Spring cleaning when you're old.

Nope just clean as I go along, living on my own doesn’t make much mess, but you do have to watch the cobwebs. 😳

Funnily enough I am sitting here thinking along the same lines! I don’t have the energy to take down my Christmas tree today, but plan to do it tomorrow and do a big cleaning binge.

I have a thing for cleaning windows which has an extendable handle, so plan to use that for high up dusting of cobwebs. What I can’t do is pull out furniture to dust behind it, so might have to crawl underneath bed! I don’t trust myself up a ladder, but have a step stool thing which lets me reach up a bit higher, too. I bought a cordless vacuum to keep upstairs so I don’t have to lug Hoover up and downstairs, I also have a small hand held vacuum for doing the stairs and upholstery.

I have friend who is an avid spring-cleaner but says she hasn't managed to do it ''properly'' for a couple of years.
she is very thorough in her cleaning routines anyway so it probably doesn't make that much difference.
Personally I don't actually ''spring clean'' as such, just try to keep on top of things,
As I moved into a new build bungalow 4 years ago I find it very easy to look after and as I'm a very tidy person anyway it never looks bad, ceilings aren't high either so can reach with a feather duster,
Life's too short to worry too much about housework,
Good luck though and take care!

I keep on top of cleaning...every couple of weeks will tackle a bigger job...do cobwebs weekly! ...but there's 2 of us and we 60s so still quite agile....I clean my mums bungalow right through every 2 weeks ....takes me about 2 to 3 hours ....and I do all her cobwebs at same time ! ( shes 89)

: memories of elderly relatives who simply let things go

I did wonder if that still happens.

I cant say at all what I will be like if I get there.

I do as much as poss but have to let some things slide because am caring for my husband. I do have a nice lady who comes to clean properly once a month, is worth the money and believe me we are not rich but I really can’t do everything at my age and I will never let caring for my dear husband slide, would rather put up with the cobwebs.

I'm definitely not the domesticated type and will procrastinate over cleaning.

But I've come to the conclusion that the best way of dealing with it is to clean whatever I discover to be dirty when I find it. The only thing now is to discipline myself to do that...

My home is too big for me but I feel that I'm too old to move now. Should have down sized years ago. Kitchen and bathroom cleaned daily but lounge and dining are done when I feel up to it. I keep everything tidy in those rooms though, so at least they look dusted and hoovered, even though they are not.

I don’t think you are ever too old to do anything! Might just be that you don’t really want to move!

I tackle a room at a time and as it involves more strenuous effort I never do more than two rooms in a week. Never move heavy furniture myself and long reach cobweb brushes etc are a god send. Mr A helps a great deal and we share the work when decluttering at the same time as a deep clean. Stretching, bending and gentle exertion is exercise after all. Wouldn’t dream of having a cleaning team in.

My house is so messy it almost qualifies for one of those tv programmes where they come and sort it out for you. Having said that it is clean, just cluttered. I read a Mrs Hinch article in The Times yesterday saying how to keep on top of housework and strangely enough I already do all of the things she suggests ( apart from keeping work surfaces clear). However, with my arthritis getting worse and spreading to other parts of my body I do need to get on top of everything and have a plan for the future. I have thought about getting an air purifier which would hopefully keep the dust down.

Sophie Hinchliffe is a cleaning influencer with 4.8 million Instagram followers
I enjoy making the mundane a little bit more fun — you have to bring some joy to it because it's something you're doing every single day of your life. Whether I'm using micellar water to lift make-up stains off different fabrics or doing a quick blast when I don't have time for a deep clean (kitchen worktops, toilets, sinks, floors and then cushions and throws on the sofa are all musts), I've used cleaning as a means to comfort and calm myself. When I started sharing my cleaning advice online in 2018, I realised that so many other people enjoyed it too. These are my top tips.
Keep worktops clean and clear
The simplest habit in the kitchen that makes the biggest impact on how clean the room feels is having surfaces that are free of clutter. Worktops are a huge focal point in any home, but it's so easy to chuck something down — and before you know it your surfaces are full of things that shouldn't be there. Take five minutes to wipe down and clean the worktops, especially in the morning. There could be mess everywhere else but if the worktop is clear, you're good. In the real world, storage can be tricky and most people do need to keep their essentials — kettle, toaster and air fryer — out on their worktop. But allow yourself space and don't feel that pressure to upgrade to a bigger, better appliance. Stick to what you've got. Just keep it clean and look after it.
Keep your kit neat and accessible
Call me crazy, but my under-sink cupboard is my favourite space in the house — it's not the dreaded cupboard of doom. I have everything lined up in there because I like it, with all my favourite products in view and easy to reach, including a little basket with cloths and sponges. It looks pretty and makes me more enthusiastic to get on and use them. An electric scrubbing brush is something I always need in my kitchen cupboard. It's basically a giant electric toothbrush that's great for getting into hard-to-reach places — I use it with a cleaning paste made from bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.

