Simple Cleaning Techniques, Tips, and FAQs to Make Your Baseboards Look New
When we think about home cleaning, the first things that may come to mind are taking out the trash, doing the dishes, or vacuuming the carpet. An often overlooked part of your home that often needs cleaning are your baseboards. But how do you even clean your baseboards?
Baseboards are the often decorative piece that joins the floor and the wall together, and are often made of wood or vinyl. Despite the dirt, dust, and other grime they collect from foot traffic and pet activities, we often forget about them because they are so close to the floor. If left untreated, dirty baseboards can create an eyesore for any home, creating an unsightly and unwelcoming look.
Do you know how to clean your baseboards easily and effectively? Let CottageCare show you the best way to keep even the smallest details of your home their very best with simple tips.
Why Clean Baseboards
Baseboards are part of the visual presentation of your home, complimenting where the wall color ends and your hard flooring or carpeting begins. Without a regular cleaning regimen, they can collect visible dirt, discoloring to a yellow or brown color. Cleaning baseboards on a regular basis will enhance your room appearance, making a space much more comforting for your family and the guests who come to visit.
Keeping baseboards clean isn’t just about keeping your home spotless. Because of the constant traffic that comes in and out of your home, baseboards can collect dust and pet dander both on the surface and underneath. As a result, simply walking by can result in their continual release, aggravating allergies for every member of your family. If you are periodically having trouble breathing or sneezing more, it could be a sign you need to clean your baseboards.
Tools for Cleaning Baseboards
While you may have everything you need to get started on cleaning baseboards, finding the right tool can help you take care of them easier and faster. Here are the tools and cleaners you need to make baseboard cleaning a quick and easy process
Essential Tools and Products
The easiest way to get your baseboards clean is to use a specially designed brush. These tools go beyond your normal broom – they come with flexible heads and can be extended up to 54 inches and uniquely designed heads to clean not only the surface of your baseboards, but also above and below where dust and dander can collect. Paired with warm water and dish soap or baking soda, you have everything you need to complete regular cleanings without breaking your back.
If you don’t want to buy a baseboard cleaning brush, you can still do the job with the tools you have. Using your vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment along with water, a mild detergent, and a microfiber cloth to wipe off the moisture may take longer, but will also get the job done.
DIY and Eco-Friendly Solutions
You won’t need to use harsh chemical detergents to clean your baseboards. In many cases, using the natural cleaners you have in your home can do the job just as well. Diluting baking soda, distilled white vinegar, baking soda, and mild oil-based products can remove dust buildup and unsightly stains.
CottageCare is proud to use environmentally friendly solutions to keep homes clean all year long while being kind to the great outdoors. Contact your local CottageCare team today to learn how we can keep your house immaculate in an eco-friendly manner.
Dryer Sheet Hack
As with any cleaning regimen, there’s a life hack to get it done quick and easy. For baseboards, all you need to do is pick up a dryer sheet from your laundry room.
If you need to do a quick scrub of your baseboards, or are just touching up between cleanings, run the dryer sheet back and forth along the dirty areas. Not only will the dryer sheet pick up dust like a magnet, but it can also remove light stains as well.
Comprehensive Baseboard Cleaning
When you’re ready to do a full baseboard cleaning, it’s crucial to make sure that you’re fully prepared to get the job done. Here’s what you need to do before you get started, and how to make sure they get cleaned right the first time.
Step-by-Step Baseboard Guide
- Move any furniture away from the baseboards
If you have large furniture that is blocking access to some of your baseboards, be sure to move them away from the wall so you have full access without straining. - Start by removing large dust and debris
Using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, start removing the visible dust and debris from the baseboards. A small whisk broom can also be used to knock off the larger particles. - Do a wide cleaning of the baseboards
Once the major dust and dirt is removed, use a clean cloth and soapy water to wipe down your baseboards. Scrub off any stuck-on food or dirt. Use a clean, dry towel to dry the area when there are no more tough messes left. - Clean the smaller details of your baseboards
Even after cleaning with a clean cloth and soap, you may still have dirt and dust caught in smaller parts of the boards. You can use a toothbrush or cotton swab to clean out the fine cracks and joints of the baseboards. - Wipe off the excess cleaner
Finally, be sure to wipe off any excess cleaner to limit the amount of moisture that soaks into your baseboards. Rubbing your newly cleaned baseboards with a dryer sheet may also be a helpful step in eliminating future dirt, dust, and debris from collecting on your baseboards.
Material-Specific Care
While vinyl baseboards are generally easier to clean because of their material, it’s important to pay close attention to wood baseboards. Too much moisture or cleaning them with the wrong detergents can break them down over time, resulting in the finish chipping off or warping. If you have wood baseboards, your cleaning regimen may change based on how they are finished.
Wood Baseboards
If your wood baseboards are treated with a stain or other non-paint finish, you will want to be careful with making sure they get clean. You can revive wooden baseboards by using an oil-based soap designed for stained or glazed wood, which will give them the same level of cleanliness without any damage.
Painted baseboards
Some wooden baseboards are covered in paint, giving them a blended look for your walls but can result in absorbing stains and discoloration. For painted baseboards, be sure to use mild detergents, like dish soap or vinegar, to clean the painted surfaces. Never use an oil for cleaning as it could strip off the paint. If some stains refuse to come out, you can always touch up your baseboards with a new coat of paint where it makes sense.
Routine Baseboard Upkeep and Maintenance
Cleaning your baseboards once isn’t enough to prevent the buildup of allergens and irritants over time. Instead, you will need to regularly perform maintenance cleaning to ensure they do not collect dust, dander, and other particles that could affect your home’s air quality.
As a general rule, baseboards should be cleaned once a month. If you live in a home with high foot traffic, or there are pets who live inside, you will want to clean more frequently, either once a week or twice a month at the minimum. This is where a baseboard brush can come in handy: Every time you vacuum, run the baseboard brush along the wall to ensure nothing builds up.
Tackling Special Baseboard Challenges
Baseboards can be difficult to clean for many different reasons, ranging from physical limitations to debris and stains built up over time. No matter the trouble, it’s still possible to get a clean baseboard with a little help from the right tools and know-how.
Ergonomic Cleaning Tips
If bending down or getting off the floor is a challenge, you can use an extendible baseboard cleaning brush and a cleaning solution to get the job done. Extendable brushes can extend to four feet or more, giving you plenty of room to get the job done. You can also remove any excess cleaner with an extendable microfiber brush.
Restoring Grimy Baseboards
Tough baseboard cleaning jobs may not be your fault. If you’re moving into a new house or restoring an older home with stained or dirty baseboards, getting them back to new may require more elbow grease. Start by doing a thorough cleaning of the baseboards with a stronger detergent mix (still using dish soap or vinegar). If that doesn’t work, you can still refresh your boards by gently sanding off the stained sections and repainting or restaining them in a matching color.
Having Trouble Keeping the Baseboards Clean?
Although it can be challenging to constantly clean baseboards, having the knowledge on how to do it correctly can help you keep them unsullied and bright all year long. Knowing which equipment and detergents to use will help give them a lasting shine for years to come.
If your home needs more than a baseboard cleaning, the friendly faces at CottageCare are here to help. Our professional cleaners know all the eco-friendly ways to keep every inch of your home clean, giving back your time to focus on what matters most. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help keep your home safe and welcoming with a deep cleaning.