Cleaning enthusiast Chloe, known online as Queen Clean Chloe, has shared a simple method using fabric softener to keep skirting boards dust-free for weeks. The trick neutralises the static electricity that attracts dust to these surfaces.
Why skirting boards attract dust
Skirting boards often get overlooked during cleaning, yet they can become a real dust trap in autumn, leaving rooms looking grubby if not washed regularly. Radiators circulate warm air, stirring up dust and sending it floating downwards.
Skirting boards also carry a significant amount of static electricity, meaning fluff, pet hair, dead skin cells and other debris cling to them, creating a dark grey coating along the base of the wall. Most people put off tackling them because it involves a lot of crouching and kneeling, only for the dust to accumulate again within days.
The fabric softener solution
In a video posted online, Chloe said: "I haven't given these skirts and boards a good scrubbing in a while, and they can start to gather a lot of dust. I'm going to use my magic solution which is basically fabric softener with a little bit of water and a Dishmatic."
She added: "This cleans it really well and makes the room smell amazing, but also prevents dust from building up quickly as well."
Fabric softener contains cationic surfactants that help neutralise static electricity and prevent dust from latching onto lower walls. It also leaves a fine coating on skirting boards, acting as a protective barrier that keeps them cleaner for far longer than a standard wipe-down.
How to apply the trick
Start by cleaning skirting boards as usual, removing as much dust as possible. Clear away clutter such as shoes or rugs, and vacuum the area to loosen built-up dust.
Next, use warm water to wash down the skirting boards and shift grimy residue. Then mix 250ml of warm water with around 10ml of fabric softener. Chloe recommended using a dishmatic, but a mop bucket works just as well. Add a few squirts of washing-up liquid to the solution, then wash or mop the skirting boards thoroughly.
Once done, the boards should be gleaming and brilliantly white. The effect lasts at least a few weeks, though it depends on how frequently the heating runs, whether there are pets, and whether the room has rugs or carpet. Vacuuming the area at least once a week should help keep skirting boards looking their best.
