How to Clean Baseboards

Amber asked, “I am a horrible housekeeper. How exactly does one clean walls/baseboards if there are no Magic Erasers in the house??? Walls are painted.”

Always test a cleaning solution on a small, out-of-the-way area first to look for any adverse reaction.

You Will Need:

• Vacuum with a brush attachment
• Angled broom
• Cloth
• Sponge
• Dish liquid
• Baking soda
• Old toothbrush
• Eraser
• Towel
• Spatula or putty knife

Steps to Clean the Baseboards:

1. Move any furniture that is along the wall towards the middle of the room to create a path along the perimeter of the room.²
2. When vacuuming the floor, use the brush attachment on the hose to dust the baseboards.¹
3. If you don’t have a vacuum with a brush attachment, use a broom to sweep off the dust. An angled broom works best for baseboards.²
4. Wipe a damp cloth along the top of the baseboards to gather any remaining dust or debris before doing a more thorough cleaning. Be more gentle when wiping baseboards that have flat paint.¹ You can use a sock instead of a cloth and put the sock over your hand for easier cleaning.³
5. Wash the baseboards with a sponge and a few drops of dish liquid in water.⁴
6. If the baseboards are particularly dirty or have any grime, sprinkle baking soda on a damp sponge and scrub.⁵ For the top ledge or any crevices of the baseboard, use an old toothbrush.⁶
7. Use an eraser to remove any black scuff marks. If no eraser is available, use a cotton swab damp with mineral spirits.¹
8. Wipe the boards with a damp cloth to remove any residue from the dish liquid or other cleaning products.⁴
9. Wrap a bulky cloth or towel around a spatula or putty knife and wipe the ledge of the baseboard dry.⁶

• For easier cleaning, sit on a skateboard or rolling plant stand as you clean. Place a pillow on the skateboard or plant stand for added comfort.⁷
• Always clean the baseboards separately when cleaning the walls, as the baseboards will be more dirty than the walls and can transfer the dirt to the walls as you clean.¹
• If you use floor mopping pads, turn them inside-out after cleaning the floor and use the inside to wipe the baseboards.⁷
• If your vacuum leaves scuff marks on the baseboards, wrap the edges of the vacuum with masking tape.⁸

1. Clean it Fast, Clean it RIGHT by Jeff Bredenberg
2. Green Clean by Linda Mason-Hunter and Mikki Halpin
3. 10,001 Hints & Tips for the Home by Reader’s Digest
4. Cleaning Plain & Simple by Donna Smallin
5. Baking Soda Bonanza by Peter Ciullo
6. Cleaning Tips for Free Spirits and Other Slobs by Martha Walden
7. Handy Household Hints from Heloise
8. 869 New Uses For Old Things by Reader’s Digest