House cleaning can get really challenging as you grow older. Yet, it is an integral part of living. No matter how big or small the house is, how many people live in it, or if it is vacant for days, cleaning has to be done. Today, I have some house-cleaning tips for seniors or the elderly, which I hope they find useful.
Ever since I received the above comment I thought of writing a post on this topic.
Because even my parents go through such situations.
My mom, mom-in-law, and aunt experienced such problems too.
But in India, we’re fortunate enough to have good housemaids that charge reasonable fees.
They not only do the cleaning but also help with other household work like cooking, getting groceries, caring for illness, etc.
We also have people who provide good home-style food tiffins (with sufficient food for two people) at fairly affordable prices.
Because of this, the massive task — cooking and cleaning gets easier.
So life is a bit easier in India, especially in urban parts.
It would be really helpful if people around the globe provided such help to the elderly who really find it difficult to do things on their own.
However, there are ways elderly people can manage their homes with the least assistance.
8 Best HOUSE CLEANING TIPS FOR SENIORS (FOR ELDERLY)
1| Get a robotic vacuum:
If possible, getting a robotic vacuum cleaner can save sweeping/mopping/vacuuming work and reduce your housework by 30 percent.
Since it comes with a mop option it can keep the house free of dust, debris, and grime.
You can run it every day, alternate days, or a couple of times a week.
A robotic vacuum can also clean rugs, flat surfaces, and empty counters.
Once you understand how it operates, your life will be easier with it.
A robotic vacuum is a useful gift for your grandparents, parents, or older friends.
2| Have proper cleaning tools:
Gathering all the essential tools and keeping them in a convenient place could be handy.
If you’re unsure what cleaning tools and supplies you should keep at home, I have a list of 15 Affordable Cleaning Tools For Every Home.
For easy reference things such as a long-handle broom, 2-3 microfibre cloths, dish soap + baking soda + white vinegar, Bathroom squeegee, disinfectant wipes, bathroom wiper floor mop, toilet cleaner balls, and lint-roller.
Store everything in a bucket and keep it in a place where it is easy to access.
3| Minimize kitchen work:
Make simple meals like one-pot meals or easy microwave meals so the number of utensils comes out less in the case of handwashing dishes.
Load and run the dishwasher once a day preferably at night.
Put things away and wipe down the counters once at night so you can start your day nice and fresh in the kitchen the next morning.
Buy only things you’ll use to keep your refrigerator and pantry manageable.
Stick refrigerator drawer mats inside the fridge. These sheets are easier to remove and clean. Thus reducing the instances of cleaning the refrigerator.
4| Do laundry two times a week:
One time for clothes. Second day for towels/bedsheets.
Change sheets less frequently in say 10 days or so. You can dry towels in the sun and use them a couple of times too. Put clothes to wash only when they are dirty and smelly.
5| Dust once a week:
Only the high-traffic areas.
Things that you come in frequent contact with, need to be cleaned regularly. Still, once a week is good enough.
Swish and wipe your toilet on alternate days. And clean the bathroom once a month.
6| Air out regularly:
This is a great natural way to get rid of stale air, prevent the growth of molds, and eliminate domestic air pollutants.
If your climate conditions allow, air out for 10-15 minutes daily to let the fresh air in.
7| Keep minimal stuff in your house:
If you can’t do it yourself, get somebody’s help but purge all the unwanted, unnecessary items in your home.
This will make a huge difference in how to feel about your home. It’ll make cleaning and managing your home a lot easier.
8| If possible downsize or rent out extra space:
A bigger house is difficult to manage. If this is your case, downsizing or renting out the extra rooms might help.
You can use the money to hire help or buy yourself some convenient gadgets.
9| Take out the trash regularly:
Like airing out, it’s always best to remove foul odor and garbage from your home.
Doing it a few times a week will prevent lifting heavy weights you would do once a week.
10 | Book/hire professional cleaners for deep cleaning once or twice a year:
All of the abovementioned steps can keep your home in good shape but deep cleaning once or twice is year is essential.
I suggest you ask for help if someone’s willing to come and assist or book professional cleaners.
Those were some tips that I hope might be helpful. Feel free to share your thoughts/tips or leave a question in the comments section below. Let’s try to make our older ones’ lives simpler and better. Thank you so much for reading. Lots of Love. Happy Cleaning!