, which is an indicator of bad indoor air quality.

 

-Your socks look dirty after you walk across your carpets, even though you vacuum at least once per week.

 

-Your home has a dusty or musty smell, despite the absence of visible mold or mildew.

 

-You experience more allergy or asthma flare-ups when you’re at home.

 

-You see visible dust hanging in the air.

 

-The high-traffic areas of your carpet always look dingy, no matter what you do.

 

How to Vacuum Correctly: Our 5 Top Tips

Choose the right vacuum cleaner and attachment.

Though inexpensive, lightweight vacuum cleaners are an appealing choice for many people, but they typically lack the suction power needed to thoroughly vacuum an entire home. This is particularly likely to be the case if you have carpets, own pets, or suffer from allergies.

For one-story homes and apartments, upright vacuum cleaners are a powerful, practical choice. For two-story homes, however, canister vacuums are often preferable because they’re lighter, so they can be safely carried upstairs. Be sure to choose a model equipped with a genuine HEPA filter, and if possible, select one that uses vacuum bags. Bagless vacuums release dust and allergens back into the air when emptied (unless you empty them outside, of course).

To get the most out of your vacuum, make sure you use a bare floor attachment for your floors, and switch to a motorized attachment (with an agitator) when vacuuming carpets. An agitator is necessary to loosen ground-in debris and pet hair that’s become trapped below the surface of the carpet pile. For detail work, like the spaces along baseboards, around vents, and under furniture, use your vacuum’s crevice tool. When it comes time to vacuum the stairs, you may find the hose attachment less cumbersome than using a larger vacuum head.

Dust before you vacuum.

Unlike old-fashioned vacuums, modern models equipped with HEPA filters don’t release dust onto nearby surfaces as they work. You should therefore dust your home prior to vacuuming, not after, to ensure the dust on curtains, walls, and shelves doesn’t drift down onto your freshly-vacuumed floor.

If your vacuum came with a dusting tool (it looks like a big, soft round brush attachment), feel free to use it to make dusting quicker and easier.

Prepare the area first.

Before you vacuum, pick up clutter (like toys and dirty laundry) and put it away. Then, dust some baking soda over carpeted areas using a colander. Let the baking soda sit for one to three hours so it has a chance to absorb odors. (For very stubborn odors, you may need to let the baking soda sit overnight.)

Vacuum in rows.

Once your surface has been prepared, you’re ready to vacuum like the pros: Rather than using quick, short vertical motions, move your vacuum slowly in wall-to-wall rows. Push the vacuum along one row, then pull it back over the same row before starting another. Work against the “nap” of your carpet to loosen debris and fluff up carpet fibers.

After you’ve covered the whole room, switch directions and vacuum it again. For instance, if you were vacuuming in a north-south direction the first time, you’ll need to switch to an east-west direction the second time. Doing this will eliminate any debris you missed in between rows on your first attempt.

Push harder than you pull.

Many people naturally exert more force when they’re pulling their vacuums back than when they’re pushing them forward, but this can leave dirt on the floor. Vacuums are designed to be pushed forward at a rate of about 12 inches per second and pulled back at a rate of 6 inches per second. When you’re pulling backwards, you’re actually going against the direction the motorized brush turns, so you need to give it more time to operate properly.

Vacuum often.

Vacuuming once per week might be enough if you’re single and have no children or pets. For anyone else, however, the recommendation is to vacuum at least 2-3 times per week. Vacuuming frequently won’t damage your carpets; on the contrary, it will protect them from premature wear by removing sharp dirt particles before they get ground into the pile.

 

Professional Solutions for Dirty Floors and Carpets

Vacuuming regularly is the best way to improve indoor air quality and extend the life of your carpets. On its own, however, vacuuming isn’t always enough to keep carpets and floors perfectly clean. Sometimes, these surfaces develop stubborn stains or odors that vacuuming can’t eliminate.

Before you replace stained carpets or floors (at considerable expense), we recommend calling professional cleaners who use specialized hot water extraction machines and floor scrubbers to restore these surfaces to “like new” condition, without the risk of damage posed by harsh cleaners and stain removers. Our professional maid services in Louisville are also a great choice for those with limited mobility or time constraints. Why not get in touch while you spend the day unwinding at Ballard Park?