i take my registers/grates off in the spring and fall and take them outside and give them a good cleaning with the hose. i have found that using a nozzle with a very strong spray (or perhaps a power sprayer if you have one) does an excellent job at cutting through the crud, as well as getting in all of the nooks and crannies. the downside to this method of cleaning would be if the paint were not adhered well to the grate, the pressure of the water could chip it off. but hey, better to have clean paint chipped registers than dirty ooky ones!! :) jiggreen

Yeah, that's gonna take a lot of scrubbing and toothbrushes. First get out all of the debris that you can. I use a steam cleaner and would never go back to a bucket and mop! But, before I steam clean, I vacuum and if I'm having a "good back day" I'll go over it a microfiber dust mop after I vacuum. The floor is basically clean of all debris and dust at this point. I'd hate to tell you how long it's been since I've used my steam cleaner. With my back problem vacuuming and spot cleaning as I go is having to suffice. But, when I do, steam cleaning makes my porcelain tile feel SO wonderfully velvety smooth that I HAVE to take my shoes off for awhile just to walk on my clean floors (lol) Bissell makes a GREAT little stick vac. I think it's under $20 at Walmart and around Christmas time, they can be as low as $14. I have one at each end of the house. If you decide to look into steam mops, again, Bissell makes a great product! Whichever route you go, always ALWAYS vacuum first! My kitchen tile is 8.5 years old. Baseboards are only 3 years old. I haven't vacuumed in about 4 days. If you get really industrious, you might even consider a fresh coat of paint on the trim. With the clean edges/corners and fresh paint, it'll look brand new :) Bissell Stick Vac http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=14320844&findingMethod=rr#Item+Description Bissell Steam Mop http://www.walmart.com/ip/Bissell-Steam-Mop-Hard-Floor/6497961 Monica

Wood flooring manufacturers will not recommend Murphy's. It leaves a gummy film of soap....there are no conditioners or emollients in the soap. I use plain water for baseboards...I honestly never notice a need for a cleaner. Maybe a bit of vinegar if there's something sticky.

use a nice, bright neutral white. SW Pure White would be fine. (or just use the white base straight from the can. ) btw, look at SW Crushed Ice. I think it would be a nice match w/your tile.