Cleaning baseboards is one of the most annoying tasks for homeowners. Regardless of age, nobody likes to get on their knees to scrub and crawl throughout the entire place—the perfect recipe for sore back and legs.

However, there is a way you can avoid bending over and still leave your baseboards pristine, and here you will find it!

Step #1. Free your baseboards from dust

You can either buy a specialized tool to dust your baseboards or make one yourself—both will take care of the job just fine! If you take the DIY route, grab your trusty broom and wrap a microfiber cloth around the brush end with a pair of rubber bands or clothespins.

Once your tool is ready, dust the fixtures in downward motions to clean dirt and debris as you go.

Step #2. Make a cleaning solution

Depending on the baseboard material, you’ll need to make different cleaning solutions. Here are two cleaning mixes you can make:

• For plastic baseboards: These baseboards are sturdier than the rest, so you can use almost anything to clean them. Filling a bucket with five parts warm water, one part vinegar, and a trickle of dish soap will do the trick this time.
• For wooden baseboards: To clean wooden baseboards without damaging them, you need to avoid certain substances, such as vinegar. So, make a cleaning solution by mixing warm water, four tablespoons of dish soap, and one tablespoon of mineral oil.

Step #3. Remove the stains

Plastic baseboards

Soak your cleaning tool in your homemade solution and wring it to avoid dripping. Wiping your baseboards a few times will leave them spotless. A bit of degreaser sprayed onto your tool, and some elbow grease will help you to get rid of troublesome stains. 

Wooden baseboards

Some precautions are needed when cleaning wooden baseboards. First, after you dip your cleaning tool, be sure to wring it well, or the wood could warp and swell. Then, you’ll need to gently wipe your baseboards, especially if they have a protective finish.

For stubborn spots: As you won’t be able to use elbow grease to eliminate stubborn spots, baking soda will be your best ally. Just mix 1 part of baking soda and 3 parts of water until the baking soda is fully dissolved. Then, spray it over the cloth part of your cleaning tool, and wipe the stains away!

Step #5. Final touches

After you remove all the dirt, rinse your cleaning tool until clean (or replace the cloth in the DIY one) and wring it until just slightly wet. Then, rinse your baseboards.

Instead of air drying the baseboards, attach another cloth to your cleaning tool and dry them thoroughly. This way, you’ll prevent mold, hard water stains, and swelling.

Pro tip: Use dryer sheets to wipe your baseboards after drying them. Doing so will coat your fixtures with an antistatic layer, preventing dust from settling on your baseboards for longer periods. 

Do you need help cleaning your house? Call us!

Cleaning duties can be a bit of a hassle, so let House Keep-Up tackle them! Our fully trained cleaners will save you time and effort by leaving your place spotless. Don’t think twice and book with us now!