4 Ways to Protect Your Back When Doing Household Cleaning

Updated on September 9, 2020

According to the Ministry of Health, about 10% of the population develop back problems. While they rarely cause severe conditions, they tend to increase in age. They can also reduce your efficiency and productivity throughout the day.

Back problems can happen for a variety of reasons, and one of these includes your daily chores around the home. All the slouching and lifting of heavy objects, for instance, can strain your muscles.

How can you protect your back while keeping your home neat and safe? Here are four ideas:

1. Invest in a Wheelie Bin

Since New Zealand uses colour-coded bins for collection, it might be ideal to do the same at home. It saves you time from separating waste later. The problem is that when you generate plenty of waste, you fill up bins fast.

If your bins lack wheels, you need to carry them from your home to the larger ones. This activity can potentially hurt the lower back.

To spare your back, opt for wheelie bin solutions. They are already available in various sizes, so you can upgrade (or downgrade) depending on the waste you create.

2. Buy a Vacuum Cleaner with Modifiable Features

Whether upright or canisters, vacuum cleaners have height. Usually, they stand at least 40 inches. If you’re significantly tall, you might need to stoop to use it.

Depending on the size of your home, vacuum-cleaning takes around 30 to 40 minutes three or four times a week. That’s a whole lot of time keeping bad posture.

Address it by buying a vacuum cleaner with attachments and other modifiable features. For example, an upright vacuum might have a lever that adjusts the height. Others come with wands, so you can reach tight upper corners and ceilings.

Note:If you’re really tall and suffering from chronic back pain, the better option is a vacuum robot, such as Roomba. It can clean your home on schedule even when you’re not around.

3. Leave Complex Jobs to the Experts

Springtime usually means massive cleaning, and that could include climbing the roof to remove debris and ice cap or using the ladder to check the gutter. You might be spending a lot of time in the attic, basement, and garage.

The increased level of activity, though, makes you more prone to back pain. Worse, climbing anything could result in a fall and, subsequently, a fracture if you miss a single step.

To be on the safe side at all times, leave the more complicated jobs to the specialists. Hire a roofer or a gutter cleaner. Let someone else take care of your yard or the garden. Call a residential cleaning service.It can cost you money, but it’s more likely cheaper than what you have to pay to the ER if you injure yourself.

4. Stretch Before You Do Anything

Treat cleaning like an exercise. Before you start lifting objects or vacuuming, stretch those muscles. Raise your arms slowly and roll those shoulders. If you can do yoga for at least 10 minutes, then do it.

These stretches help the contracted muscles to “wake up” and get used to movements. In turn, the risk of straining them declines.

Cleaning the home is exhausting, but it need not lead to injuries or pain. With these ideas, you can avoid back problems.

The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.