How to Spring Clean While Saving Your Back

By Krista Elliott

The long winter season is starting to pack its bags and say its goodbyes, making room for spring to move in. And it's not a moment too soon, is it? 

But if you played a word association game with the word "spring," one of the first suggestions you'd get would be "cleaning," and for good reason. There's something about the warmer temperatures and fresh breezes of spring that make us want to fling open our windows, declutter all of our cupboards and closets, and in short, clean ALL things.

Just today, I cleaned out our freezer, our broom closet, and the cluttery little junk pile of mail, receipts, and other detritus that collects on the counter near our entranceway. The question is: How will I feel tomorrow? 

A Clean House = A Sore Back? 

If you're anything like me, when you DO get the motivation to spring clean, you take advantage of it. Scrubbing and mopping and tidying like an overcaffeinated Cinderella (without the helpful rodents, abusive family, or matrimonial aspirations, natch), we ride the bullet train to Cleantown with a frenzied but grim determination to clean everything we can before the motivation wears off. 

And when we decide to "take a little break" and sit on the couch? The adrenaline wears off and our motivation disappears in a puff of smoke. But at least we're left with a cleaner house. The problem is when we're also left with subluxations and pain. 

So, how to we clean all the things without feeling all the pain? Here are a few tips: 

• First of all, routine chiropractic care, like the care you get at The Joint Chiropractic, is a must. By identifying and treating subluxations and joint restrictions, your chiropractor can maintain your joints and spine in the most optimal alignment possible. The result? When you do embark on a marathon spring cleaning session, you're not aggravating existing subluxations. 
• Don't overextend yourself. Reaching is a major cause of backstrain and injuries. If you're on a stool or ladder, reaching out too far (especially to the side) can cause you to fall, potentially leading to serious injuries. If you're down low, cleaning your baseboards or fridge, overextending your reach can result in cramps, strain, and subluxations.
• Watch your step. If you're mopping your floors or cleaning your tub, be careful not to slip. Slipping and falling is bad, but slipping and then flailing all over to catch yourself is almost as bad when it comes to wrenching your back muscles. 
• Get help. Many hands make light work, so put the kids to work cleaning the baseboards, and consider hiring a cleaning service for the really big jobs like windows and walls. 

With our back-saving tips, you can have a spring-cleaned house while still having a spring in your step! 

To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.