For anyone over 55, things often change in many areas of life. One of the most irritating changes is in what we are physically able to do. One day we find it difficult to lean down to scrub the tub or our shoulder hurts as we reach up for that dinner plate in the cupboard. These changes are inevitable no matter how well we take care of ourselves but they don’t have to limit us. No matter what age this begins to happen, it’s practically inevitable so we find ways to deal with our limitations.

I’ve only known one person in my life that loves to clean the bathroom. You can make it easier, though, with a few “new” tools. Whether you have a tub/shower combination or just a shower you can make scrubbing easier with spray cleaner and a small mop. I haven’t seen the kind my grandma used for quite a few years but there are telescoping mops that can get into corners as well as the floors of shower stalls and tubs starting as low as $15. Just spray, let sit, and use the mop to wipe the surfaces then rinse. You don’t have to stretch, bend, or reach so it’s nearly painless.

Looking for something underneath the sink can hurt, too. I got an over-the-door caddy and now my bathroom cleaning supplies hang on the back of the bathroom door. It’s high enough that the grandchildren can’t reach them and I’ve switched to natural products to further avoid accidental injuries. As for bathroom tissue I bought an attractive wrought iron tissue holder that also stores 4 extra rolls.

Most of us who have downsized to apartments in that past few years have noticed that carpets have given way to tile or laminate flooring. This is great for those of us with allergies but not so great when it comes to upkeep. Some show ever bit of dirt. You could get a costly (and usually short-lived) automatic vacuum that rolls along and cleans the floor or you could get a light-weight long-handled hand vacuum for around $25 that you can sweep with every few days. It takes just a couple of minutes and the size makes it easy to store in tight spaces. Once a week I’ll use my WizMop spray mop to make the floors look like new with very little effort and practically no mess.

Storage can be a problem in small apartments, especially when you need to store seasonal bedding or clothing, holiday decorations like tablecloths, or other things you don’t use all year. I find that Spedalon Vacuum Seal Storage Bags are perfect for storing my seasonal bedding; what would take up an entire shelf of my linen closet now takes up ¼ that space when I use the Spedalon bags. I put seasonal clothing in the bags then store them on the top shelf. That leaves me a spacious closet and a lot of space for shoes and other accessories without crowding. I don’t have to wrestle with bulky boxes or bags and my bedding, clothing, and other materials are protected from moths, mold, mildew, and dirt.

Cleaning doesn’t have to be painful and you don’t have to spend money each week on having it done by someone else if you get the right tools. You can keep your home clean by yourself if you like and hire out the labor intensive deep cleaning once or twice a year.