Get your house in order: tips and tricks for a tidy, clean home you can love

‘Dust if you must’ is a poem that tells us life is too short for housework, but a dirty, untidy home can affect our overall health and quality of life, so it’s important to keep on top of those chores.

Sometimes older people struggle with essential tasks and need extra help with keeping their homes tidy. 

As we age, our muscles weaken, our joints ache and our vision may fail.  Our loved ones may suffer from an illness or disease, all of which affects their stamina and ability to keep their home clean and clutter-free.

Suddenly bending to clean a toilet or scrub the bath, lifting a heavy vacuum or reaching to dust the picture frames can seem daunting and the grime is easier ignored. 

Tips for a Tidy Home  

If you or your loved one is having a hard time keeping up with the housework here are some helpful cleaning tips that can make things a little easier so you can get on with the things you enjoy!

• Begin each day by making the bed 

Shed the sheets and get a duvet!  With no more tucking and folding sheets, it only takes a few minutes to make the bed each morning.

• Take your time

Attempting to clean too many areas of your home too quickly will wear you out. Make a list of jobs, prioritise and tackle them one by one, for a small amount of time each day, over a longer period of time.

• Wipe down your work tops

Keep work tops clean, clutter free and hygienic with a quick wipe over using cleaning spray and a cloth after every use.

• Never leave a room empty handed

This is one habit that can make a huge difference in the general tidiness of your home. As you move from one room to another, check to see if there is anything that you can take with you that belongs where you are going.  But a word of caution, don’t leave it on the stairs where you may trip or fall. 

• Wise investments

There are many appliances available to make it easier to keep your home clean and tidy.

If you are struggling with a heavy model, an upright lightweight vacuum cleaner is a good buy and will suck up dirt and debris from carpets and hard surface floors.

Skin becomes more sensitive as we age, so washing up is bad news for hands and nails. You may also find gripping plates or dishes is much more difficult. Leaving dishes in the sink can make your home look untidy and the drainer look cluttered, so if you’ve space, a dishwasher will do the job for you. There are dishwashers that you can put on the worktop, which will prevent you from having to bend down and potentially harming your back. 

• Make it fun!

House cleaning doesn’t have to be boring.  Put some music on, sing and dance as you dust. Use the opportunity to uncover memorabilia that may have been long lost. Enlist the help of grandchildren and use the time to talk and share your childhood memories.  

• Don’t try to do it all yourself

Many hands make light work.  Invite another family member or friend to help out.  Make housework more enjoyable and reward yourselves with a well-deserved cuppa and a chat afterwards. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.