Cleaning baseboards is a laborious job for anyone; they’re low down, cover the whole circumference of the home, and can be oddly shaped. You may not notice your baseboards very often, let alone think about cleaning them.
They can look completely fine until one day, you notice chunks of dust, dirt smears and food splatter.
Ultimately, you want to make your deep cleaning tasks as quick and pain-free as possible. If you have a bad back, making cleaning your baseboards an easy task is even more crucial.
We’ve collated the best tips, tricks and methods for cleaning baseboards without bending over and hurting your back. Keep reading to find the best way to clean your baseboards with a bad back.
There are plenty of ways to make baseboard cleaning painless. Find or buy a dusting attachment for your vacuum that is compatible with your baseboards. Dust the baseboards with a vacuum, then clean them.
You can use a Baseboard Buddy, an extensible scrubber brush or even just the end of a broom with a sponge of cloth attached. Wet your cleaning implement and give the baseboards a good scrub.
Purchasing an extensible scrubber or a Baseboard Buddy will make this step much easier. Leave the baseboards to air-dry, then have someone help you move the furniture back to the wall.
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How to Clean Baseboards- The Basics
Baseboards attract dust, dirt from shoes, and even grease from the air. So, there are a few necessary processes to tackle each dirty element.
What you’ll need:
- A broom or vacuum cleaner.
- Cleaning cloths.
- A bucket.
- Water.
- Dish soap.
- Magic eraser.
Steps to clean baseboards the standard way:
- Prepare the space
To access the baseboards, you’ll first need to move all furniture and items touching them. So, grab someone to help you, and shift the drawers, dressers, and anything else pressed against the wall. You may also need to tie up your floor-length curtains.
Next, open up all the windows and doors to increase ventilation in the space. The next few steps might get a little dusty, so it’s best to have a way for the dust to escape instead of settling on the furniture.
- Remove dust
Either sweep the dust off of the baseboards or vacuum it up directly. We recommend vacuuming to minimise dust recirculating in the room. However, if you don’t have the appropriate head attachment for the vacuum cleaner, it may be tricky to access the creases and fine lines of the baseboards.
- Clean.
You next need to clean the baseboards with warm soapy water to remove any food, grease or grime.
Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water and start wiping all the baseboards with a cloth. Try to wring out the cloth well first to avoid wetting the carpet or rugs beneath the baseboards and to minimise drips and streaks.
- Magic eraser.
If you have noticed some stubborn scuffs on the baseboards that won’t wipe away with a cloth, grab a magic eraser. They are great at buffing away at odd marks on walls and baseboards.
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If the magic eraser doesn’t quite do the trick, you may need to consider painting some sections of the baseboards.
5. Situate the furniture.
Once the baseboards have fully dried, push back all the furniture and reset the room.
How to Dust the Baseboards with a Bad Back
Okay, now we understand how to get sparkling new baseboards, we can move on to how to adapt the methods for your ailments.
The easiest way to dust the baseboards without bending over is using a vacuum with an extensible hose. Having the correct head attachment will make this much easier.
You will want to use an attachment with bristles and one that is small enough to angle into the baseboards. A head, such as one the one in the link below, would be great:
[amazon box=”B00VLWJITK” template=”vertical”]
If you don’t have a vacuum cleaner that can be adapted for the baseboards, you can use a long-handled broom. Simply swipe the broom over the baseboards to loosen the dust. However, the only issue is that the dust will redistribute around the room. So try to collect as much dust as possible as you sweep.
How to Clean Baseboards With a Bad Back
This step is a little trickier, as cleaning the baseboards requires force and pressure. The easiest way to do this is by using the right implement. This handy tool called the Baseboard Buddy is designed to allow you to quickly and easily clean the baseboards whilst standing up.
The Baseboard Buddy has a flexible head which swivels to fit any shape and size of baseboard to moulding. The handy tool also extends up to four feet and locks into place. You can use the tool wet or dry, but for this step, you’ll want to wet the head.
Dampen the head in a little warm water and a drop of dish soap, and work your way around the room.
Check out the link below if you’re interested in purchasing a baseboard cleaning tool:
[amazon box=”B09KRQ67GY” template=”vertical”]
Another tool similar to the baseboard buddy is a long-handled scrubber brush. They aren’t specifically designed for baseboards but have multiple uses in the home. Now might be the time to invest in one or something similar.
[amazon box=”B09P88471P” template=”vertical”]
Alternatively, you can root around the home to find something that will work—for example, a standard mop. If the mop has a head shape compatible with your baseboards, wet it in soapy water and get to work.
Otherwise, you could even attach a sponge or cloth to a yardstick or the end of a broom and wipe down the baseboards. Again, get creative here; something you have in the home may already work just fine.
How to Remove Scuffs on Baseboards with a Bad Back
Magic erasers are great for removing scuffs but theyre’ not bad back friendly. At present, there isn’t a super easy way to amend this. Try to attach a magic eraser to the end of a long stick and rub the scuffs. This should work in removing scuffs, but it might not be a very enjoyable process.
How to Dry Baseboards with a Bad Back
Ideally, you should wipe down the baseboards after cleaning them. This will remove any dirt or grime left behind and ensure the baseboards don’t drip onto the floor. You can dry the baseboards in a similar way to cleaning them; just use a dry head.
However, if it’s too much trouble to dry them, don’t worry. Drying them is non-essential, and your baseboards will probably look pretty good, regardless.
How Often Should I Clean my Baseboards?
It’s easy to neglect your baseboards until it’s too late, and they look gross. So, making baseboard cleaning a part of your monthly deep cleaning might be a good idea. But, how often you clean them depends on your lifestyle and household.
If you live in a single or two-person household with no pets, you only need to clean your baseboards every two to three months. Whereas, if you have a full house with pets and kids or if you’re particularly outdoorsy, we’d recommend cleaning them once per month.
To Summarize
Deep cleaning your house is timely, tiring and even painful. Baseboard cleaning is your worst nightmare if you have injuries or ailments that mean bending over hurts. Fortunately, you don’t need to clean your baseboards too regularly.
Every couple of months is adequate for most households. Make the job as straightforward for yourself as possible, and have the right equipment.
The easiest way to clean your baseboards without bending over is with a vacuum and an extensible cleaning brush. Don’t hurt yourself for your baseboards; they’re not worth it!