How to Clean Baseboards

Person with hairy arm wiping baseboards of neutral walls with yellow microfiber cloth.

When baseboards aren’t cleaned regularly, grimy dust builds up. Easily clean baseboards using wipes or a multipurpose cleaner, then make weekly cleaning part of your routine with an extendable duster.

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By Mary Gagliardi

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Use as directed.

Group shot of Clorox disinfecting bleach, wipes, toilet cleaner and multi-purpose spray products.

It’s easy to ignore baseboards, but when you do they get pretty dirty from dust and airborne grease build up that isn’t easy to vacuum or dust away. Fortunately, Clorox® Scentiva® Multi-Surface Cleaner breaks up the greasy dust so you can easily wipe it away.

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are another good option for getting dirty baseboards clean again, even painted white baseboards that can really show the dirt.

Once your baseboards are clean again, keep them that way by dusting them regularly with an extendable duster. This handy tool makes it easy to remove dust without bending over or kneeling.

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Choose your cleaning product

Multi-surface cleaner and disinfecting wipes are two great choices

The easiest way to wipe away dust and grime is with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes. They are a convenient choice since they are pre-loaded with cleaning solution. All you do is pull a wipe from the canister and you are ready to wipe surfaces clean. A heavier layer of dirt, dust and grime will benefit from Clorox® Scentiva® Multi-Surface Cleaner, especially if you use an old toothbrush to clean corners and crevices.

What you need

Steps to clean baseboards

  1. Prepare your work area

    Move any furniture, area rugs or plants a few feet away from baseboards so you can easily reach the surface you want to clean. You can also do this as you work the perimeter of a room instead of trying to do it all at once.

    Man wearing plaid shirt carrying a potted plant and rolled-up rug into a room with moving boxes and a chair.

  2. Spray on the Scentiva

    Hold the bottle 6 to 8 inches from the surface and spray on the product. Try to limit how much of an area you spray to what you can easily treat and wipe before moving.

    Tip

    If your baseboards are in a room with carpet, spray a little at a time to prevent product dripping down onto the carpet.

    Hand holding trigger of a blue and white spray bottle, ready to spray.

  3. Wipe away dust and grime

    Use the toothbrush to loosen any dirt in corners or along the edge of the baseboard. Then use a paper towel or a microfiber cloth to wipe away the dirt.

    Person with hairy arm wiping baseboards of neutral walls with yellow microfiber cloth.

  4. Maintain your baseboards

    Once the baseboards are clean, regular cleaning with a duster at the same time you vacuum the floor will keep baseboards from building up dust. A duster with an extendable handle makes it easy to do this without kneeling down or bending over.

    Gray and blue duster cleaning the corner of a white countertop and light gray tiled wall.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you clean baseboards before painting?

Even if your baseboards don’t look dirty, before you paint them get any grease off by cleaning with Scentiva Multi-Surface Cleaner. After cleaning, lightly sand the surface, then wipe away sanding dust with tack cloth (available from hardware stores).

Should I clean baseboards with a wool or microfiber duster?

Both work well so either one is fine — it really just depends on your preference.