Cleaning Baseboards and Walls
Baseboards and walls are two of the most commonly neglected cleaning surfaces in Ontario homes — visible when dirty but easy to overlook in routine cleaning. Baseboards collect dust, pet hair, and scuff marks; walls accumulate fingerprints, cooking grease (near kitchen areas), and crayon or marker in family homes.
Baseboards
Baseboards should be dusted weekly and washed monthly (or quarterly for lower-traffic areas).
- Run a dry microfibre cloth or duster along the top edge first — this is where dust accumulates most
- For washing: a damp cloth with a small amount of dish soap removes most grime from painted baseboards. Work section by section
- For scuff marks from furniture or shoes: a melamine foam eraser (Magic Eraser) works well on painted baseboards but use light pressure — it's mildly abrasive
- Dry with a second cloth — water left on baseboards can seep under the base and cause paint lifting over time
Walls
The key is knowing your paint finish before washing:
- Flat/matte paint: Most common on ceilings and older walls. Wipes poorly — water and scrubbing remove paint. Use a barely damp cloth and the lightest possible touch. Scuffs may require touch-up paint
- Eggshell and satin: The most common interior wall finish in Ontario new construction and renovations. Wipes reasonably well with a damp cloth and mild soap. Good for kitchens and bathrooms
- Semi-gloss and gloss: Trim and high-moisture areas. Wipes easily and handles a slightly wetter cloth
For most marks on eggshell/satin walls: a melamine foam eraser used gently removes scuffs without damaging the paint. For grease near stoves: diluted dish soap on a damp cloth, then rinse with a clean damp cloth.