Spring Cleaning and Preparing to Move
With spring almost here, our thoughts have turned to spring cleaning! If you’re considering a move to a senior living community, spring is the ideal time to start getting ready.
What are some steps you can take to begin preparing for a move as part of your annual spring cleaning routine?
1. Create a Written Plan
Make a list of all the tasks you need to complete as part of your spring cleaning. Consider infrequent cleaning chores, such as washing the windows and cleaning gutters. Could the fridge use a good scrubbing? How about swapping out spring and summer clothes for the winter items currently in your closet?
2. Get Organized
Take a look at how your home is organized. Can you get to important items easily? Think about the space you will have available once you move and how you might reorganize your belongings in a way that makes sense going forward.
3. Eliminate Clutter
Do too many unneeded items inhabit your hallways and countertops? You can simplify your day-to-day life and reduce future cleaning time by removing items that take up valuable real estate inside your home. Consider clearing counter space by removing unused appliances and eliminating magazines, boxes and other clutter from floors and stairways.
4. Review Safety Measures
Safely dispose of any unused or expired medications in your bathroom cabinets, and look around for loose throw rugs and other tripping hazards. Spring is also a great time to check the batteries in smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, and don’t forget to update your list of emergency contacts.
5. Apply Some Elbow Grease
When you’re ready to begin deep-cleaning your home, don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. Grandchildren, neighbors and friends all may be willing to pitch in to help. Make it a fun and social day of cleaning!
6. Get Started with Downsizing
Even if you haven’t settled on a senior living community, it’s never too soon to begin downsizing. By winnowing your belongings to those you really need, you have the option of moving to a smaller place — and making the task easier when you do choose to move. Think about giving away furniture you don’t need to a relative or friend who has the room and the desire for it.
7. Work with a Move Manager
As you begin your preparations to move to a senior living community, consider working with a move manager who can help you get organized. A good move manager can make suggestions on what to keep and what to give away or donate, and he or she can help create a plan for maximizing your new space.
As winter turns to spring and the annual cleaning ritual, it’s the perfect time to begin getting ready for a move to a senior living community. To learn more about working with a Move Manager at Edgehill, please contact us.