You should dust your baseboards once a week to once a month, and deep-clean or wipe them down with a damp cloth every 3 to 6 months. However, the exact schedule depends on your lifestyle and your home environment:
The 7% rule states that the height of your baseboards should be approximately 7% of the room's ceiling height. For example, if your ceiling height is 8 feet (96 inches), a baseboard height of approximately 6 to 7 inches will look harmonious.
The 20/10 cleaning method is a productivity hack that involves cleaning or decluttering for 20 minutes, followed immediately by a 10-minute break. Popularized by organizer Rachel Hoffman in Unfck Your Habitat*, it prevents burnout by breaking daunting chores into manageable chunks and rewarding you with a dedicated rest period.
Dish soap is highly recommended due to its grease-cutting and gentle properties, making it effective for removing dirt without damaging the paint or wood, says Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment or a dry microfiber cloth to remove dust from your baseboards.
The current trend for baseboards favors minimalist, clean, and seamless designs. The most popular styles are tall, flat-stock profiles with square or slightly eased edges, frequently painted the exact same color as the walls to elongate the room visually.
A home typically looks outdated when it features overdone, time-stamped trends from specific past decades, such as honey oak cabinetry, popcorn ceilings, or generic word art. Outdated homes also often suffer from poor lighting, worn-out flooring, and heavy window treatments that block natural light.
Baseboards are fairly easy to clean and worth adding to your cleaning routine, as a little attention can make a big difference. Cleaning dirty baseboards with castile soap and dish soap can leave behind a film that will eventually attract more dirt and dust, meaning you'll get stuck cleaning them more often.
Murphy's Oil Soap is a trusted choice for cleaning and restoring stained wood baseboards. Because it is plant-derived, it safely removes dirt and grease without damaging the wood's finish.
To make your house smell amazing while mopping, use a simple DIY mix of hot water, 1 teaspoon of dish soap, and 5–10 drops of essential oils (like eucalyptus and lavender, or lemon and peppermint). If you prefer pre-made options, heavily scented commercial products like Clorox Scentiva Floor Cleaners work beautifully.
To make the solution is simple and easy on the wallet! Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned. I have found the best results is when I use it to clean chrome shower and sink fixtures.
Most people probably think the hardest thing to declutter is sentimental clutter. While it's true that presents its own challenges, I actually think the hardest thing to declutter is aspirational clutter. This type of clutter is tied to your actual identity!
'The bits of you that have the most sweat glands – your genital area, your armpits and possibly between your toes – those are the parts that need washing at least once a day.
To clean your house efficiently, always work from top to bottom and room to room to avoid backtracking. Declutter first, dust high surfaces before wiping them down, clean your kitchens and bathrooms, and save vacuuming and mopping for last.
Crown molding is not out of style; in fact, it is making a strong comeback. Designers are embracing elaborate trim work and architectural details to add depth, character, and a bespoke, "lived-in" feel to homes.
MYTH: Everything should match
For example, only black baseboards will anchor a room while having only black crown moulding will frame the ceiling and draw your eye up. Similarly, door casings and doors don't have to match. Having a light casing and baseboard contrast a dark door achieves a very modern look.
Baseboard moulding is installed at the bottom of walls, where they meet the floor. While providing a finished look to a room, baseboard moulding can also be strategically used to visually enlarge the space. By opting for a taller baseboard moulding, you can give the impression of higher ceilings and more overall space.
The characteristic "old age smell" is scientifically known as nonenal (or 2-nonenal). It is a chemical compound produced when the skin's natural oils and fatty acids break down and oxidize as we age.
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to mop your floors, but you must use it sparingly. Because Dawn is highly concentrated, using too much will leave behind a sticky, slippery residue that attracts dirt. Always use a highly diluted mixture and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Some of the hardest and worst smells to get rid of are pet odours, mold, and cigarette smells.
The easiest way to clean baseboards is to use a microfiber cloth attached to a broom or flat mop, saving you from bending down. Start by dry-dusting the trim to remove loose hair and dust. Then, wipe them down with warm water and a drop of dish soap.
Yes, you can use Dawn dish soap to wash walls before painting. Because it cuts grease and grime, it is highly effective at prepping surfaces so your new paint adheres properly. However, because Dawn is highly concentrated, you must dilute it properly and ensure you rinse the walls afterward so you don't leave a slick soap residue.
The best all-around homemade wood cleaner combines 1/2 cup of white vinegar (or apple cider vinegar for dark wood), 1/4 cup of olive oil, and 111 tablespoon of lemon juice in a spray bottle. It cleans grime while moisturizing the wood grain to restore shine without harsh chemicals.
Too much moisture or cleaning them with the wrong detergents can break them down over time, resulting in the finish chipping off or warping. If you have wood baseboards, your cleaning regimen may change based on how they are finished.
Yes, baseboards are still an essential part of modern interior design. They protect walls from scuffs and damage, hide small gaps between the wall and flooring, and add a clean, finished look. Even in minimalist homes, slim or flush-style baseboard moulding keeps the space polished and professional.
The 20-minute rule in cleaning (often combined with the 10-minute break as the 20/10 Rule) is a productivity method where you set a timer and clean as quickly and intensely as possible for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, you immediately stop cleaning and take a mandatory 10-minute break.