Instead of the vacuum, I use a broom, it always seems to work better for me. Anything that's sticking and needs wiping, I use a little Windex and the swifter mop with a white bartenders towel attached to it. I am not a fan of those damp paper towels thingy's they sell separately, instead we buy the bulk pack of bartender towels in from Costco or Sams. They're cheap, soft and super durable. They come in handy for a lot of things especially cleaning. They also wash really well and last forever.

I do use the small brush attachment on my baseboards to remove built up dust when I move a piece of furniture (like my bed) away from the wall. For general cleaning, I use a long handled synthetic feather duster type of thing on baseboards, crown molding and door and window frames. But when they need more, I use the microfiber cloths that Costco sells in bulk. Usually just a damp cloth is enough but once in a while a bit of cleaner if something sticky spilled. They are my favorite cleaning tool - use them on everything!

Here is a link that might be useful: Costco Microfiber Towels

Thanks guys. Sounds like I'm basically doing what ya'll are doing. I use microfiber cloths (damp) to clean. Lukki - I don't own a swiffer but I do have a similar shaped mop (larger head) that has a washable cover. That is what I use on my wood floors to dust mop. Same idea as swiffer but no throw away. However, I don't think I could use the mop on the baseboard. Trim is not flat - has an edging (groove?) cut into it.

Thanks again - guess there's no easy way out LOL.

tina

I use a broom like lukki. And sometimes I have to clean them with a wet cloth and windex or something. I hate crawling around on my knees cleaning baseboards.

Hope I didn't sound sarcastic on the carpet thread, tina. Thanks for the :). Every single time I post something less than positive here (only a few times) I regret it!

Not a problem Nancy. Wasn't sure I was coming across either - obviously I am not a carpet fan!!! But others are and there is nothing wrong with that! My dad has always told us kids "that's why they make chocolate and vanilla"! LOL

tina

My bath sounds similar to your's in the way it gets dirty.

The toilet area is surrounded by paneling so you can imagine the dust/grime it gets.

For that and other woodwork, I use warm water, elbow grease, and a Handi-wipe that rinses beautifully. Then I go over it with papertowels to dry it immeditely.

I've learned it's much easier to use a swiffer wet mop pad (I vacuum first) on the floors. I get on my hands and knees and get corners, the tile around the toilet, and the vinyl in the rest of the room.

It's actually faster and cleaner to do it by hand on the floor if you can believe it.

Handi-wipes and Swiffer wet pads (along with Clorox wipes) are my best friend in the bathroom!

Tina, Our baseboards have caulking on the top that is nothing but a lint catcher and it looks horrible. I'm always sweeping those. The Swiffer has these punch holes on the back side that hold the towelets they sell in place, I just use the terry cloth and Windex instead. What I like about the Swiffer is that it's on a swivel so I can angle it to clean the flat board. Hard to explain now that I'm trying. LOL.

I must not be understanding Lukki. My mop swivels too, but I can't see cleaning woodwork with it. Of course, it's bigger than the swiffer head????? Do you mean you angle the swiffer up to the woodwork (side by side) and wipe the "front" of the woodwork (top would be where the caulk is)? Am I understanding you at all???!!! LOL!!

Oddly, the front of ours does not get much - it's the top edging, the grooved/carved design in the molding. That's where the dust lands.

This week I've moved on light fixtures and going over all corners, etc. with my "webster" (duster thingy) for any cobwebs.

Oakley, have you considered painting the paneled area? That might make for easier wipe-up. I don't use many "throw-away" products such as swiffer cloths, etc. but I do keep Clorox wipes on hand in the bathrooms and kitchen.

Some paints seem to hold on to dirt more than others. I'm not suggesting you repaint all your trim - and maybe it is just my imagination - but my trim painted with Cabinet Coat seems harder and less dirt-grabby than trim painted with regular glossy paint.

I prefer a vacuum cleaner to a broom for floor cleaning and I routinely use the round brush attachment on trim and behind the toilet. It's great - you don't have to bend over.

But bathroom trim will still require some hands-on cleaning. Any time I have a paper towel in my hand that I am about to throw away, I lean down and use it one last time on a baseboard or section of floor.

I agree Gray - if you read my original question, I do clean with a damp cloth (I don't consider the dusting actual cleaning). No repainting, I don't think it's the paint, I honestly think it's that room. Actually, those two rooms. Thanks for all the advice gals!

