Baseboard cleaning is not exciting. But it’s the sort of task that, when completed to a sparkling, makes your home feel and look better. It’s unlikely that anyone will ever comment on how clean your baseboards are. But they might be a good cog in your lean, mean, clean house machine. In this article, four kinds of baseboard cleaning are introduced.
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How Often Is Baseboard Cleaning?
How often should is baseboard cleaning? Your lifestyle will determine a lot. If your pets shed a lot, you’ll probably need to clean them more frequently than most people. As a short-cut and dirty(!) rule, aim to clean your baseboards once a month. Instead, switch to cleaning them every two weeks if you find that they are very grimy. If your baseboards are easy to keep clean, you might only need to do so occasionally.
How To Clean Baseboards Before Painting?
It’s best your baseboard cleaned before painting them if you want to give them a new look. You will have a better finish as a result of doing this. You can exert more pressure to ensure that all stains and scuff marks have been eliminated because you’ll be refinishing the paint anyhow. Most dirt can be removed with a magic eraser, and grease stains can be removed with hot water and white vinegar mixed 50/50.
Prior to painting, make sure the baseboards are completely dry. You should also always check the paint’s Light Reflective Value (LRV) before using it on PVC baseboards. Warping and cracking can occur when dark paint absorbs too much heat.
How To Clean Painted Baseboards?
You don’t need to apply oil to painted wooden baseboards. The baseboards are already protected from the elements by the paint, so cleaning is made simpler by being able to use more water and pressure.
Step 1: Remove loose dust and dirt from the baseboards
Step 2: Add dish soap or a gentle, all-purpose cleaner to warm water and clean the baseboards with a sponge or microfiber cloth
Step 3: If you encounter any obstinate stains, a magic eraser can help lift them
Step 4: Rinse the cloth with clean water and wipe down the baseboards to remove soap residue
Step 5: Use a dryer sheet to keep your baseboards dust-free
Pro Tip: Your clothing has paint on it. Here’s how to remove it
How To Clean White Baseboards?
White baseboards have a classy appearance, but they are easily dirty. Use the advice above if your painted wood white baseboards. Consider using these suggestions if they are made of PVC.
Step 1: Dust or vacuum your baseboards as normal
Step 2: Use a mixture of dish soap and warm water to wipe down baseboards
Step 3: Use a magic eraser and all-purpose cleaner to remove dirt from PVC baseboards that have a lot of scuff marks (always perform a spot test first!)
Step 4: Spray your baseboards with a solution of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts hot water to keep them shining white. Leave for 10 minutes and then wipe down with a clean, damp cloth
How To Clean Wood Baseboards?
Although stained wood is a sturdy and beautiful baseboard material, if it gets too wet or completely dries out (did you know that your home’s timbers contain about 6-8% water? ), it may become warped or discolored.). The good news is, you can balance the moisture content of your baseboards with two simple steps:
- Don’t use too much water when cleaning wooden baseboards
- Finish the baseboards using oil to lock in moisture
Start by vacuuming or dusting your wooden baseboards. Then make the following mixture:
- 1-gallon warm water
- 4 tablespoons dish soap
- 1 tablespoon mineral oil
The cleaning solution should be applied to a sponge or microfiber cloth to clean the baseboards. To prevent too much water from touching the wood, thoroughly ring out the sponge.
If there is any soap residue left after cleaning the baseboards, wipe them down once more with a cloth that has been dampened with clear water. The oil will stay behind to maintain the wood.
As a finishing touch, use a dry cloth to buff your baseboards and a dryer sheet to help prevent future dust from settling there.
Some websites might advise using vegetable oil as a universal wood conditioner. Vegetable oil, however, degrades over time and develops unpleasant odors. You should always use mineral oil or a special wood treatment oil.
Whatever the kind of baseboard in your home, you will find the right way for your baseboard cleaning.
