4 Spring Cleaning Tips
Simple spring cleaning tips to help your aging parent get ready for the warmer months ahead.
As winter comes to an end, spring cleaning season approaches. It’s important to have clean and clutter-free home, but spring cleaning doesn’t need to be done all in one day.
Make cleaning become more manageable by breaking up tasks into small chunks of time throughout the days, weeks, or months. Not sure where to start? Here are some tips to make spring cleaning easier.
Tidy your pantry.
First, take everything off of the shelves. Throw out expired foods. Donate anything you can’t use. Say goodbye to products with added sugars—like dressings, sauces, and marinades.
Consider transferring your dry goods—such as flours, sugars, beans, and whole grains—to airtight jars, which will keep out bugs and keep foods fresher for longer.
Vacuum any crumbs. Then wipe down the shelves with an all purpose cleaning product or warm soapy water. Return items to the shelves.
Go after clutter first.
Getting rid of clutter helps improve home safety by eliminating hazards. It also makes it easier to clean. Decluttering helps you free up space, decrease stress, and even also reduces your risk of tripping and falling.
Start by separating items into three categories: keep, donate, and trash. Organize the items and get rid of any unused clothing, furniture, and appliances.
Ask loved ones to help.
You don’t have to tackle spring cleaning alone!
Cleaning as a team makes spring cleaning easier and faster. More importantly, spring cleaning can be a great time to bring family and friends together.
For loved ones or caregivers, spring cleaning is also a good time to catch up, and discuss any changes to your loved one’s care plan that should be addressed.
Clean out your medicine cabinet.
Look for prescriptions that have expired or you’re no longer using. Don’t throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Instead, check if your local pharmacy or police station will accept old medications. Or head to a collection site on National Drug Take Back Day, which occurs on April 22, 2023. Go to takebackday.dea.gov to learn more.
Next, organize. Assign one section for daily prescriptions and pill boxes, another for pain relief, a third for first aid, and a fourth for specific conditions, like allergies or stomachaches.
Finally, pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
This article was originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of Clover Living magazine.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Kumar Dharmarajan
Published on 3/23/23
Photo credit: Getty
