How to Clean Baseboards
Everyday, dust, dirt and grime stick to your kitchen baseboards, making them look scratched and dirty. It’s an unpleasant experience to always having to scrub these home installations, but it’s a must, especially if you want to bring back a pleasant look to your home. As long as you know what to do, this won’t be such a difficult task.
What You’ll Need:
Vacuum
Latex or rubber gloves
Water
Mild detergent
Spray-on multi purpose cleaner
Sponge or washcloth
Procedure:
Vacuum the baseboards first It’s best if you use the right vacuum attachment, so you can pay attention to problem areas. Vacuum the baseboards properly, as well as the floor that is directly under them. Pay attention to the spot where the floor and baseboards meet. Chances are there are lots of pet hairs and dust stuck here. You need to remove them before wetting the baseboards, or they’ll look dirtier.
Slip on some rubber or latex gloves. You’ll be working with detergent, and these will keep your skin from being damaged and dried out.
Make a mild detergent and water mixture. Use a 1:5 ratio (detergent: water). Make sure the detergent dissolves well into the water. A great alternative is to use white vinegar. Use the same ratio, and mix it with hot water.
Using a sponge or washcloth, scrub and wipe the baseboards. Make sure you wring it out before it touches the baseboard surface, otherwise, you’ll slosh water everywhere. Don’t use paper towels for this, as they can snag and rip on the boards, leaving stray pieces behind.
Make sure you don’t saturate the baseboard or walls with too much of the mixture. The paint might be ruined, making a worse mess.
Allow your baseboard to air dry.
Some Tips:
Make sure pets and kids stay away while you clean the baseboards.
If you’re doing a general house cleaning, save the baseboard cleaning for second to the last, right after you’ve swept, but haven’t mopped.
If the baseboards can’t be scrubbed clean, give them a new paint job instead, using a high-gloss paint.
Backboards look better if they are gleaming clean. Just follow these tips and you’ll always have neat ones in your home.