Spring is one of the best times to clean your home and give it a fresh look. However, spring cleaning can also lead to potentially serious back injuries if you aren’t careful. This article will teach you a few crucial cleaning safety tips you can use to avoid hurting your back this season.
How to Stay Safe While Spring Cleaning
Stretch Before Getting Started
Like any other physical activity, you need to warm up your muscles before you begin your cleaning routine. Take a few minutes to stretch your body, particularly your shoulders, neck, and back. Doing this will help you bring needed blood flow to your muscles and reduce the risk of getting hurt.
Never Lift More Than You Can Carry
Lifting too much weight or not lifting things properly is one of the most common causes of back injuries. Before you pick up a heavy item, such as a box, always bend your knees and use your leg muscles for support when you carry something to avoid a back injury. Twisting or turning your waist could also cause spinal injuries, so always keep your back straight when you lift.
Be Cautious When Using a Ladder
If you need to use a ladder to clean somewhere hard to reach, always be careful when using it. The best way to use a ladder is to stay directly in the middle and never try to tilt or turn to the sides. Consider also having someone hold it while you finish your task or invest in one with handrails as an extra precaution.
Take Frequent Breaks
We understand you want to finish your spring cleaning as soon as possible. However, don’t forget to take the occasional break during the day. Even resting for a few minutes to grab some water could help prevent muscle fatigue and a potential injury. Also, if you feel that your body is starting to hurt, ask for help or take the rest of the day off to give your muscles time to recover.
Pay Attention to Wet Floors
When your floors get wet, they can become safety hazards if you aren’t careful. Whenever there’s a spill, clean it up immediately before someone gets hurt. If you know you’ll be working around wet floors that day, remember to wear some non-slip shoes while you clean to stay safe and avoid a potential fall.
Relieve Your Spring-Cleaning Back Pain
Even with following every safety step in the book during spring cleaning, one mistake is all it takes for an accident to happen. If this happens to you, our specialists at Merckling Family Chiropractic can help ease your back pain so you can continue to enjoy the warm weather with your loved ones. We offer a variety of chiropractic treatments that will address any strained muscles, inflamed or misaligned joints, or other conditions. If you need more information or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us today.
