Welcome to Spring Cleaning Week! To celebrate the season, and the tidying rituals that go along with it, we’ll be sharing cleaning hacks like this one all week long.
Unfortunately, Father Time doesn’t wait for us to complete all of our household chores. Aging makes cleaning a challenge, as it may become more difficult to get down on your hands and knees to tackle those hard-to-reach surfaces. The good news is that there are plenty of cleaning shortcuts to lessen the wear and tear on our bodies, such as this baseboard dusting hack that helps protect the back.
We’ve Got Your Back
This helpful hack comes from content creator Brandon Pleshek of Clean That Up. All you’ll need is a household broom, some cleaning solution, a microfiber cloth, and a rubber band.
Dip the microfiber cloth in your preferred cleaning solution so it’s damp without being sopping wet. We recommend using a gallon of hot water, a cup of distilled white vinegar, and a few squirts of dish soap (roughly ½ teaspoon).
Cover the broom bristles completely with the microfiber cloth, and secure it tightly with a rubber band. With the cloth fastened, use the broomstick to effortlessly clean your baseboards without bending over. The baseboards will look clean, and your back will thank you.
But Wait, There’s More!
More than just a back-saver, this hack is also a means of cleaning other hard-to-reach areas. Think crown molding, ceiling fans, light fixtures, air vents, or the tops of kitchen cabinets — essentially, any area you’d normally need a stepstool to reach. Be sure to replace the microfiber cloth after each cleaning task so you don’t spread around dust or dirt.
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Mop Slippers — Fashionable and Practical
Back problems don’t just make it difficult to clean baseboards; they also present obstacles in keeping floors tidy. Well, here’s a fashionable and practical way to avoid bending your knees: mop slippers.
These soft, microfiber accessories fit over your shoes, socks, or bare feet and can be used to pick up debris without kneeling or bending. Just put on a pair and walk around to trap dust, dirt, and pet hair in the fibers. (They’ll also keep your feet nice and dry when you’re doing some actual mopping.)
Once you’ve scooted around the house in your mop slippers, shake any excess dirt into a trash can, and throw them into the washing machine so they’ll be ready to use again.
Rather than let dirt and grime pile up, try these methods to help you keep a tidy home without any extra stress on your body.
