The Senior Home Cleaning Cheat Sheet

It can be exciting when it’s time for spring cleaning. You know your house will be fresh from top to bottom and feel like a new home. For safety reasons, a comprehensive clean should be done by a professional company or with the assistance of loved ones, but there are many regular cleaning tasks seniors can safely handle. Some types of cleaning and organizing can be more fun with a companion, whether a family member, friend, or United Methodist Communities (UMC) HomeWorks home health aide. 

Since everyone’s habits and homes are different, we want you to draw up your own senior home cleaning cheat sheet. If cleaning the house is not your favorite job, reward yourself afterward with something you enjoy, like fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies – yum!

Be Prepared     

Cleaning should be a habit, and that requires mental and physical preparation. Developing a positive attitude towards cleaning your home makes it feels less like a chore and more like something to look forward to. A good way to physically prepare is to have all your cleaning materials in one place – a rolling cart with locked wheels and baskets on the side is a very convenient tool. When not in use, you can store it away safely. Decide ahead of time what you will clean, ensure you wear the correct shoes, and keep your charged cell phone or emergency call button close.   

Declutter Your Home Regularly  

Everyone collects small ornaments and other items of sentimental value. Unfortunately, they tend to gather dust over the years, and decluttering your home includes making sure there are fewer “dust-collectors” to clean. Invite a friend or a family member to your home every three months for a declutter session or request the assistance of a HomeWorks companion. Review all your medicines and safely dispose of anything that expired. Look through your fridge, cupboards, or pantry for expired food and other goods. 

Are items blocking your regular routes around the house, including the path you take at night between your bed and the bathroom? They can be a trip-and-fall hazard, so put them away or move them to another space.   

Routinely Clean What You Can   

Have you noted the areas you use most regularly on your cleaning sheet? Routinely clean them when possible, and the house will stay cleaner for significantly longer! Tips like opening bathroom windows and leaving the fan on for a few minutes after using the shower or bath will stop mildew before it starts, cutting down on cleaning in the bathroom. Try to use natural cleaning products, as they are better for you and the environment. Do you use the microwave oven every day? To help it stay clean and smelling fresh, put boiling water and a few slices of lemon in a bowl, microwave it for a few minutes while you wipe down the kitchen surfaces, then wipe the inside of the microwave with a separate cloth. 

Get Help For A Good Spring Cleaning  

Every home needs a good spring clean at least once a year. Since items such as ceiling fan blades, windows, and HVAC filters are on the list, source the services of a professional cleaning company to attend to each item and place you cannot reach. Also, leave the moving and cleaning of heavy furniture to others. When you draft a complete spring cleaning list specific to your house and yard, it is easier to ask for quotes from service providers. If you feel insecure with outsiders in your home, request a family member or HomeWorks aide to be present during the services. 

Is your house small, and are your family or younger friends willing to help you? Let them do the spring cleaning for you and make it fun with those cookies we mentioned earlier and lots of refreshments. A small thank you note afterward will make them feel appreciated.   

Make A UMC HomeWorks Home Health Aide Your Cleaning Companion  

UMC HomeWorks caregivers are certified and screened for their compassion and patience. Each senior is carefully matched with the aide or companion most suited to them. The companions provide numerous non-medical home-care services that seniors require everyday, such as light housekeeping, meal preparation and laundry, while a certified home health aide can provide more hands-on assistance with ADLs like bathing and toileting, and execute a personalized care plan established by a HomeWorks RN.

United Methodist Communities HomeWorks provides home health care for independent seniors in New Jersey. Please visit our website for more information or contact one of our team members today if you want a home health aide to provide companionship when people are spring cleaning your home.  https://umcommunities.org/homeworks/home-health-aide-services/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/homeworks/blog/senior-home-cleaning-cheat-sheet/