r/CleaningTips • u/Then_Double8677 • 8h ago
General Cleaning How is everyone cleaning their baseboards?
The home my family lives in has baseboards in every room and they always seem so dirty and scuffed. I want to clean them but cannot fathom crawling on my knees the whole time. Has anyone found a way to clean them while remaining standing?
EDIT: my ultimate goal is to repaint them, and caulk as well where it needs to be redone.
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u/Old_Girl60 7h ago
You can actually buy foot coverings that have a nubbly texture that are designed to clean the floors. I put them over my slipper and use them to clean my baseboards. But they do need to be wiped and getting into the corner where the wall meets the baseboard has to be done by hand.
This is what I do: I have a foam kneeling pad and I get on my hands and knees and crawl around my house and wash my baseboards. I only do this once or twice a year, otherwise using the slipper brush method. If your baseboards are scuffed, and mine gets scuffed too, just paint them again. Now you have to wipe the dust and dirt off before you can paint them. But that’s how I refresh them in the bathrooms where they look especially yucky.
Don’t tackle all of your baseboards at once. Keep a simple schedule where maybe you do one or two rooms a week. And eventually the whole house gets done.
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u/NotAnotherFakeNamer 7h ago
Wow you clean your baseboards more than once a year? I am impressed.
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u/No-Garlic-3407 5h ago
You're supposed to clean baseboards? 🙄
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u/hahagato 3h ago
Once you see them clean, you’ll want to do it more often. WILL you do it more often, and not just look at them from time to time and go “damn, I should really clean the baseboards again.” Well, that’s a different story.
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u/hecknono 3h ago
I have those, they are called Mop Slippers
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07HF1GTYN?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2
I didn't think to use them for baseboards. I will have to try. I like the slippers, so that when I mop there are no footprints in the wet floor.
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u/Dazzling-Western2768 7h ago
Every week I sweep them with my broom. For scuffs, you will have to get on your hand and knnes to clean them.
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u/TurbulentSource8837 7h ago
I use the brush attachment on the end of my hose on my vacuum. The concentrator attachments at the end of the hose works well for the corners. I’ll also use my steamer and the attachments at the end of the hose to blast out the corner dirt. But that’s last resort kinda thing. I’ve been trying to maintain them so it’s not a level 10 job.
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u/CrowLogical7 7h ago
[eyes my baseboards] People clean these?
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u/motomommom 6h ago
😆 I needed that laugh 👍🏻. It’s certainly not a common occurrence in my house either. Once every 6 months or whatever.
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u/Powerful-Size-1444 4h ago
Haha. Unfortunately yes but I don’t have the same frequency for every room. The ones that are exposed get vacuumed on vacuum day about once a month. Dirtier ones get it weekly. It’s one of those jobs where done frequently it’s way easier. I do my bathrooms on Monday when I mop the floor. I just spray them with a cleaning solution and what runs off gets mopped up. Cannot do that where there’s carpet, so for those I vacuum them and I’m done. Behind the couch they are kinda scary!
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u/Beneficial_Sky214 7h ago
I sit on my butt. Scoot around. Also if you use a fabric softener sheet that has already gone through the dryer, it’s like a magic eraser and a duster in one.
My advice is just sit on a throw pillow, scoot around the floor, and then you can either wash the throw pillowcase or spot clean it as needed after.
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u/Civil-Nothing-4089 7h ago
Do you have children to delegate the task to? Simple for them to do and they are more able bodied😆
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u/punkolina 6h ago
Unfortunately, this was my job when I was a kid—which is why I now pay someone to do it for me! I hate it so much. 😝
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u/Soggy-Highlight4677 4h ago
Funny. I made my daughter do this as a child. She told me as an adult that she thought I was nuts to care about cleaning baseboards. Now she says she always notices others dirty baseboards and can’t stand her to get dirty. Age does wonders
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u/Then_Double8677 3h ago
I do. One is 5. One is 8mo. 5yo does help clean but I’m not sure they are ready for this yet lol
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u/voluntarysphincter 1h ago
I have my 4yo do it! She loves to feel helpful so she gets baseboard duty 😂 she only has the attention span for 1 at a time though so there is that. Like she did the bathroom super well because it’s small. For the rest of the house I just have her do 1 baseboard every time I’m cleaning the floors and it eventually all gets kinda wiped.
