25 Life Hacks and Cleaning Tips for Seniors

Some activities naturally get more challenging with age because of reduced mobility, memory issues and health challenges. Fortunately, you don’t have to quit the things you love just because you’re getting older. Here is a list of 25 shortcuts we put together to make your day-to-day life easier and safer!

Household cleaning hacks

These are just some of the many household cleaning hacks that can help make a tedious chore easier. With the right supplies and a bit of effort, you can keep your home looking and feeling clean all year round!

1. 1. Use a broom to clean the shower or tub – Has cleaning your bathtub or shower become exhausting? Are you tired of bending over and scrubbing relentlessly? Put some cleaner on your broom and use it to scrub your tub or shower.
2. 2. Use cling wrap to keep your fridge cleaner – Do you wish your refrigerator didn’t get so dirty? Have you given up keeping it clean because it’s too much work? Try placing Press’n Seal or another cling wrap on your refrigerator shelves and at the bottom of drawers as a quick, easy solution.
3. 3. Clean household items in your dishwasher – Your dishwasher can clean more than dishes. Use it to clean your oven knobs, air vents and other dishwasher-safe household items that get grimy and dusty.
4. 4. Fill a Mason jar with vinegar to clean the toilet – Poke a few holes in the lid and place the jar in the toilet tank. The vinegar cleans your toilet and is better for your plumbing than chlorine tablets.
5. 5. Use a lint roller on lampshades – Are you frustrated by how dirty and dusty your lampshades have become? Keep them tidy with a lint roller.
6. 6. Rubber gloves remove pet hair – Remove pet hair on couches and chairs quickly with rubber gloves. Throw on a pair, run your hand over the upholstery and watch the pet hair vanish instantly.
7. 7. Sanitize sponges in the microwave – Put them in a bowl of water, add lemon juice, soak them and then wring them out. Lastly, microwave the sponge alone for no longer than 60 seconds.
8. 8. Clean your microwave with the lemon water – Put the lemon water from the previous tip back in the microwave and heat it for 60 seconds. The steam will help you clean your microwave faster.
9. 9. Use extension tools to clean hard-to-reach places – If you need to retrieve something from behind a couch, use a long grabber tool.
10. 10. Clean your blinds with a pair of tongs and socks – Wrap a sock around each tong and run them along the blinds.
11. 11. Hire someone to clean your home – If you can afford it, the best cleaning hack is to let someone else do the job!

Miscellaneous life hacks

Life isn’t all about cleaning. Here are some more life hacks to help you live your best life as you age.

1. 12. Stop writing lists; take pictures instead – Give your hands a break and take photos of your fridge and pantry to make it easier to shop for groceries.
2. 13. Reduce fall risks associated with extension cords – Tape down your extension cords.
3. 14. Purchase a keyring tracker – Never lose your keys again with a device that your smartphone can track.
4. 15. Secure rugs with double-sided carpet tape – The best way to prevent trips and falls is to get rid of rugs; if you want to keep them, however, double-sided carpet tape works wonders.
5. 16. Have a digital personal assistant remind you to take your medicine – Use Google, Alexa or a similar app to set reminders.
6. 17. Label your keys – If you’re tired of trying to remember which key goes to what lock, label them.
7. 18. Ditch the childproof caps – Stop struggling with your medications and ask your doctor for an alternative to childproof caps.
8. 19. Belt up before putting on your pants – If mobility issues make it hard to put your belt on, put it on your pants before getting dressed.
9. 20. Install motion-sensing lights – Put these lights throughout your house; they’ll activate when you approach so you never have to worry about tripping in the dark.
10. 21. Use a tracker to keep tabs on the remote – Stick an adhesive tracker on the back of your remote and use the corresponding smartphone app to find it. (Refer to hack #14.)
11. 22. Simplify food prep – Purchase pre-chopped vegetables from the store.
12. 23. Prevent broken glassware – If you’re having trouble holding onto slippery glassware, wrap rubber bands around the glass or use a silicone glass sleeve.
13. 24. Use your phone to remember where you parked – With your smartphone camera, take a photo of where you parked to avoid wandering through the parking lot.
14. 25. Keep your headlights bright – Use toothpaste to clean your car’s headlights and make it easier to see when driving at night.

Independence comes in many forms, and independent living at The Moorings at Lewes honors them all. More opportunities to try new things and continue your lifelong passions. More ways to meet people, share interests, and stay involved. Independent living at Winchester Gardens is the definition of “free time.”