9 Ways to Prevent Injuries When Cleaning

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9 Ways to Prevent Injuries When Cleaning

By : Jessica Williams
Have you ever strained your back or leg muscles when scrubbing your bathroom floors or vacuuming carpets? According to statistics, most accidents and muscle injuries happen in the home when pushing cards, dusting hard-to-reach areas, changing linens, lifting furniture and cleaning a ceiling fan. The reason for injury may vary from situation to situation. Many people enter the process under tight time constraints or work pressure, while others don’t follow the correct procedures. Heavy physical activity or excessive bodily motions can also risk your back or joints. That’s why it is important to stay relaxed and work in an organised way without getting hurt. With a proper cleaning checklist and the right tools, you can avoid potential injuries, slips and accidents when sprucing up your abode.  Here are 9 ways to streamline the process and help you tackle dust, dirt, stains and grime without any muscle strain or incidents. Let’s Get Started!

What Are the Common Dangers Involved in the Cleaning Process?

The following are the potential hazards that you may face during the house cleaning process:
  • Slips and twisted ankles
  • Fall accidents from wet or messy surfaces
  • Knee injuries
  • Chemical exposure from store-bought cleaning agents
  • Soft tissue injuries due to repetitive movements
  • Overexertion injuries
  • Muscle strains and back injuries due to heavy lifting or scrubbing

  • These can result in burn injuries, broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and chronic pain. So, it is always good to choose the most reliable company for the best end of lease cleaning Adelaide service. Professionals will come to your place with all the necessary equipment and proven methods to give you a stress-free cleaning at the end of your tenancy. Follow these 9 simple yet effective ways for safe and sound cleaning in the home and you can reduce the potential injury or accident risks.

    1. Create a Proper Cleaning Checklist

    People often rush to get the cleaning chores done quickly, which can cause them to fall or trip down. Rushing can lead to serious injuries as well. You may drop large items, fail to follow safety concerns, use cleaning equipment improperly, etc. Instead of losing calm, stay focused and spruce up your abode according to a proper plan or checklist. A customised checklist includes all areas and tasks needed for a sparkling outcome. This will keep you relaxed, organised and focused towards your goals.

    2. Always Do a Warm-Up First

    Stretching or warming up can do wonders when it comes to preventing injuries. If you are about to start cleaning, such as scrubbing or vacuuming floors, you will be putting a lot of pressure on your muscle groups and joint points. If you directly jump into the process, the chances of muscle strain or injury are quite high. Here are the few stretches you can do before starting cleaning:
  • Touch your toes
  • Stretch your hamstrings
  • Flex your hips
  • Pay attention to your legs, arms and shoulders.

  • 3. Use Right Cleaning Tools

    Injuries may also occur due to using the wrong cleaning tools. For instance, if you are cleaning your kitchen floor, do not use an old-fashioned mop where you need to get down on your knees and hands to clean the floor. Instead, use a microfiber mop that can help you clean floors without much elbow grease. If you have a serious back problem, use a cordless or stick vacuum cleaner instead of a heavy-duty one. You can also look for the latest cleaning gadgets that can do wonders for you. Apart from this, always use step ladders or a long-handled duster to clean at height, such as light fixtures and windows.

    4. Take Regular Intervals While Cleaning

    Do you know repetitive strain injury can turn into a lifetime chronic pain? It is a serious issue for vulnerable people, especially elder ones who clean homes regularly. Fortunately, you can reduce the chances of injury by taking small breaks during the cleaning process. It is good to clean a little instead of working on multiple chores. Taking on multiple cleaning jobs, divide your time and take 10 minute of breaks and drink water.

    5. Take Help To Lift Heavy Objects

    Most injuries happen because people try to do everything on their own. If you have to lift a heavy object, such as a table or chair, to clean the floors, ask for help. Take assistance from your family members who are capable enough to assist you in lifting tasks. Also, follow the right lifting technique:
  • Bend your knees
  • Keep the stuff close to you
  • Keep your back straight, etc.

  • 6. Do Not Use Chemically-Laden Cleaners

    Regular exposure to ammonia-based cleaning products or other harmful chemicals can lead to respiratory disorders. So, it is always good to choose natural or biodegradable cleaning provides over store-bought ones.
  • You can use vinegar to tackle rust stains, grime, grease from different surfaces
  • Baking soda can help you disinfect the surface and deodorise the carpet. Use baking soda when disinfecting your home for a baby.
  • Hydrogen peroxide is great for removing mould and mildew
  • Lemon is a natural disinfectant
  • Essential oils, like lavender, tea tree, orange, etc can banish bad smell from your home.

  • The best part is that you can prepare DIY natural cleaners at home in just a few minutes.

    7. Don’t Soak Your Floors in Water

    Are you using a bucket full of water to wash your hard flooring? This will cause damage to your flooring and can lead to slips and injury. It is good to clean small areas of the floor with a damp mop to remove stains and grime.  You can also steam mop your sealed hardwood floors for better results. Also, start in the corner of your room and cover small areas. This will ensure you have enough space to travel from one room to another. Do not let your kids enter the rooms until the floor dries completely.

    8. Wear the Right Footwear

    It is important to wear comfortable clothes and the right footwear to avoid slips and falls. Do not wear sandals or any type of open-toed shoes. Lightweight ones can be ideal for easy mobility and protection.

    9. Hire Professional Cleaners

    Tackling stubborn stains, mould, grime, and germs requires a lot of energy. If you want to prevent injury, you can hire professional house cleaners. They will bring all the necessary tools and spruce up the entire premises without giving you a hint of stress. That’s why tenants hire end of lease cleaners Adelaide to get your full bond back because they follow a proven checklist.

    Wrapping Up

    These are the 9 ways to prevent falls, slips and serious injuries while cleaning your home. Follow these measures and keep your eyes open to watch out for dangers ahead of time. With time, you will learn the safe-cleaning process and maintain a clean abode.