17th August 2021 Cleaning Skirting Boards: An Essential Guide Clean skirting boards can instantly make a room fresher and brighter. Like any other piece of furniture in your home, Intrim skirting boards require regular cleaning to avoid becoming dirty or having dust ingrained into the valleys of the profile. However, many people neglect their boards, thinking the job is going to involve lots of crouching and scrubbing, and it becomes a forgotten area that never gets any attention. So, how do you clean skirting boards without breaking your back? In this blog, we’ll cover the top two cleaning methods, handy hacks, and answer all of your burning questions about how best to clean skirting boards. Why It’s Important to Clean Your Skirting Boards Skirting boards collect more dust, dirt, and pet hair than most people realise. Over time, this buildup can make your walls and floors look dull, even if the rest of your home is spotless. Cleaning not only keeps them looking nice but also helps protect the paint or finish on your boards from long-term damage. In homes with allergies or asthma, removing dust from low-level surfaces like skirting boards can also improve indoor air quality. Top 2 Skirting Board Cleaning Methods When tackling the chore of cleaning skirting boards, it’s best to use a combination of dry and wet methods. The dry approaches will ensure all the dust is cleared away before you go with the wet approaches, which will help scrub and shine your boards to rid them of any dirt or marks that have accumulated over time. This power combo will work wonders! 1. Dry Dusting Methods If your skirting boards are just dusty as opposed to being dirty or grimy, then you can just do a dry dust. Feather Duster – A quick run around the skirting with a feather duster will stop the buildup of surface dust. Soft Bristle Broom or Paintbrush – Use a dry paintbrush or broom with soft bristles, and run it along the borders of your rooms to clear away any dust. Vacuum – Use a small brush vacuum attachment, so you can get right into the grooves to easily suck up the dust without having to bend over. 2. Wet Cleaning If your skirting boards are grimy or have marks, you will need to use a wet cleaning method. Removing surface dust using the dry dusting methods before wet cleaning will make the job much easier. When cleaning using wet techniques, you should keep in mind that moisture can affect unsealed MDF timber, so make sure your cloths and sponges do not leave lots of moisture behind, especially if it runs down behind or under the boards, where they might not be sealed by paint or primer. Disinfectant Wipes – Ideal for spot cleaning, simply wipe the area. You may need a little elbow grease to remove stubborn stains. Scented wipes provide the bonus of a fresh, pleasant-smelling home by the time you’re done. Spray Cleaners and Paper Towels – Grab an all-purpose spray cleaner, wipe with a clean sponge, and then dry with a paper towel, OR you can just use the spray and paper towel.   Bucket, Soapy Water and Sponge – Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water, then dip a sponge into the mixture. Squeeze most of the liquid out so it’s not dripping, then wipe across the skirting boards throughout your house. Clean away the soapy water with another wipe with a sponge with just water. Don’t forget to use a microfibre cloth to dry it to avoid streaking. Magic Erasers – This clever cleaning product will give your skirting extra shine to make it appear brand new again. All you need is some water, rub on the area, then let the erasers work their magic!   Vinegar and Warm Water – For those who prefer to opt for a natural and chemical-free approach, white vinegar does the trick. Simply add a few capfuls of white vinegar to warm water, mix it thoroughly, then use a cloth or sponge to polish your skirting boards. Acidic Solutions – If you need a deep clean for your skirting boards, but you don’t want the smell of vinegar around your home, then you can use a mixture with bleach or polish instead. They are both powerful cleaning agents, but you need to ensure that you read the manufacturer’s guidelines to use them appropriately. It is advised to wear a face mask, gloves, and work in an open space to avoid inhalation of the fumes. Steam Cleaner – For the ultimate cleaning power that is guaranteed to get the job done perfectly, bring out the steam cleaner! It’s the ideal way to clean away all dirt and grime, quickly and easily. Just spot test a small patch in an inconspicuous place to make sure it won’t cause any damage or bubbling to your paint. Professional Cleaning Detergent – Every once in a while, when you want to give your skirting boards a truly deep clean, it’s worth utilising some professional cleaning detergents. For cleaning wooden skirting boards, you can purchase a wood cleaner and polisher. For acrylic-based paint, you can opt for a household-grade degreaser. How to Clean Skirting Boards Without Bending A common misconception about skirting cleaning is that you will spend the whole job on your hands and knees, which, for people with bad backs or knees, means they neglect their skirting boards. For some of the deeper cleaning methods described above, this is true; however, a soft broom or regular vacuum with the dusting attachment will reduce the need for excessive bending. The wet cleaning method with a mop will address most of the areas with grime. Areas that require further attention and that do require bending will be limited. How to Clean Skirting Boards for Painting If you’re painting your skirting boards and you have carpet, tape down a dust sheet as close to the skirting board as possible. Alternatively, you could fold up a piece of cardboard and tuck it underneath the skirting and tape it down. Remove the dust with a vacuum with a hand-held dusting attachment, then use a sugar soap solution and a sponge to wipe down and clean your boards. The skirting boards need to have all the dirt, dust and grease removed before you start. Learn more here about how to paint your skirting boards. Other Cleaning Skirting Boards Hacks​, Tips & Tricks Cotton Buds – These handy little tools do an amazing job at getting deep in those nooks, crannies, folds and edges of your skirting board profile. Pair these with one of the other wet cleaning methods above for a totally thorough clean. They’re the ideal size to scrub any tricky-to-reach places, and by the end, you’ll know every spot has been taken care of. Dryer Sheets – This one might come as a surprise! Dryer sheets are the little sheets you put in the clothes dryer to remove the static and make your clothes smell great. Once you have cleaned your boards, run a dryer sheet along them. This will help repel dust, so you don’t have to dust them as frequently, while also making your rooms smell like fresh linen! A similar thing can be done with fabric softener sheets as well. Upgrade Your Home With Intrim Timber Skirting Boards A little maintenance goes a long way in showcasing the craftsmanship of your skirting. Our skirting boards have profiles designed to complement both modern and traditional spaces, from seamless, flush finish shadowline skirting styles to fast trim pre-scribed skirting for quick installation. Explore our range of Intrim Mouldings sample boxes to find a stylish timber trim for your home. Cleaning skirting boards without bending A common misconception about cleaning skirting boards is that you will spend the whole job on your hands & knees, which for people with bad backs or knees means they neglect their skirting boards. For some of the deeper cleaning methods described above this is true, however a soft broom or regular vacuum with the dusting attachment will reduce the need for excessive bending. The wet cleaning method with a mop described above, will address most of the areas with grime. Areas that requires further attention that do require bending will be limited. Cleaning and preparing skirting boards for painting If you’re painting your skirting boards and you have carpet, tape down a dust sheet as close to the skirting board as possible before you start. Alternatively, you could fold up a piece of cardboard and tuck it underneath the skirting board and tape it down. Remove the dust with a vacumm with the hand held dusting attachment, then use a sugar soap solution and a sponge to wipe down and clean your skirting boards. The skirting boards need to have all the dirt, dust and grease removed before you start. Learn more here about how to paint your skirting boards. How often should I clean my skirting boards? The general rule of thumb is give your skirting boards a thorough clean every 3-6 months, however if you live in a very dusty area or an area with alot of construction work around you, you may find they need more regular dusting. Wipe up spills as they happen, and you will avoid sticky areas which are harder to clean later.
