You floor isn't really clean unless the baseboards are.
Time 1 hour or less
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$0
Introduction
Cleaning your baseboards is relatively easy; all you need is soap and water. Just be sure to stay clean them regularly.
Baseboards are easy to overlook when you’re vacuuming. In fact, most of us don’t really notice just how dirty they are until you start moving the furniture around and see the dust and drity that’s built up over time. To avoid the mess, I recommend folding them into your regular cleaning routine to keep them from getting really grimy and making them harder to clean.
Fortunately, cleaning baseboards is relatively easy, if you stay on top of it. Below, I’ll show you how to clean baseboards quickly and efficiently.
How Often Should You Clean Baseboards?
I would do it every two weeks or at least once a month. That will prevent dust from building up. If you have pets, you should probably clean them more regularly. At a minimum, you can vacuum them when you’re vacuuming the floor and break out the soap and water for a more thorough cleaning every month.
Tools Required
- Microfiber cloths
- Vacuum (with brush attachment)
Materials Required
- Cleaning vinegar
- Dish soap
- Water
Watch How To Clean Baseboards the Easy Way
Project step-by-step (6)
Step 1
Prep the area
- To begin, move all furniture away from the walls to give you easy access. This will make the baseboard cleaning process go much quicker.
Step 2
Vacuum the dust
- Run the vacuum along the baseboards with a brush attachment to pull up the biggest quantities of dust. You can also take a first pass with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Tip: Use a yoga mat or a folded up bath towel to rest your knees on while cleaning. Using a dry microfiber cloth will pick up more dust, and keep your baseboards from becoming built-up with oily substances.
Step 3
Wipe down baseboards with cleaning solution
- Mix a few drops of dish soap and warm water together in a bucket. This is your cleaning solution. You can also substitute cleaning vinegar for the soap to help get rid of the really dirty spots if you haven’t cleaned your baseboards in a while.
- Dip a fresh microfiber cloth into the solution, and wipe down all of your baseboards with the damp microfiber cloth.
- Make sure to switch out the soapy water as it gets murky with dust and dirt.
- Don’t let the microfiber cloth get too wet as it could ruin your wood floors by trailing pools of water. Additionally, a soggy cloth won’t clean as effectively.
Step 4
Clean the corners
- Make sure to clean all baseboard corners and edges using cotton swabs dipped in the warm soapy water.
Step 5
Dry the baseboards
- Wipe the baseboards dry with another clean microfiber cloth, or set up a fan to dry the baseboards for you.
- Once the baseboards are dry, move all of your furniture back into place.
Step 6
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you remove stains from baseboards?
Magic Erasers work pretty well for the really stubborn stains that you find on baseboards. If that’s not an option for you, the vinegar cleaning solution is pretty effective on all but the toughest stains.
How can you prevent baseboards from getting so dirty in the first place?
Regular cleaning is the most effective. One useful hack is to rub down the clean baseboards with a dryer sheet. That will prevent some of the dust from building up so quickly.
Can you clean baseboards without having to get on your knees?
Yes! There are several specialty products that will help clean baseboards. Regular vacuuming will help too. However, you will still need to occasionally get down there to scrub out scuffs and tough stains, as well as get the corners thoroughly clean.
