People usually install baseboards in their houses for aesthetic purposes. Just like crown moldings conceal the areas where walls meet the ceiling, baseboards hide where the floor meets the wall, or it will look odd. When you install it you need to know how to clean baseboards.
However, baseboards also protect the plaster walls from being scuffed by shoes or books, kicked, and any vacuum attachments. A baseboard is also called a mopboard, floor molding, base molding, skirting board, skirting.
People do not usually consider getting baseboards unless they have recently remodeled their house, even though baseboards make the room feel polished and protect the wall.
Now let us get into our detailed explanation of what a baseboard is and how to clean baseboards.
Do the walls and baseboards in the room need to be similar?
Baseboards do not need to match the wall exactly. You can mix and match or even contrast it with the color on the wall. Baseboard trims look much less complicated than crown moldings. Make sure you remember that streamlined moldings collect less dirt and dust.
Also, make sure that baseboards look very pretty when the texture and color match each other.
What are the materials in a baseboard?
As most baseboards go through rough tortures, they are made of solid wood. Materials like MDF (medium-density fiberboard) are also used. They are inexpensive and resistant to mildew and mold.
How to clean baseboards?
You will be surprised to know how quickly these little sleds can accumulate dirt and dust. Dirty baseboards make your house look snobby no matter how many times you wipe your floor or arrange your furniture.
There’s nothing to worry about, though. You have to clean your baseboards only a few times a year to ensure your house looks good.
Below I will mention the simple, easy, and convenient steps you need to follow in cleaning your baseboard.
1. Vacuum
Use a small whisk broom to clean your baseboard. Make sure you dust the areas between the aperture of the wall and baseboard. You can also you a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to remove the dirt and dust easily.
2. Wipe
Once the dust is removed, you can use a damp cloth to remove the sticky particles stuck on the baseboard.
Baseboards in the kitchen get dirty quite quickly due to the grease and food splatters. The baseboards in the mudroom also pick up street grime, as your family members have dirt under their shoes.
Take a bucket and fill it with water, then pour a bit of liquid soap and vinegar. Use a soft cloth or sponge, and then scrub the dirt residue. A melamine sponge is also an excellent choice to get rid of grime.
Make sure your cloth or sponge is not too damp that it makes the baseboard wet. Next, you can use a toothpick to clean the insides of the trim.
After that, use a dry cloth to wipe the baseboard as any extra water left on the baseboard will damage it.
3. Clean the crannies
Take a cotton swab and dip it in a cleaning solution to wipe the top of the baseboards and the inner part of the wall and floorboard.
4. Protect
You can keep your baseboards clean by using a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets are the perfect choice for keeping the boards stain-free for a long time.
Now that we have learned how to clean baseboards, let us also get a step-by-step idea on how to remove baseboards as well.
How to remove baseboards?
If you are not satisfied with your baseboard look, you can follow the steps I mention below to detach them. With these few easy steps, you will be able to remove it yourself and save the money you would pay to a carpenter.
- Take your tools and sit in front of the baseboard. Please start at the edge instead of the center to pressurize it into prying an exit. If you start in the middle, it puts pressure on the board, and you will end up damaging your wall, and also the process will also get hindered.
- Use your utility knife and set it on top of the baseboard. That is where the caulk is located. Now, slowly put pressure on the knife to make it cut through the board. Use just enough force so that the adhesive can be broke when you pry it.
- Now grab your hammer and tap the utility knife to give a good slam. Now groove it a bit more to get the proper spacing.
- Take the utility knife out and check if your baseboard has any nails or not. If it doesn’t, then you can continue Step 3. And if it does, then put a crowbar inside and pull it. It makes the process much easier.
- Place your crowbar where your utility knife has been and gently tug on it. Using too much force with the crowbar may cause harm to the floor. Just use enough strength to tug the baseboard out gently.
- Now keep repeating steps 3 and 5 until you have reached the end of one wall. After you are done, move on to the other side and repeat the same process.
- You can also pull the board with your hand if it still does not come out after step 6. Please start at the edge again and pull on it gently. If it still does not come out, it is because of the board behind it. And then remove the second board.
With this one final step, you will finally be able to remove your baseboard.
Summary
In this article on how to clean baseboards, I have also shown you how to remove them. And I hope it was helpful.
Like I have mentioned before, baseboards add a more innovative and more elegant look to your house. So ensure to keep them clean because they will surely increase the charm of your home. Cleaning our house is a critical process when it comes to maintaining a home. So make sure you do it often. And while we are on the topic of cleanliness, you can check our related articles like How to Clean a Fan and How to Dispose of Paints.
