How to Clean Wooden Baseboards

Fig.1 Baseboards

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:

Plastic or metal pail of soapy water
Scrubby with sponge

Powdered cleanser - Ralph

Dry towels

Vacuum 

I was called by a client in Santa Clarita, California. They were selling their home and moving to Colorado. After the Realtor checked each room of their beautiful home, she requested a huge laundry list of repairs that needed to be addressed immediately. One job was to clean up all the baseboards.  These baseboard pictures were from one of the bedrooms.

This post shows how to clean up wooden baseboards in your home.

Step 1: The first step was vacuum the baseboards and the top and bottom edges to get as much dust or dirt off as possible. Fig.1, fig.2 and fig.3 shows all three baseboards were dirty. Above Fig.1 shows baseboards were damage from the vacuum cleaner rubber edge. 
Step 2: Fig.2 shows baseboard damage was from bedroom furniture.

Fig.2 Coffee
baseboards

Step 3: Fig.3 shows the baseboard damage was from wear and tear and general use.

Fig.3 Nicked
baseboards

Step 4: Fig.4 shows a clean plastic pail filled with warm water and soap.

Fig.4 Water pail

Step 5: Fig.5 shows Ralph scouring powder but any scouring will do.

Fig.5 Scouring powder

Step 6: Fig.6 shows a green scrubbing pad.

Fig.6 Clean sponge

Step 7: Fig.7 shows powder cleanser removing the dirt with a green scrubber.

Fig.7 Press and clean

Step 8: Fig.8 shows the removal of dirt, grease, or stains.   

Fig.8 Clean baseboards

Step 9: Try not to press too hard but hard enough to remove the dirt from the baseboards. Use a clean towels to dry the baseboards. The purpose was to clean the baseboards, not to repaint them.

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