National Cleaning Week is the perfect time to handle spring cleaning tasks. The weather is starting to warm up, and you have a winter’s worth of dust and pet dander built up. What should you focus on when you’re cleaning your mom and dad’s home?
Clean the Windows
The windows are probably pretty dirty after a long winter. Fall’s goldenrod and ragweed pollen stuck to the outside glass. There’s dust from running a heating system all winter. Pets may have left dozens of nose prints.
Clean the inside and outside of all window glass. Many windows tilt in to make it easy to clean both sides without needing a ladder outside. After cleaning the glass, use a rag to wipe dust and pet hair on window sills and frames.
Dust Ceiling Fans, Light Fixtures, and Detectors
Go through the home and dust off all of the blades on your parents’ ceiling fans. Do the same with light fixtures. If they have light fixtures with glass covers, remove them and clean out any dead flies and other insects inside the shade.
Run a duster over smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors to remove spider and dust webs. Test them. If they’re not working, check the batteries. If that doesn’t fix the problem, it’s time to replace the detector.
Shampoo Carpets
If your parents don’t own a carpet shampooer, rent one for a day. Sprinkle baking soda over all carpets and let them sit for half an hour. That helps absorb odors and can kill some dust mites. Vacuum it to remove both the baking soda and any crumbs and pet hair.
After removing some stuff from the carpets, use the carpet shampooer to remove stuck in dirt and grime. Steam clean all of the carpeting in rooms and on stairs. Turn on fans to dry the carpeting as quickly as possible.
Vacuum Vents and Registers
Over the winter, vents and heating registers collect dust and pet hair. Take a vacuum to them to remove as much as you can. If your parents have a furnace, it’s a good time to check the air filter and see if it needs replacing.
Wash Curtains and Blinds
If possible, take down all curtain sets and wash them in the washing machine. If they’re labeled dry clean only, purchase a dry cleaning kit or take them to the local dry cleaner. While the curtains are down, use a damp cloth to clean any vertical blinds.
Hire Elder Care Aides to Help
Once you’ve done the extensive deep cleaning work, it’s best to have help keeping it that way. Your parents may have a more challenging time keeping up with vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, and dusting. One of the many benefits of elder care is light housework help. Elder care providers can assist your senior around the house with laundry, meal preparation, picking up and organizing, removing tripping hazards and many other tasks of daily living.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elder care in Ashburn, VA or the surrounding areas, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 782-3655
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