Start the new year off on a clean foot.
An upcoming new year brings excitement for new opportunities, both big and small. The ability to reset your space by cleaning, reorganizing and decorating is one exciting venture renters can join. As you embark on the journey of refreshing your living space for the new year, don’t overlook the small yet impactful task of cleaning your baseboards— a simple step that can contribute to the overall cleanliness and aesthetic appeal of your home.
Cleaning baseboards is a simple task that not only enhances the visual appeal of your living space but also promotes a healthier indoor environment by eliminating dust and grime. We’ll help you kick off your new year on the cleanest note with this ultimate cleaning baseboards guide.
Materials needed
For those baseboards to sparkle, gather these materials. We recommend utilizing gloves as well, to protect your hands from any cleaning products.
- Microfiber cloth
- Sponge
- All-purpose cleaner or Bucket of soapy water and white vinegar mixture (1:1 mixture)
- Broom
- Vacuum cleaner
- Dryer sheets
- Old toothbrush (optional)
- Magic Eraser (optional)
How to clean baseboards: Step-by-step guide
Now that you’ve gathered your materials, it’s time to tackle those baseboards. Depending on your cleaning style, this guide is a little more meticulous; however, the satisfaction of seeing your baseboards restored will make for a worthwhile effort.
1. Remove any loose dirt
Take your broom and go over the baseboards to remove any accumulated dust or crumbs. You’ll go in for a deeper clean in the next steps, this is just to remove the loose layer of dust to get to the deeper grime. Once you’ve gone over your baseboards a few times with your broom, vacuum the surrounding floor area to clean the loosened grime.
2. Select your cleaning solution
You have a few options for this step, your selection boils down to what you have on hand. Depending on what room the baseboards you’re cleaning are in (some are dirtier than others), you may need extra strength cleaning solutions to fully remove dirt and grime, we recommend all-purpose cleaner for dirtier baseboards while soapy water and vinegar work better for standard dirt and grime.
If you have an all-purpose cleaner or cleaning wipes of any sort, you can utilize those for this step. If you’re using a spray cleaner, dilute it with a little water and utilize either a microfiber cloth or sponge for application. Wipe over the baseboards, scrubbing in circles over dirtier or grimier spots.
If you don’t have any all-purpose cleaner on hand, don’t worry. You can create a 1:1 solution of soapy water and white vinegar to work as your baseboard cleaner. Use a sponge to wipe over the baseboards, paying extra attention to any stained spots or caked-on dirt.
3. Fight tough spots with a Magic Eraser (optional)
Once you’ve done a base level of cleaning, with your cleaning method of choice, there may be spots that remain. These spots need a tougher agent to break through the dirt and grime. Use a Magic Eraser according to user instructions to scrub through these tough stains. Typically, dirtier baseboards are those that are in stain-prone rooms like entryways and kitchens.
If you don’t have this product on hand, you can utilize an old toothbrush or cotton swabs, dipped in your cleaning solution of choice, to scrub extra tough spots.
4. Dry your boards
When the boards are cleaned to your liking, take your microfiber cloth and swipe over your baseboards. This is an important step as it prevents any water damage from your baseboards.
5. Regularly maintain
Maintain clean baseboards by using a dryer sheet over them. Rubbing a dryer sheet across your baseboards prevents static which attracts dry dust. Utilizing dryer sheets is a simple way to ensure your hard work lasts.
Leave grimy baseboards behind
Source: The Moulding Company
Cleaning your baseboards is a chore that not only helps your home appear tidy but creates a better living environment by eliminating cumulated dust. A person’s surrounding environment is shown to impact their mental health and well-being, so a deep clean can ensure one heads into the new year with a refreshed and revitalized living space, setting the stage for a positive and organized start.
Looking for a new, clean start for the new year? Take a look at available apartments and houses for rent here.
Featured image source: Martha Stewart
Source: rent.com