During the remodel I thought about painting the panel, but I really like it because of the contrast from the light colors in the bath. Our toilet is beige and with the pinks and green in there, it kind of looks pink.

It's a flat paneling, halfway up the wall similar to beadboard.cherry stain. Raising all boys, I probably would have had to paint it several times by now, but the stain holds up perfectly after 30 years!

The handi-wipes can be used over and over unless you use it inside a toilet. Best thing to use on my kitchen sink because they can be rinsed out in a jiffy!

The reason I use a wet swiffer cloth is because IMO putting a rag in a bucket of water to rinse it out would be putting dirt back on the floor. And the nice thing is you can use both sides, so they go a long way.

The beauty of that bucket of water is you can change it as often as you like. I've never used Swiffer. Maybe I will someday when my knees no longer cooperate.

Lukkiirish - not saying your's isn't but if someone put caulking on the trim and did not paint over the caulk, dirt and dust will stick to it like glue. When we installed new trim, we primed and painted two coats before the installation. Of course my carpenter had to caulk sunken nailheads and the cracks between wall and baseboards. It took me several months to do the "touch-up" painting over the caulk, so I know how sticky they can get. Clean-up is much easier after applying a nice semi-gloss paint. You have to make sure that every bit of the caulk is covered with paint.

Tina, if I have the sweeper out, I clean the dust off baseboards with the round soft brush attachment. I also do the "tilt and swiffer" thing on the top of my baseboards and on the shoe mold. Sometimes, I "quick" sweep using an Old Cedar broom. The bristles are nice and soft (almost feathery on the tips) and I sweep the baseboard tops and crevices with it.

There is just something about bathrooms and rooms close to bathrooms that seem to get dustier/lintier. I think it comes from towels, TP, hair and hair products, cosmetics, etc all mixed in with a little steam. A combination of hairspray and bathroom lint and fuzz makes for a very sticky floor!

I use those microfiber pads that velcro on to the base a lot as well as my dry swiffers - just according to how much cleaning I intend to do. Swiffers are my life saver for quick-cleaning. When one get too dirty to be effective, I use it to clean under the furniture or the laundry room before I toss it.

DOes anyone remember the old string dust mops? Those things were totally useless - all I did was chase dust bunnies around the house! I think that is why I appreciate swiffer sheets and microfleece pads.

Tuesday

Tina, yup, that's what I do. The tops of ours get dirty a lot because of the caulk, so I sweep them every time I sweep the floor. I never use the wet Swiffer cloths and I hate the way microfiber cloths feel in my hands. I attach the terry cloth wipe the board fronts off at the same time I clean my floors. Ours don't get that dirty but we animals so it's a habit to just wipe them off.

Tuesday, We're in the same boat. Replaced all of the trim in the house ourselves and as new DIY'rs we didn't know. I painted the trim before he installed it and then he caulked it. Wow, hat's off to you for having the tenacity to do that. After years of fixing, I'm so over it, there is no way I'm going to go back to paint it...I'll just keep sweeping it off. LOL

But Natal, dumping the water outdoors (which is what I do) and filling it back up is a chore. lol. Besides, we have hard water so I don't use it on my floors because I'd have to go back and dry it on my knees.

I use swiffer on my knees, even in the kitchen. After using the swiffer mop I realized it's much faster if I get on my knees and cleaned. And it gets the floor cleaner, IMO.

I need some knee pads though!

I guess since I sweep daily and wipe up spots as I see them the actual vinegar/water wash is more to polish the floor than clean. The water is never very dirty although I do change it halfway through. Oh, and I dry as I do a section. Makes it much easier.

Which type flooring are you talking about? I use wet mop on the tile, and Bona on the wood.

I have two large dog's so it's impossible to keep the floors spic and span. The drool from the water bowl and muddy paws from the outside, it's a no win situation. lol.

Sometimes in the bathroom where we have tile and vinyl flooring, get a big wad of wet paper towels and clean around the tub area where dust just seems to gather and will turn into mud if I'm not careful.

Living in the country sure has it downside at times!

Wood. No dogs, but Artie has recently started using his paw to drink water on occasion. If I don't catch him in the act have paw marks to wipe up. ;)