Baseboards can give your house a distinguished look worthy of compliments. Sadly, they are also some of the most skipped parts when cleaning time comes. It’s not because baseboards are easy to overlook; cleaning them is usually tiresome.
Constantly kneeling, bending over, and crouching to clean the baseboards takes its toll even on younger homeowners. So, while it looks like cleaning baseboards is annoying, there are ways to do this task without much effort. Keep reading to find out!
How to clean your baseboards without bending over
The best thing about this technique is that you can even carry it out while sitting. Second best is that you won’t even have to leave your house—all you need are common household items that you may already have in your home!
Step #1. Give your baseboards a good dusting
As with any other cleaning duty, dusting before the main act is a no-brainer. Otherwise, you’ll make a muddy mess when involving liquids.
Make a handy, multipurpose DIY tool by wrapping a microfiber cloth around the brush end of a broom. A pair of clothespins or rubber bands should be enough to secure it. With your new cleaning tool ready, remove the dust from your baseboards with downward motions.
Step #2. Prepare a homemade solution
Clean your baseboards with products within your reach! All you need to do is to grab a bucket and mix in a bucket ½ cup of white vinegar, a little bit of dish soap, and lukewarm water.
However, some types of baseboards can take damage from vinegar. Spot-test your solution before starting—or get rid of the vinegar completely.
Pro tip: To give your wood baseboards a glossy finish, make a mix with warm water, ¼ cup of dish soap, and one tablespoon of vegetable oil.
Step #3. Cleaning time!
Replace the microfiber cloth in your handcrafted tool and soak it in the cleaning solution. Too much water in your baseboards can be harmful, so wring your improvised mop before wiping. Now, gently remove the grime, applying a little elbow grease whenever necessary.
One drawback, though: your DIY tool may not be very useful in areas with complex designs (meaning hard-to-reach crevices). To solve this issue, dip a soft toothbrush in your cleaning mix and gently scrub all the nooks and crannies you find.
Warning: Matte and eggshell baseboards are more susceptible to damage than the rest. So be extra careful with them.
Step #4. Dry and dust-proof your baseboards
Moisture lingering on baseboards can make the wood swell. Likewise, plastic baseboards could grow mold if not dried properly. So, attach a clean microfiber cloth to your broom and thoroughly dry every inch of your fixtures
Finally, keep your baseboards dust-free for longer by wiping them with dryer sheets. This technique will leave an antistatic layer over the surface, repelling the dust.
The best way to keep your baseboards clean!
A clean house will always be the best strategy against dirt on your baseboards. However, if you can’t be on top of the housework, Memorable Maids can take care of it! Our professionals will exceed your expectations by thoroughly cleaning your house—with flat rates and excellent customer service as the cherry on top!