Baseboards can help protect the walls and seal the joints. But let’s be honest: homeowners choose them more by their looks rather than their usefulness—and there’s nothing wrong with it! However, all that style can vanish if they are dirty!
Here you’ll learn how to clean baseboards! Keep them looking perfect!
How to clean baseboards thoroughly
Cleaning the baseboards should be like cleaning any other surface. However, considering that cleaning them requires getting down to your knees, people neglect them for months!
But don’t worry! Cleaning baseboards don’t need to be part of your daily cleaning routine. However, you should clean them at least every two or three months!
What cleaner should you use? It depends on the baseboard materials. For example, you could use vinegar on vinyl or PVC, while vinegar’s acidic nature could damage the finish in your wood baseboards!
If you have an all-purpose cleaner you trust, you could use it on your baseboards. However, the safe choice for most types of materials is warm soapy water. If your baseboards are not that dirty, mix a tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a gallon of warm water.
Step 1. Remove loose dirt
The best way to remove loose dust from your baseboard is with a vacuum cleaner and a brush attachment. An alternative is to use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the dust away.
Step 2. Wipe stuck-on dirt with soapy water
Use a soft microfiber cloth and dip it in the cleaning solution. Wring the cloth well until it’s slightly damp—if you prefer, you could spray the cleaner into the cloth. Scrub all the baseboard, applying elbow grease to visible stains!
Step 3. Remove tough stains and scuff marks
First, try to remove tough spots with the same microfiber cloth and enough elbow grease. However, it might not be enough to remove the more stubborn areas.
Can you use magic erasers on baseboards? Melamine sponges are great for removing marks and tough stains from walls and baseboards. However, you need to be careful to avoid damage! Spot-test in a small area before using them!
Step 4. Clean the crevices
Cotton swabs have the perfect size to reach any tight spot on your baseboards. Dip the cotton swab in the same solution from the previous steps and clean all the crevices!
Step 5. Rinse the cleaner with plain water
Prolonged contact with most cleaning solutions can wreak havoc on baseboard materials. To rinse the soap or any cleaner used in the previous steps, use a clean microfiber cloth dampened with plain water. Wring out the cloth before rinsing the surface!
Step 6. Dry with a towel
Also, excess water isn’t any good for your baseboards. Once they are cleaned and rinsed, dry them with a clean, absorbent towel.
Step 7. Protect them with a dryer sheet
Rubbing your baseboards with a dryer sheet can protect them from dust. Dryer sheets work by coating and protecting the fabric fibers, and they can do the same with your baseboards!
More cleaning tips from CalMaids
Usually, homeowners treat their baseboards as part of a seasonal deep cleaning! If you want to continue with your housework, read more tips and tricks on this page! Or, if you need a break from your chores, CalMaids will gladly help! Check what are the tasks we cover during a regular cleaning service!
