If you're wondering how your living room could possibly look dirty even after you've cleaned the windows, vacuumed the couches and mopped the floors, it's likely you forgot to clean the baseboards.

Your carpets, furniture and even walls get the bulk of weekly cleaning attention, but baseboards can accumulate unsightly grime, stains, scuff marks, dirt and dust which can subtly diminish the visual appeal of your home. 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.

Clean baseboards easily by removing dirt, stains and smudges with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. It's important to use a non-abrasive cleaning solution that won't discolor or diminish the paint on your baseboards. Whether they are coated with latex or oil-based paint, Simple Green can keep dirt off baseboards and keep them looking great for years to come.

Directions for Cleaning Baseboards:

When cleaning your home, you should always do the baseboards last, as they tend to capture the accumulated dust and dirt from cleaning surrounding areas. Before cleaning your baseboards, move your furniture away from the walls to give yourself space for cleaning.

1. Remove dust. Dust to the top edge of the baseboard. You can use a hand broom or the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to get into the groove between the baseboards and the wall to remove any trapped dust.
2. Clean. Mix a 1:5 ratio of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with water. Apply the cleaning solution to a microfiber cloth or paper towel and wipe down the baseboard. To avoid streaking, scrub in sections, ensuring the product doesn't dry on the surface before the next step.
3. Wipe down. Wipe down the cleaned surface with a microfiber or paper towel dampened with clean water.
4. Spot clean. Use a cotton swab dipped in the Simple Green solution to scrub hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Use a wet cotton swab to wipe the same area.
5. Dry. Allow to air dry.

Bonus tip: You can prolong baseboard cleanliness by rubbing them with a fresh dryer sheet. The antistatic properties on the sheet actually repel dust.