Passover Prep Without the Pain: How to Clean Smartly

During Passover cleaning, it's crucial not just to focus on what needs cleaning, but 'how' to do it properly.

Maintaining good posture and correct movements while cleaning is essential for those wishing to avoid back and knee pain. We all want to enter the holiday with a sparkling home, but it's even more important to arrive filled with energy and joy, free from any aches caused by the cleaning.

How can you achieve this? Here are a few must-follow principles:

1. How do you lift things?

Often, when we bend down to lift objects, we don't pay attention to our posture, which can lead to back pain. Many times, we bend incorrectly so that all the weight is carried by the back instead of the legs. We want to avoid this.

To prevent this, try to lift objects by turning your body towards the item, bending your knees, and keeping a straight back.

If the object is too heavy or too large, don't do it alone

It's tempting to handle everything 'here and now' and prove you can do it, but if it's a heavy or large piece of furniture or item, don't be tempted to move it by yourself, leaning against the wall, etc. This directly strains your back, waist, and shoulders.

Cleaning low areas? Do it the right way

If you thought about reaching low crevices you usually don't clean and see Passover as a good opportunity for it, don't be tempted to bend in a way that will hurt later. Don't lie on the floor, don't bend with a 'curved' back, and don't clean low places without a stool.

You won't believe how common this mistake is

Have you ever cleaned for Passover and suddenly ended up with crippling hand pain at the holiday table? Muscle inflammation can often occur when you overstrain your arm muscles.

When might this happen? Glad you asked: During Passover cleaning, it can occur when you stand on a ladder mid-cleaning, bend down to grab the cleaning materials or sponge from the counter only to find it too far, and extend your arm to reach it. Don't do it. Such drastic movements endanger not only your arms but also your legs, back, and knees.

Even if you want to do everything in a day - stop. Nothing will disappear

The valiant women began Passover right after Purim, but whether you're working or not, it's important not to fall into the 'honey trap' of finishing everything at once, in one day.

For your body, it's a huge effort, and it tires the muscles faster.

So if you're pushing yourself to finish as many things as possible in one day, it can definitely cause back, knee, or leg pain. It's simply not worth it.