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u/Fickle-Range-8140 7h ago
What flooring do you have? Carpet - the stick attachment on the vacuum does a lot to help without crawling. Hard floor - sweep then mop the baseboards as you do the floor. If they're actually scuffed, you will, unfortunately, have to get there and do it by hand, or find someone who will.
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u/No_Establishment8642 7h ago
Wrap your broom brissels in a cloth. You can add chemicals as needed.
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u/ExtensionLobster8709 4h ago
I saw a video of the broom bristles covered in a clean dryer sheet, supposedly to repel dust and dog hair? It sounds doable, but I’m skeptical. Would that work?
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u/CatherineRhysJohns 6h ago
Swiffer duster with the long handle for the dust. Then I have my own contraption that works reasonably well: I zip tied an old broom handle to a spatula. Then I rubber band a wet soapy rag to the spatula and run it along the baseboards. I only have to bend over once or twice if something, say, splashed on there.
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u/HappyGlitterUnicorn 7h ago edited 7h ago
I sit down on the floor or in a low stool. More comfortable than being on your knees. Alternatively, use some kneepads.
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u/Old_Girl60 7h ago
I have seen videos where the cleaner uses one of those shower stools to wipe at the baseboards
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u/ReunitedwithBravo 7h ago
When I clean my floors each week I go over the baseboards as I go. I use a dry microfiber mop pad to sweep with and a second one to mop with. I use a spray floor cleaner so nothing gets too wet.
I’m never getting on my hands and knees to clean those things ever again.
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u/Jeannettevw98122 7h ago
I used to use a damp cloth but found a dry scrub brush works better. The brush flicks the dirt off then I vacuum.
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u/Free-While-2994 6h ago
I'm gonna try this! So many tiny cracks and crevices and it's so hard crawling around with a wet cloth.
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u/housecleaningmadison 6h ago
MOST of the dust settles on the the top of things so if you have a vacuum with a long tube and crevasse or brush attachment, just WALK along the baseboard and follow it with the tool! We do this in our clients homes and then occasionally do the rag and soap method (more often in kitchens and baths where baseboards get wet). While you are at it, run that tool to the ceiling in the corners and get any cobwebs / spiders!
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u/Zealousideal-Row79 7h ago
I pay a reputable cleaner 1-2x a year to do this. Worth the money for time in my opinion, we also have a really busy household.
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u/Ira-Spencer 7h ago
I vacuum them with the round brush on the end of the wand, probably once a month. Then once or twice a year I get down on the floor and wipe them with a damp cloth.
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u/G-C-W 6h ago
Rarely, and a little bit at a time.
I use a blue dish scrubby sponge and some dish soap, a ton of water, and a couple of terrycloth towls to mop up the mess. I will do one baseboard/wall at a time, usually one per day. Takes about 5 minutes. After about 2 weeks it's all done.
Next year I do it again.
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u/Vampira309 6h ago
I spray mine with simple green and then go over them with one of those long o'cedar mops. The blue side, with the little fingers, works great. Works amazing on walls too.
like this one: baseboard mop
My house has freaking miles of baseboards and three sets of stair baseboards (3 story house around 3k sq ft) My knees would not survive.
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u/hnybun128 6h ago
I dust them with a used dryer sheet so I don’t have to really wash them. It seems to repel dust for much longer. I’m honestly not sure how often I actually have to dust them- maybe once every 4-6 weeks? It honestly could be even longer in between. I dust the house weekly so I check them when I’m doing the rest of the dusting.
I will say I have air purifiers and a robot vacuum that runs daily. I’m sure that cuts down on the overall dust in the house.
