Spring Cleaning Tips for Seniors

Spring is thought of as the season of rebirth, renewal and hope. As the flowers start to bloom and the sun grows warmer, it’s time to give your home a fresh feeling by completing some essential spring cleaning tasks. Did you know spring cleaning has been going on for centuries? Homes used to be closed up tightly all winter long, causing dirt and ash from fireplaces to build up everywhere. As the warm weather arrived, so did the opportunity to open doors and windows, and thoroughly clean all surfaces.

Clutter and Your Health

Today, spring cleaning usually involves some of the same tasks as long ago, with deep cleaning often the No. 1 priority. However, we also think of spring as the time to complete some organizing or remodeling projects.

Home organization, in particular, is a chore that is actually very important to your overall health. Clutter has been found to have a detrimental effect on wellness, particularly in regards to your stress levels. Clutter can overstimulate your brain because there’s simply too much to look at and process. This, in turn, inhibits your ability to problem-solve and think creatively. Additionally, you might feel anxious and restless when there’s too much clutter around.

If your home is too cluttered, you might even miss out on some much-needed social interactions. If you’re embarrassed by your messy rooms and don’t have friends and family over, this could lead to isolation and depression over time.

Add These Tasks to Your Spring Cleaning List

You can see why doing some spring cleaning this season is beneficial to your healthy lifestyle. For some older adults, the thought of scrubbing the home from top to bottom can be overwhelming and may cause you to put certain tasks off for as long as possible. This is why the first step in any spring cleaning project is to determine what your ultimate goal will be. Would you like to give your kitchen and bathrooms a thorough cleaning, including cleaning out the pantry or medicine cabinet? Are you ready to purge some items and organize storage spaces like your closets or attic? Defining your goal will keep you on task and make any project easier to see through to the end.

Here are a few additional spring cleaning tips for seniors to keep in mind:

• Create your spring cleaning checklist. Once you’ve determined your goal, create a spring cleaning list of all the tasks that need to be accomplished. This will help you stay on track throughout the entire project.
• Obtain the supplies needed in advance. Before you get started, make sure you have everything you need to complete the chores you’ve spelled out. This could mean picking up supplies to give your carpet a deep cleaning or boxes and garbage bags to clear out clutter.
• Finish each project before starting another. Try to avoid getting distracted when spring cleaning, especially if you’re going through items and making decisions about what to keep and what to toss. Or, if you’re deep cleaning a room, don’t leave that room until you’ve finished! Just pace yourself and allow for the proper time needed, taking breaks as necessary.
• Enlist some helpers. Asking friends or family members to help out can make spring cleaning go much smoother and quicker. Assign areas of your home to your helpers and spread out tasks to make it easier on all those involved.
• Maintain a clean, clutter-free home year round. Once your home is clean and organized, try to keep it that way throughout the rest of the year. This way, because your home will already be in better shape when spring rolls around again next year, you won’t feel so overwhelmed by all that needs to get done.

Live an Organized, Full Life at Advent Christian Village

Celebrate living life to the fullest at Advent Christian Village. We offer a variety of living options designed to suit your specific needs, with all the conveniences of modern life and the closeness of a small town. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule a tour.