Cleaning skirting boards can be a real nuisance, as they seem to gather dust again shortly after being wiped. The summer months often make the issue worse in homes with increased dust levels, particularly when windows are open, and skirting boards are especially prone to grime due to the generation of static electricity.

Just like your blinds, wooden and plastic skirting boards accumulate static charge, attracting dust, pet hair, and other particles to cling to them. But there's no need to constantly reach for the vacuum cleaner, as Natasha Gore took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page to share a “game-changing” hack that’s repelled dust from her skirting boards for over three weeks: fabric softener.

Posting a photo of a cleaning solution in a spray bottle and dust-free white skirting boards, Natasha wrote: “So this is my Lenor mixed with water, and as you can see from the picture, I have thick white silicone around my skirting boards.

“The dust that sticks to it is the bane of my life! I usually just use a damp cloth, but the dust sticks to the silicone, and it takes forever, so I thought I would try cleaning it with Lenor and water.

“I honestly cannot tell you how quickly it is to clean now. The dust must stick to the solution, and when I wipe it, it’s gone instead of the dust sticking to the silicone.

“This is a game-changer for me, and I wish I had tried it ages ago. My skirting boards have been clean for over three weeks now.”

Flooring experts at Tapi also agree with this method, they said: “Did you know you can use fabric softener to clean skirting boards? This method not only cleans but also leaves a pleasant scent.”

For this method, they recommend mixing one part fabric softener with four parts water in a spray bottle, then spraying onto your skirting boards and wiping clean with a microfibre cloth.

The pros added: “The fabric softener helps to break down dirt and leaves a fresh fragrance.”

Group members from the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips and Tricks Facebook page shared their experience of using this tip. Dan Hood wrote: “I use a cloth soaked in a solution of warm water and fabric softener too. It leaves a lovely fresh smell and creates a barrier for dust: they still get dusty, but not as much and not as fast.”

Davina Harris said, “I do this as well. You can use any fabric softener. The dust also stays away for longer, and it makes your house smell lovely.”

Lindsay Whitcher commented: “This is what I use to do all my polishing works amazing and smells good too.”