MARK HARRISON / CAMERA PRESS
Build your own product collection
Cleaning products are a bit like clothes — you need a wardrobe of your favourites. Everyone finds what suits them. I have tried and tested a lot of things, but I enjoy using the household brands that I remember my nan and my mum had on their shelves. I need quick and easy solutions — a multipurpose surface spray that you can just wipe straight off, for example.
Keep on top of fridge-cleaning
Little and often helps in the fridge: check the use-by dates of food regularly, give the whole thing a quick wipe-down every few days and make sure you've got nothing leaking. For a deeper clean I use a steam cleaner in the fridge to get into all the crevices — they can hold a lot of dirt — and because the heat removes grease easily. It's the best thing because you're not bombarding the fridge with chemicals, whether they're classed as eco or not.
Brace yourself for the oven
I don't enjoy oven cleans: it's OK to say you just haven't had the time. I always recommend oven liners to sit in the bottom of your oven to prevent the fall-out from any spillages. They're a godsend — you whip them out, wash them and put them back in, eliminating the need for a deep clean. I'm not a huge fan of extremely strong oven cleaners — those products with scary wording or packaging just aren't needed. I like using a paste of bicarb and washing-up liquid for my oven door.
Fix the bathroom in just five minutes

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Focus on sinks, taps and the shower screen. Storing products in the correct room so you have them to hand is key — I keep a bathroom spray and microfibre cloth in my bathroom drawer. After the kids have brushed their teeth, it takes 20 seconds to wipe the sink down. Something I'm asked a lot is how to deal with stubborn limescale on the shower screen. An acid-based spray is great for a quick fix but it also keeps the watermarks at bay, especially if you're in a hard-water area. It's good for limescale on taps and shower heads too — just make sure you read the instructions and don't leave it on for too long. I also keep a squeegee in the shower to prevent water marks. You'll be surprised by the difference it makes. If you have a little extra time for the wall and floor, use a microfibre mop on both — it's incredibly quick and easy.
Don't forget the washing machine
If your washing machine isn't clean, your clothes won't be either. The main thing to keep on top of is your detergent drawer, especially the fabric softener compartment — it can become gloopy over time and that can cause bad smells and issues with the washing machine itself. Machines aren't cheap, so you want to keep them running for as long as you can. I do three things as a monthly maintenance routine. First, I get rid of the soap scum that builds up around the door seal. Second, I clean the drum by chucking in some bicarb, white vinegar and disinfectant, then putting it on a really hot empty cycle. And third, I check the filter. I've had baby socks and all sorts stuck in there. If you've got a bad smell coming from your washing machine, nine times out of ten it's the filter that needs cleaning and draining.
Freshen up your fabrics

ALAMY
The biggest build-up of bad smells in bedrooms or living rooms is in the textiles — blankets, rugs and soft furnishings. You need to make sure all those hard-to-wash fabrics stay fresh. A fabric spray should eat odours rather than mask them. If you have pets, make sure you choose one that is safe to use around animals and allow the product to dry before letting your dog back on the sofa. I'm big on laundry combinations — matching fabric softener, gel and booster beads in the wash means the smell will last for ages on your bedding, throws and clothes.
Make vacuuming easy
A cordless vacuum is a great when I don't necessarily want to get the big vacuum out — leads can get in the way. I'm a huge fan of my handheld pet vacuum with anti-hair wrap: they're great if you have dogs or long hair. For pet hair I also recommend a manual roller — I use it on the stairs where a vacuum can't pick hair up.
Get rid of mattress smells
Once every quarter, sprinkle bicarb onto your mattress, leave for 30 minutes, then hoover it off. Any odours will be gone. Machine-washable mattress protectors are brilliant too — especially if you have young children.
Let mud dry
To protect the sofa from muddy paw prints I love a good throw. I've got a dog (and my alpacas and chickens sometimes come in the house too), so it's never going to be spotless. Whatever you do, don't try to wipe wet mud off — leave it to dry, then simply brush it off. I also keep a stain and odour remover with applicator brush handy for any pet accidents.
Keep on top of cleaning the loo
I always recommend a silicone toilet brush with a capful of disinfectant to keep it smelling fresh — the bristle ones are a bit unhygienic and sometimes they scratch the bowl. A regular clean around the rim keeps stains at bay and, if the limescale is really bad, a pumice stone can get rid of the hard build-up. Gloves on
Get into the corners

