Spring Cleaning Tips for a Fresher, Healthier Kitchen

By Andy Niska | April 20, 2018 |

Spring is here and for many people that means a chance to refresh the home with spring cleaning. As a family caregiver, this can have even more importance. Giving your parent’s home a deep cleaning can help to give the home a fresher, healthier, and safer living environment that supports their well-being and independence as they age in place. One area of the home where this is particularly important is the kitchen. This room can host a variety of germs and hazards, and it is vital to keep it clean to prevent injuries and illness. This can be particularly important for a senior who is living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, or has diminished senses, and might be susceptible to issues such as eating spoiled food and experiencing foodborne infection.

Caregiver in Spokane WA: Spring Cleaning the Kitchen

Use these spring cleaning tips for a fresher, healthier kitchen:

Use a natural cleaner to freshen and speed up the sink drains. A cake made of baking soda, Epsom salts, citric acid, and rubbing alcohol allowed to dry and then placed over the drain will fizz, helping to break down deposits. Add tea tree essential oil and lemon essential oil for powerful freshening and antibacterial properties.
Completely clean out the refrigerator and dispose of any food that is expired, close to expiring, not in its original container, or otherwise questionable. Totally wash it out using unscented, non-chemical cleaners and add a container of baking soda to absorb odors before replacing the food.
Clean the floors carefully and ensure that they are fully dry before allowing your parent back in the room.
Clean out cabinets and the pantry and dispose of food that is expired or in compromised containers. Clean and reline shelves to ensure that there are no spills or crumbs.
Move any chemicals or potentially dangerous items so that they are not near foods or accessible to a senior who may be dealing with cognitive decline.
Check for any leaks in the pipes or washing machine. If any are present, ensure that they are fixed properly to reduce the risk of mold and mildew, and to make the home less accessible and hospitable for pests.

Being a family caregiver for an elderly adult can be extremely meaningful and fulfilling, but it can also be stressful. Trying to manage all of your parent’s needs as well as those of your children, your marriage, your home, your career, and any other obligations can make you feel overwhelmed and as though you are always trying to finish more than you have the time to do. Fortunately, home care can be there for you. An in-home care provider can step in to fill care gaps, manage potentially sensitive tasks that your parent or you are not comfortable with you handling, provide additional support and companionship, and give your parent the personalized services that they need to have the highest quality of life as they age in place. As their caregiver this will ease your stress, give you more time, and allow you to focus on all of the responsibilities of your life in the ways that are right for you and for your parent.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Spokane, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.