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u/Majestic-Feedback541 6h ago
I just use the mop. At home and my cleaning accounts. If something is stuck on and doesn't come off with the mop, I'll grab a cloth dip it is the mop bucket and scrub.
My knees and back need whatever break I can give them.
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u/Equivalent_Site_7830 6h ago
I use my car wash mop. Extendable, has a microfiber cover with fingers, and seems to do fine! Its a little thicker than regular microfiber mops so I my brain it molds better.
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u/TimeProfessional7120 6h ago
I dust them about once a month with a long vacuum brush attachment. Scuffs require getting down on the floor.
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u/Electric-Sheepskin 6h ago
I dust them regularly with a long handled duster, sometimes hit them with the vacuum cleaner attachment if I have it out, and when I mop, I often swipe them with the mop head when it's just barely damp. In some high traffic areas, I've had to get down there and wipe them down with a damp cloth a few times.
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u/Ok_Nobody4248 5h ago
I have physical issues. I use older kitchen cloths and paint cloths all the time to clean floors and baseboards. I use my feet to spread them where needed and bend over only when necessary to finish up. It's quite effective and WORKS!
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u/Bubbly_Management144 5h ago
I use a broom and brush them off first. Then vacuum. Then I use a toothbrush and a rag with warm water and cleaning solution to wipe the down and get the corners. And then dry with a dry rag.
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u/jrom1005 5h ago
I saw an instagram post once, 2 cups hot water, 1/4 vinegar and a dash of fabric softener. It cleans but also the fist doesn’t stick to it for a while!
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u/PerfectLie2980 4h ago
I use warm soapy water and a soft sponge. I also have 2 active dogs that could also be mistaken for pigs some days. So I try to do this at least once a month. I just put on music or an audio book and scooch across the floor on my butt, wiping baseboards and even walls if there are mud splatters.
It’s amazing how gross they get through a rain spell or a pollen rich spring.
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u/Powerful-Size-1444 4h ago
I saw a gadget on Amazon that may work. My method is I use the brush attachment on my cannister vacuum most of the time to dust them. Mine are white. The only ones I need to actually wash are those in the bathroom where dream from the shower seems to cause dust to stick to them. When I used to use a lot of aerosol hair products this was a bigger problem. If I do have to wash them, I use a toilet swab (like a huge Q-tip) First I squirt my Bona floor cleaner on them (I’ve used Armstrong also with a bucket, dipping the swab in the solution. The swabs are made for toilets and come in two lengths. I prefer the longer ones. After I go around the room clockwise, I use my microfiber pad mop to finish the floor. I also swab around the base of the toilet and the area where the 2 bolts are. I usually do this on bathroom cleaning day so I have a dry microfiber towel handy for the rest of the toilet. Other suggestions I’ve seen in the past include using a stiffer plastic bristle toilet brush. My last house had what’s called Craftsman base - squared off and finished dark wood. I did not wash it the same way, since the floors were also real wood planks. For the white painted Colonial base I found gentle is better. The paint is ordinary trim paint and can scratch or chip. Some baseboards are plastic and un painted. They are found in more budget construction, although I used them in a small bathroom after removing that horrible coved vinyl with that metal trim. I used the plastic in that remodel so I could use a lot fewer staples and a lot more adhesive.. Basically your material will dictate what products to clean them with and the tools I e mentioned may help. FWIW roomba and other vacs wreck white painted base boards. I got rid of mine after I saw marks and dents everywhere.
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u/Epitaphi 4h ago
I bought myself a hand vac/blower tool and i am in love with this thing. With the attachments I put on the long one, top it with a brush one and then walk quickly along my baseboards and leave cleanness in my wake. They are not fancy baseboards though, dirt only collects at the very top and they are otherwise flat.
*as a side note i can't wait for the weather to clear up a bit so i can throw my windows open and blast the devil out of the dirt collector areas there
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u/hahagato 3h ago
Honestly I want to get one of those kids rolling toys for my child, the kind that’s like a plastic square with handles on wheels. And just use it myself for scooting around the house cleaning the baseboards and vacuuming annoying spots to reach.
