If you’re thinking of making a fresh start this spring, whether in an independent living community or not, some of these tips may be helpful for you.
I love spring! Everything about it. The showers that bring the flowers. The flowers bloom and bring glorious scents and colors into our lives. The feeling of beginnings. I love the fresh newness of it all.
And one of my favorite things about spring is spring cleaning!
When I was a little girl growing up in Delhi, spring meant Holi, Vaisakhi and Easter. Living where we lived, we had the opportunity to celebrate so many different cultural holidays with our family, friends and neighbors.
This meant that our home had to be spotless. My mother taught us that a guest was akin to God. And because cleanliness is next to godliness, we knew we had to get cleaning. All hands were needed on deck.
We took turns dusting, sweeping, scrubbing and polishing. It was also a time to reorganize and declutter. In my household, we’ve been decluttering well before the Marie Kondo craze!
Decluttering meant packing away our bulky winter clothes (jackets, shawls, sweaters, velvet and wool), cozy kumbals (thick blankets) and curtains. We placed these into our large sandook (chest) and brought out our lighter clothing and sheets.
By the end of the week-long purge, we’d open our windows and doors and let the fresh air into our clean home. It was as if the whole place took a deep, refreshing breath!
Our home was transformed and we were too. We felt lighter, as if we had sloughed off the winter and were entering the new season with a spring in our step, ready for a fresh start.
I’ve brought a few of my mother’s tried and tested spring-cleaning tips with me to Priya Living. Our community apartments are beautiful spaces, full of color and light. With spring finally here, I’ve been sharing these tactics with the friends I’ve made in our new retirement home. If you’re thinking of making a fresh start this spring, whether in an independent living community or not, some of these tips may also be helpful for you.
If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you’ve arrived? Write up a to-do checklist for the week, listing the categories of tasks to complete, the drawers or rooms you’ll be sorting out, and the days and times you’ll allot to completing these tasks.
My mother wasn’t shy about asking for help and neither am I. As she always said, all hands are needed! And the job, which can seem daunting if you’re tackling it yourself, will get done so much quicker with a little assistance. So don’t shy away from asking your family or friends to chip in. Here at Priya Living, I’m lucky to have friends literally around the corner. One of the best things about independent living is the true sense of community, and your neighbors become your friends. Get some shikanjvi (lemonade) ready, play some records, and invite them over! If heavy lifting or heavy-duty cleaning is required, consider hiring some help.
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be done in one day or even in one weekend. You can break down the tasks that need to be completed over the span of a week or two. This will help keep the process more manageable and dare I say… fun?
Take time to reorganize your medicine cabinets, emergency kits, kitchen cabinets, refrigerator, and bathroom cupboards. Throw out anything that’s old or expired, as well as anything you no longer use.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, emergency kits, and old light bulbs need to be replaced on a regular basis. A Place for Mom is a great resource—they provide a handy elder safety and well-being checklist that you can use to evaluate your home.
Bringing a little bit of nature inside is always a good idea. You should take my word for it, but this is actually a fact supported by science. Extensive studies (conducted by none other than NASA) have concluded that houseplants are good for your health. They can remove up to 87% of air toxins in 24 hours. They can also help reduce stress and improve your concentration and productivity by up to 15%. Repurpose old mason jars as vases for flowers or try vertical gardens, which are a great idea if space is tight.
Wishing you a happy spring—and happy cleaning!
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