ALAMY
To sort out silicone sealant that's become discoloured, a brilliant tip is to spray cotton-wool balls with a mould and mildew spray and leave them on to soak. Just leave a window open because it's very strong. I also like a cheeky grout pen. They come in different colours, so if you've done everything you can and it's still marked, just use the grout pen to make it look like new.
Stay motivated
It's easy to feel overwhelmed but I find monthly cleaning challenges really motivating. Set yourself a checklist of things you'd like to get done within the month. If you can do only two or three things in a day or week, it doesn't matter — as long as you're getting through the list. I also love a cleaning playlist: all your favourite songs to whack on whenever you know you're getting the mop out will help you keep your butt in gear.

I have one of those dusters on a stick that extends to about 6 feet which I bough on Amazon.

I started this morning. Not because I’m very meticulous but because abuse I’m not.
My mum has come to live with us (in our annex) and as we are off to Aus for a month in a couple of weeks my sisters are taking it in turns to come and stay. I can’t let them see that I’m anything less than practically perfect!
So this morning I did the kitchen, all the drawers and cupboards and I feel so virtuous. Out went the 2 unopened jars of mustard about 4 years out of date along with so much more!
I hope I’m in the mood for the spare bedroom tomorrow.

Abuse? Where did that come from?

Even taking the clothes out from the washing machine, has been an effort today 😫

I have never done spring cleaning as such, just do something when I notice it needs attention. I wasn't put on this earth to spend all my time on housework! Life is too short. I put a box of Oven Pride on the kitchen worktop before Christmas to remind me to clean the oven but still haven't done it. The mood will take me one day! It hasn't been used over the holidays as I had no visitors for meals and use my air fryer for myself, so no urgency.

Some wit once said that only dirty people spring clean 😂

Christmas tree will come down tomorrow but some lights will stay to cheer us through the dark days (not that I mind winter!) and I’ll do as much cleaning as I can of the sitting room. I’ve got the mother and father of all colds so it may not be that “deep”. DH is 6ft 3ins so that comes in handy!

Where on earth did you copy and paste that fromMayBee ?

They clearly have too much time on their hands.
With modern appliances such as hoovers, steam cleaners and mops, CH instead of coal fires, modern products , Spring cleaning such as our grannies used to do is unnecessary

petra

Some wit once said that only dirty people spring clean 😂

That’s my reasoning 😹

I can't do anything like as much as I could even a year ago. Mr Soda helps with some jobs as well as shopping and cooking. I have a lady who comes in once a week for a couple of hours so mainly have things under control. It's frustrating not being able to do things myself.

RosiesMawagain

Where on earth did you copy and paste that fromMayBee ?

They clearly have too much time on their hands.
With modern appliances such as hoovers, steam cleaners and mops, CH instead of coal fires, modern products , Spring cleaning such as our grannies used to do is unnecessary

It’s the Times article I mentioned in my previous post. There were lots of lifestyle advice articles in yesterdays ( or today’s paper). I can’t understand how my approach to housework is so like Mrs Hinches and yet I live in total chaos. Maybe it’s because I spend so much time reading lifestyle articles instead of actually getting off the sofa and doing something!

The whole of my house has been cleared and redecorated over the past two years, so although there are cobwebs and dusty corners and some piles of stuff to sort, it doesn’t need a ‘ deep’ clean ( whatever that might mean).
The worst area is probably the kitchen so I might get my daughter to help with that.
Otherwise I do what I can when I can, not as often as I used to. With no pets and no children it doesn’t get very dirty.