Keeping the house clean can be a demanding task for people of any age — and the need to do it doesn’t stop just because one gets older.
That said, housekeeping is not without its share of surprising and unexpected shortcuts. Here are ten that are especially suited to your elderly loved ones.
Your loved ones may have accumulated a number of artworks over the course of their lives. But these are not always easy to clean, and your loved ones fear inadvertently damaging them.
For a simple cleaning solution, though, the white doughy inner part of a loaf of bread can work well. Simply remove the crust and pat the painting down gently.
Cleaning up broken glass can be especially difficult for aged eyes. Fortunately, spare pieces of bread can help here, too.
Just take pieces of bread and wad them together. Use these to press down on the area where the glass was broken. The broken pieces will stick to the bread, and can then be safely disposed of.
For many seniors, the garbage disposal becomes a key tool in managing kitchen waste: it’s by far the easiest way to get rid of unwanted food. Though over time the disposal may become gummed up with grease and other byproducts.
In order to break this down, simply feed ice cubes into the disposal, and run it with some cold water. You can also freshen up the smell by adding in the peels from citrus fruits like oranges.
Perhaps no cleaning tool is more useful than the sponge. Unfortunately, a used sponge is also a breeding ground for bacteria.
Rather than throw the sponge away, though, try microwaving it for three minutes at the end of every day. The sponge will be a little hot (be careful) but also be germ-free.
If your loved one has a marble tabletop, there’s a simple way to keep it looking clean and new, and to protect it from stains.
Simply wipe it down with some car polish. This will protect the marble with a thin invisible film.
Even if your loved one does a good job of taking old food out of the refrigerator, he or she may find it starts to smell over time. This is especially true of refrigerators that have been used for many years.
To get rid of old smells, just put some coffee grounds in an open bowl, and place them on the refrigerator shelf. Replace it every two months. This absorbs the smells, and gives the refrigerator the pleasant aroma of coffee.
The bathroom can be a dangerous place, but one that seniors usually need to navigate on their own. It’s important, then, for them to keep it clean and easy-to-use.
A dry bar of soap, when rubbed across the surface of a mirror, can keep it from steaming up. Just rub the dry soap residue in with a dry cloth. Make sure to repeat at regular intervals.
Cleaning toilets properly sometimes requires a little elbow grease, which may be tiring or difficult for older adults to apply.
There are ways to make it easier, though. Old, flat Pepsi or Coca-Cola, when poured into the toilet, can help break down the grime.
Does your loved one have trouble with ants? He or she may not need special traps for them if the pests are coming in from the outside.
Simply draw a line of chalk across the ground where the ants are accustomed to coming in. This is usually enough to deter the insects from crossing over.
Spiders and other insects may take refuge in your loved ones’ shoes or rain boots, especially if they’re left in a mudroom, garage, or other space close to the outside.
To keep them out, try putting stockings or socks over their openings. An elastic bag can help hold it down.
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