30 November

Cleaning Baseboards: Tips to Keep a Tidy Home

When’s the last time you dusted your baseboards? It’s so easy to forget that small spot between the wall and the floor. Cleaning baseboards with those little curves and tiny edges doesn’t have to be hard work. Just follow these easy cleaning baseboards tips.

Vacuum First

Remove the collected dust and dirt from your baseboards (sometimes called skirting boards) with your vacuum’s long-handled brush attachment. Move the brush attachment across the baseboard, horizontally. Then move the brush attachment in a circular, swivel-like motion, over the trim. Your vacuum’s crevice tool makes it easy to reach tight corners. Be sure to clean the narrow opening between the floor and the bottom edge of the trim as dirt quickly builds up in this area. A hand-held whisk broom or paintbrush will also do the job.

Wipe the Surface

Now’s the time to get rid of stains and stuck-on dirt. Kitchen baseboards can get particularly dirty as they pick up food particles and grease stains. Entryway and mudroom baseboards can get messy because family members track in dirt and grime from the outside.

What you’ll need:

• Household cleaning gloves
• Household bucket filled with warm water
• Liquid dish soap
• Vinegar
• Sponge or soft cloth
• Melamine sponge (optional)
• Old toothbrush
• Clean hand towel
• Cotton swabs
• Dryer sheets

1. Put on protective gloves
2. Squirt a little dish soap into the warm water. Add approximately 1/4 cup of vinegar, and stir together.
3. Dip a soft cloth or sponge into the mixture. Wring it out and scrub lightly to remove dirt particles and stains. Avoid damaging wood baseboards by not getting too much moisture on the trim. If you have a few extra grimy spots, a melamine sponge will tackle the job.
4. Clean the grooves and edges with an old toothbrush, dipped in the cleaning solution.
5. Thoroughly dry the baseboards with a clean hand towel.

Crevice Cleaning

Dip a cotton swab in the cleaning solution. Wipe the corners, top of the trim and the tiny crevice between the floor and bottom of the baseboard.

Keep Dirt Away, Longer

Static attracts dust. Keep your just-cleaned baseboards clean with a quick swipe of a dryer sheet. The dryer sheet’s anti-static ingredient coats the baseboard similar to wax, which helps prevent dust build-up on newly cleaned surfaces.

Additional Cleaning Baseboards Tips-

Other efficient ways to clean baseboard trim include:

Sponge Mop Technique

Using a sponge mop to clean your painted baseboards is an ideal method as there’s no bending or crawling on the floor required.

You’ll need:

• Bucket of warm water
• White vinegar
• Sponge mop

Add approximately 1/2 cup of vinegar to the water and stir. Dip a sponge mop in the solution and lightly scrub the surface. The trim will be sparkling clean- free of dust, grime and pet hair.

Toilet Wand and Sock Method

Clean your dirty trim with two items you may already have around the house. Cover a disposable toilet wand with an old sock, stolen from the rag stash.

For painted baseboards- Spray the sock with a water/vinegar solution.

For stained baseboards- Spray the sock with a wood cleaner. A final touch of orange oil will leave stained baseboards with a fresh scent.

When doing your daily cleaning, keep gravity in mind- begin at the ceiling and end on the floor. Cleaning shelves and furniture will cause dust particles to fall so make cleaning baseboards the last thing on your to-do list.

For tough stains that won’t come out despite scrubbing, use matching paint and a small paintbrush to touch up unsightly spots. While you’re cleaning the baseboards, dust the top edge and sides of your electrical outlets as well. They also tend to collect dust.

In Between Cleanings:

Before you vacuum, sweep your baseboards with a soft-bristled broom. Sweeping will loosen pet hair, dust, and food particles and make it easier for the vacuum to pick up.

Wipe along the top edge of your baseboards with a new or used dryer sheet. The dryer sheet has a wax-like film that will stick to pet hair, dust and dirt, making it easy to pick up.

Interested in more home cleaning tips? Click here.

Want to learn more home improvement how-tos? Click here.