Seniors Should Take Care When Doing Spring Cleaning

Warmer temperatures and longer days mean that spring is knocking on the door and along with it, the urge to clean out clutter that accumulated over the winter.

Seniors should note though that even the most seemingly benign chores–cleaning out cabinets, washing windows, re-organizing garages and purging clothes from closets–supply a new list of risks. For many adults, falls and poisonings represent two of the leading causes of home-related injury and death.

However, the annual spring cleaning rite of passage can continue without a hitch if elderly home dwellers follow simple safety rules before they lift, scrub, buff, polish or purge:

1. When cleaning out rooms, closets or other areas, always keep stairs, landings and floors clear of clutter
2. Carry light loads, even if it means taking a few more trips, and make sure you can see over each load.
3. When carrying boxes or bundles down steps, make sure one hand can hold the railing at all times.
4. Read product labels carefully and know how to store or dispose of all chemicals. Never mix two products together; this could cause a dangerous, poisonous chemical reaction.
5. When cleaning out medicine cabinets, dispose of expired medications, and never mix an older prescription with a newer one, even if it’s the same medicine.
6. Never use gasoline as a cleaning solvent, and never store gasoline or any other flammable liquid in your home. Gasoline should be kept in a cool, dry location and stored in a container designed expressly for gasoline storage.
7. When using a stepladder, the safe standing level is the second rung from the top. Keep your body centered at all times, with three points of contact (two feet on the rungs and one hand on the handle or step to steady you). Better yet, call an able-bodied grandchild or teenage neighbor to help. If you can afford it, hire a handyman for a few hours to do the climbing for you.
8. Instead of driving donations to a drop-off point, see if your favorite charitable organization will pick up your unwanted clothing, furniture or household items. Make sure to ask for ID before allowing anyone to enter your home.
9. Lower and lift your body with care as you bend and kneel to clean; those with arthritis or weak joints may want to keep a chair or stool handy for sitting or help in standing. If you must lift heavy items, make sure you lift properly: squat at the knees and keep the back straight as you straighten your knees and lift.

Spring is a time for rejuvenation: refreshing tired, stale spaces and readying yourself for the warm spring and summer months. Taking care now will ensure carefree warm-weather fun.