Remove Stubborn Marks From Baseboards With One Common Household Ingredient

Sometimes we make cleaning more complicated than it needs to be. We get swept away with buying special scrubbing tools, grime-busting products, and subscribing to multi-step cleaning routines because we think that's what it takes to deep clean. There are battery-powered scrub brushes and chemical-laden sprays that eat away at your budget, and at first, it might seem necessary. But at the end of the day, the simplest routines are often the most effective ones. So, when your baseboards get scuffed up, grab some baking soda and a microfiber cloth rather than searching for a convoluted hack. That's all you'll need to remove any stubborn marks that soap and water won't.

Baking soda is a powerhouse tool that will clean anything from your laundry to your patio furniture. Not only is it affordable, but it lets you consolidate your cleaning bucket, removing the need to have 13 different products when one will do the trick just as well, if not better. Plus, most people have a rogue box in their pantry at all times. If your baseboards look worse for wear, grab your baking soda and get ready to clean. Here's how.

Our baseboards get dirty for all sorts of reasons. They get banged up by chairs that are pushed out and clumsy people who scuff their shoes on it when turning the corner. Kids can get their sticky fingers on them, and wet pet noses can leave behind smudges. Whatever the issue, baking soda can help you remove the scuff or stain. That's because the powder is a mild abrasive, so it will help remove dirt buildup or dirty smears much more effectively than a spray. Its texture will help lift away the mark, almost like super fine sandpaper. But you don't have to worry — it's so mild that it won't ruin the finish or the paint of the baseboard.

All you have to do is make a paste using 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water. You want the consistency to be wet enough that it's a pliable paste, but you don't want it to be too watery, or else it'll just dribble down the boards. Once you have the correct consistency, use a microfiber cloth to dip into the paste and apply it to the scuffs and marks. Rub the marks using a circular motion, and use a second, damp microfiber cloth to wipe it clean. You should have a pristine baseboard in mere seconds!