Clean Blinds
Window blinds collect dust and debris quite easily, and they aren't the easiest household item to clean. Sometimes a quick wipe with a sponge will do, but a few times a year it's best to take blinds down and wash them properly to keep them looking new. Read this article for information on how to clean Venetian blinds, mini blinds, or vertical blinds using a variety of methods.
Contents
Steps
Quick Dusting Techniques
- Use a feather duster. If your blinds have just a thin layer of dust, a feather duster will be sufficient to clean them. Open the blinds and run a feather duster between each blind, to pick up the dust on both sides.
- Use an old sock or glove. If you're looking for a method that will let you clean in hard-to-reach corners, find an old sock or glove and put it on your hand. Spray Windex on a section of the blinds and run your covered hand along it to pick up the dust. Repeat on every blind.
- Windex is safe to use on most blinds, but if you'd prefer a natural substance, use a solution of half water, half vinegar.
- For an even quicker cleanup, open your blinds and use your glove or sock-covered thumb and forefinger to pinch one blind at its edge. Run your fingers the length of the blind to pick up the dust from both sides at the same time. Repeat for every blind.
- Vacuum blinds with the hose or brush attachment. In many cases, vacuuming the blinds with be sufficient to clean them. It's also a good way to prepare extra dusty blinds for the next stage of cleaning. Start with closed blinds.
- Attach your vacuum's hose attachment to its base.
- Turn on the vacuum and run the hose attachment over each individual blind from side to side or up and down, depending on what type of blinds you have.
- Repeat the process with the blinds turned in the opposite direction to clean the other side.
Wash the Blinds Where They Hang
- Wipe the blinds with a damp sponge. Starting with closed blinds, dampen a sponge with warm water and it along the length of every blind. Repeat the process with the blinds turned in the opposite direction to clean the other side.
- If your blinds are very dirty, rinse the sponge and wring it out periodically to ensure you aren't trying to clean the blinds with more dirt.
- Soapy water is safe to use on most blinds, and useful if the blinds are caked in dust. Fill a bucket with warm, soapy water, bring it to the window where your blinds are hanging, and use the sponge to clean the blinds. Swish it around in the soapy water and wring it out frequently as you work.
Heavy Duty Cleaning Techniques
- Try the "S" hooks method. Get two "S" hooks and hang them on the inside of your shower curtain rod. Make sure the shower curtain is pulled to one side. Detach the set of blinds from above the window and bring them into the bathroom. Hang the blinds on the bottom of the "S" hooks by looping them through the thin metal rod at the top of the blinds. Make sure it is secure. Turn on the faucet and allow the water to grow warm. Squirt some soap on a soft scrub brush and wet it in the water. Scrub the blinds thoroughly.
- Start from the top and scrub from side to side. If you have vertical blinds, scrub them up and down.
- Rinse the scrub brush and add more soap as needed.
- Flip the blinds to the opposite position and scrub each blind on the other side.
- Run the water through the shower head and use it to rinse the blinds when you're finished scrubbing.
- Let the blinds drip dry, or use a towel to dry them off. Rehang your gleaming blinds.
- Wash the blinds outside. Extra dirty blinds can be washed outside with a hose. Take your blinds outside and lay them on a mat or rug. Fill a bucket with soapy water. Use a scrub brush or sponge to scrub the blinds on both sides. Use a garden hose to rinse the blinds on both sides. Towel them off and rehang.
Tips
- Fabric blinds can be taken to the dry cleaner.
- If you're using a cleaning solution on blinds for the first time, do a spot check in a discreet corner to make sure it won't leave a mark.
Warnings
- Don't use the heavy duty cleaning methods on fabric blinds. It may cause tears in the fabric.
- Take care not to saturate wooden blinds with water. It could warp the wood or leave stains. If you use water to clean wooden blinds, wipe it off right away.
- Be careful not to let the blinds fall on top of you if you're using the "S" hook method. Don't allow small children to clean blinds with this method.
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