Spring is the season of new beginnings, and nothing says new beginnings like a clean and organized senior apartment! Over the past year, you may have accumulated more items than you need, and chances are there are some areas in your apartment that haven’t been organized since you moved in. If that’s the case, it’s time for some good old fashioned spring cleaning! Check out some of our top cleaning tips below for keeping your senior apartment in Saratoga tidy!
7 Spring Cleaning Tips for Seniors
Get your space fit for spring! These seven cleaning tips will ensure you stay on track with your spring cleaning:
1. Easy Does It
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to happen in one day. Trying to cram all your cleaning into one day can leave you feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Instead, tackle one area of your apartment at a time.
2. Time Flies When You’re Having Fun
Let’s face it, cleaning is boring. But when you have something fun to distract your mind during cleaning, the time will fly! Listen to a podcast, audiobook, put on your favorite movie, or call a family member while you clean. That way, your brain stays entertained and you’re less likely to get bored.
3. Make A Checklist
Make a list. Check it twice. We all know what it’s like to go to the grocery store without a list–you forget what you need instantly! The same thing goes with spring cleaning. Write down all the problem areas you want to tackle, so you can keep track of areas you still have to hit and what you’ve already cleaned. Plus, there’s something so satisfying about crossing an item off a list. It’ll give you an extra boost of motivation to move onto the next area!
4. Discard Expired Goods
Two places seniors forget to clean out most often are two places we visit every day: the medicine cabinet and the refrigerator. Both medication and food can expire and must be discarded. Not only will you be saving yourself from accidentally ingesting these expired goods, but now your fridge and cabinet will be roomier. Be sure to include these two often missed locations on your checklist!
5. The One Year Rule
When deciding whether to discard or donate something, like clothing, appliances, or decorations, use the one year rule. If you haven’t touched or used the item in the past year, it’s safe to say you can get rid of it and you won’t miss it.
6. Organize, Organize, Organize
If you just stuff all your miscellaneous scattered items into the back of a closet, you’re not helping yourself be organized. Plastic bins, shelves, shoe racks, and more can be used to separate items into their respective categories–like holiday decorations, exercise equipment, winter sweaters–and keep them out of sight and out of mind until you need them again.
7. Enlist More Hands to Help
The help of children and grandchildren make spring cleaning go quickly. Having a family member come visit for an hour at a time can help speed up your cleaning while not taxing their personal schedule. If your family is unable to visit for any reason, a virtual call home is just as good. Family can help you decide what to keep and what can stay, in addition to saying words of encouragement.