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The Best Way to Clean Your Window Blinds
One of the greatest things about window blinds is that they’re totally low-maintenance. Unlike curtains, you generally don’t have to fuss with professional cleaning services to clean blinds. Since they’re usually made of hard-surface materials like wood, faux wood, vinyl or aluminum, blinds are easy to whip into like-new shape without a huge investment, a long drying time or any special tools or services.
To get started, you’ll need a high-quality cleaner (more on that below), a microfiber cloth, a duster and a flat cleaning or brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Remember that regular whole-room cleaning — especially dusting around the ceiling molding, fans and light fixtures — will help keep your blinds clean by preventing large amounts of dust from settling onto the blinds and hardware.
Because different materials should be cleaned differently, you should have a good understanding of what kinds of cleaning products are safe for use on your specific type of blinds. Wood blinds should be cleaned differently than aluminum blinds, for example, to ensure that the finish or quality isn’t compromised along the way. The most important thing to know is that you should never let moisture sit on the blinds and always make sure the slats are totally dry after applying solution.
To clean your window tracks, we recommend using an easy, DIY cleaner that includes baking soda and vinegar.
Even though blinds are some of the lowest-maintenance window treatments out there, they’re also magnets for dust and dirt, which can trigger allergies and are often highlighted in natural light. We recommend performing an in-depth clean once a year and dusting or vacuuming your blinds every two months — more often if you have pets. Using these easy blind-cleaning tricks, you’ll maintain a healthy, clean environment for your whole family!
To get started, you’ll need a high-quality cleaner (more on that below), a microfiber cloth, a duster and a flat cleaning or brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Remember that regular whole-room cleaning — especially dusting around the ceiling molding, fans and light fixtures — will help keep your blinds clean by preventing large amounts of dust from settling onto the blinds and hardware.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Solution
Because different materials should be cleaned differently, you should have a good understanding of what kinds of cleaning products are safe for use on your specific type of blinds. Wood blinds should be cleaned differently than aluminum blinds, for example, to ensure that the finish or quality isn’t compromised along the way. The most important thing to know is that you should never let moisture sit on the blinds and always make sure the slats are totally dry after applying solution.
- Wood Blinds — Wood is one of the most sensitive blind materials out there. Too much moisture and your wood blinds could warp or swell. Make sure to use a non-abrasive, wood-safe cleaner on your blinds and only a soft, highly absorbent microfiber cloth for dusting and applying the solution to prevent scratches. Never let liquid sit on wood blinds for more than a few seconds.
- Faux Wood Blinds — Faux wood is a bit more forgiving than wood, which is why it’s often employed in humid and wet environments. A gentle, all-purpose cleaner is safe for use on faux wood blinds. You should still make sure that you don’t let solution settle into the material, so be sure to wipe it up immediately.
- Aluminum or Vinyl Blinds — Aluminum and vinyl blinds are similar to faux wood blinds in that they don’t need specialty cleaners. However, they are a bit more delicate and may bend if not handled with care, so make sure to dust, wipe and vacuum aluminum and vinyl gently.
- Fabric Blinds — Fabric blinds should be regularly vacuumed and generally treated the way you treat your upholstered furniture, with occasional spot cleaning. Some may be dry cleaned or revamped with a professional upholstery cleaning service.
To clean your window tracks, we recommend using an easy, DIY cleaner that includes baking soda and vinegar.
How to Clean Horizontal Blinds
- First, prepare the blinds for cleaning by closing them totally so that the front (the concave side) of the blinds is facing you, creating a flat work surface.
- Gently dust your horizontal blinds with a microfiber cloth or a slim duster. You may want to invest in a special blinds duster for a more thorough clean. Next, vacuum the blinds with a flat or brush vacuum attachment to remove any dirt that may not be visible to the naked eye.
- Apply a small amount of your preferred cleaner to a clean, dry microfiber cloth and wipe in a straight line across each blind. For deeply soiled or stained blinds, you can remove them from the window for a deeper clean.
How to Clean Vertical Blinds
- Get your vertical blinds ready for a deep clean by closing them entirely so that you have a flat work surface. Place towels on the floor to prevent the cleaning solution from dripping onto your flooring.
- Using a thick, full duster, dust from top to bottom to get rid of surface dust and particles. Use your flat or brush vacuum attachment, going over the blinds in the same manner, to eliminate any deeply set in dirt and dust.
- Use your microfiber cloth and preferred cleaner to give your blinds a quick shine and to lift off any excess dirt and grime. Again, for a deep clean, it’s best to totally remove your blinds so that you better target high and hard-to-reach spots.
Low-Maintenance Window Coverings
Even though blinds are some of the lowest-maintenance window treatments out there, they’re also magnets for dust and dirt, which can trigger allergies and are often highlighted in natural light. We recommend performing an in-depth clean once a year and dusting or vacuuming your blinds every two months — more often if you have pets. Using these easy blind-cleaning tricks, you’ll maintain a healthy, clean environment for your whole family!
