Do you know those things on the bottom of your wall? Those are called baseboards, and they can be notoriously difficult to clean.
This is especially true if you have carpeted stairs or if you have wall-to-wall carpet in your home.
If you have anything other than hardwood floors, cleaning baseboards can be a real pain in the neck. This isn’t just an annoying inconvenience; tainted baseboards can lead to pretty gross results further down the line.
Dust and grime that settles on baseboards collect moisture and humidity, which can then cause mold and mildew to grow behind them.
All of this means that it’s essential to not only clean your baseboards regularly but also figure out how to clean them effectively so that they don’t become a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew again as quickly as before.
Why Are Baseboards So Hard To Clean?

Baseboards are hard to clean for several reasons.
First, the baseboards’ height means bending over and contorting your body into uncomfortable positions to reach them.
If you have any injuries or health conditions that make bending or reaching difficult, cleaning your baseboards will be especially difficult.
Baseboards are also often positioned at a height that makes it very easy for small children to grab onto them and walk up them.
This is detrimental to the health and well-being of children, as they can easily fall if they grab onto the baseboards and pull themselves up.
Imagine an infant or toddler hanging on to the edge of the baseboard and then losing their grip: it’s a near-certain disaster waiting to happen.
Best Way to Clean Baseboards

The best way to clean baseboards is to start with a broom and dustpan to sweep them out.
If you don’t have wall-to-wall carpet and a child who is still too young to walk, you can vacuum your baseboards.
However, if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you’ve got a couple more steps to take.
First, you’ll need to use a handheld vacuum to clean up as much of the visible dirt off of the carpet as you can.
Second, you’ll want to use a carpet cleaner or a carpet shampooer to spray and clean the rest of the dirt on the carpet.
After you’ve swept or vacuumed your baseboards, you’ll want to mop them with a bleach solution.
This will clean the baseboards and kill off any bacteria or mildew growing on them.
You can make your bleach solution at home by mixing 1 part bleach with ten parts water.
The Fastest Way to Clean Baseboards

The fastest way to clean baseboards is to start with a dust mop or broom.
Dust mopping is a quick and efficient way to clean almost any floor, including baseboards.
If you have wall-to-wall carpeting in your house, you’ll also want to use a handheld vacuum to suck up any visible dirt on the carpet.
Next, mop the baseboards with a bleach solution.
If you don’t have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may be able to get away with just spraying the bleach solution directly on your baseboards rather than mopping them.
Whichever method you use, let your baseboards dry completely before walking on them again.
The Pro-Rated Way to Clean Baseboards

The pro-rated way to clean baseboards is very similar to the fastest way to clean baseboards.
Start with a dust mop or broom to sweep or vacuum up any visible dirt from the baseboards.
You may also want to use a handheld vacuum to suck up any visible dirt from the carpet if you have wall-to-wall carpeting in your house.
Next, mop the baseboards with a bleach solution.
If you don’t have wall-to-wall carpeting, you may be able to get away with just spraying the bleach solution directly on your baseboards rather than mopping them.
Whichever method you use, let your baseboards dry completely before walking on them again.
Conclusion
Baseboards are often one of a home’s most overlooked and overlooked areas.
They’re usually out of sight and out of mind, but they’re also often out of reach, making them an easy place for dust, grime, and bacteria to collect.
Keeping your baseboards clean is essential for aesthetics, health, and safety.
If they’re too dirty, they can cause bacteria to grow and can be a tripping hazard for children or pets.
If you’re having trouble keeping up with baseboard cleaning, there are a few different ways to clean them more efficiently.
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