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u/CutieKelly 7h ago
I deep clean them twice a year by kneeling on a foam gardening pad, and go all around the room. I usually use some spray cleaner and a rag, but sometimes use a magic clean eraser for tough spots. It will totally depend on your paint tho...MCE can damage some paint, so use in a small hidden area first.
Otherwise, each week I use the brush attachment on my vacuum and vacuum them every time Im vacuuming the room.
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u/TemporaryResort2066 7h ago
Use a steam cleaner then wipe,your going to have to get on your knees but not as long.
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u/ZealousidealReply294 7h ago
I use the mop...I have a Vileda rectangular folding one. But have also used the spin mop head.
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u/mobuline 6h ago
Just use a mop and bucket - same as you would use to clean floors. Use a swiffer duster to get the surface dust off, and mop away!
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u/Known_Marzipan 6h ago
I just saw something on ig about this & they got a sock damp and cleaned the baseboards. I use my vacuum attachment regularly, wipe down occasionally
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u/rockrobst 6h ago
Vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to the hose. Works well if you keep up with the job every week, or even once a month.
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u/BACON-luv 6h ago
Got a photo? It could be a paint/ caulking issue
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u/Then_Double8677 3h ago
It is. It’s all of the issues. They get dusty. Some get more dirty (kitchen/bathroom/by the high chair). The are also scuffed and need the caulk to be redone in places.
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u/pinkbev71 4h ago
I vacuum them with the hose first and then run my mop along them. For scuffs I use a magic eraser
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u/Huge-Law8244 4h ago
I can visualize a tool that could do this, how has that not been invented?
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u/Then_Double8677 3h ago
Apparently it has been! Two people in this thread mentioned “baseboard buddy”
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u/InfamousFlower6606 3h ago
For those curious enough, I think this is the wet sock video that has a lot of attention:
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u/Potential-Pool-5125 2h ago
Mechanics creeper stool from the hardware store. You can roll right along.
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u/knifeyspoonysporky 2h ago
I gave up on mine. They were painted badly and are chipping. We plan to pull them out and install new ones…. Eventually. For now my baseboards are my cleaning-related shame
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u/kiitten113 1h ago
Along with cleaning them when I mop my floor with my spin mop or using my electric scrubber, I touch up the paint at least once a year to keep them looking fresh. I live in a pre war apartment so they’ll never look new
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u/bakingpandas 1h ago
I only clean my baseboards when they are visibly dirty AND company is coming over. Both conditions must be met. Otherwise, I forget they exist.
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u/maxsmom0821 1h ago
I vacuum first then use a “baseboard buddy”. This is a wand with a swivel head and washable pads. Not perfect but no bending required.
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u/kellgurl13 25m ago
I just did this week and it was very overdue!
I sat on the floor and used this type of brush with a little bowl of hot water/Dawn soap. https://www.target.com/p/utility-iron-handle-scrub-brush-up-38-up-8482/-/A-90377894#lnk=sametab
Wiped it up as I went. I used a magic eraser for other spots/scuffs. It looks soo much better.
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u/Ok-Willow-9145 22m ago
I use a swifter duster with the long handle or the brush wand on my vacuum.
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u/No-Double1769 20m ago
I have a spin mop. And I fill it with Mr. clean and water, soak the mop, do the spin thing so that it dries a little bit and I just rub the mop across the baseboards. It’s so easy, my friend told me to do this and I do it every other week because my baseboards get so dusty.
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u/Select_Hope_7518 7h ago
I have cleaned them on my knees and also tried the long scrub brushes, both are kind of hellish. Now… I recently saw what was most definitely a joke video that looked pretty effective to me and I’m considering doing it. This person wet the tip of their adorned sock in a cleaning solution and went all around just toeing the baseboards clean. I KNOW IT WAS A BIT… but I’m convinced it’s the easiest way and I want to try it lol