So you bought some beautiful blinds for your home, but now you are thinking, “I don’t know how to clean blinds.” Well, you are in luck. We have put together 5 easy tips so you can keep those custom blinds looking as good as the day you bought them.
NOTE: Always Follow YOUR Manufacturer Instructions as some of these methods may not be recommended for cleaning your blinds or shades
5 Tips – How To Clean Blinds
1) Dust Your Blinds Regularly
Luckily, blinds don’t go from brand new to completely grungy overnight. The first sign your blinds need some attention is the buildup of dust. Let’s face it, no matter how clean we keep our homes, dust is inevitable. Just like that lampshade and ceiling fan, your blinds have horizontal surfaces that will collect dust. While you don’t have to dust your blinds every week, it is beneficial to regularly clean them off to extend their life.
How To Dust Hard Surface Blinds
- Wood, Faux Wood, Vinyl, and Aluminum blinds can easily be dusted with a microfiber cloth, feather duster, or vacuum dust attachment. There are even purpose-built tools for this task. Here is one of our favorites
How To Dust Fabric Blinds
- Fabric material, such as Honeycomb Blinds, Draperies, and Roller Shades can best be dusted using a vacuum attachment. Just make sure your vacuum attachment is clean when you begin. If your fabric is sheer or fragile, we recommend you test the attachment on an inconspicuous spot first.
2) Clean Heavily Soiled Blinds with Vinegar
For hard surface blinds, such as vinyl, faux wood, or aluminum, you can literally wash them with a 50/50 solution of warm water and white vinegar.
- Mix 50/50 solution in a bowl, make sure water is warm, but not too hot to touch
- Use rubber or vinyl gloves to protect your skin
- Apply the solution using a soft sponge or cleaning cloth, wiping each individual slat
- Dry with a soft microfiber cloth
- If blinds are too dirty to clean in the window, you can remove and follow this process in a bathtub, filled with warm water and a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda
- DO NOT use water/vinegar for wood blinds, use only a cloth, vacuum, or a quality wood furniture polish.
3) How To Clean Vertical Blinds
Vertical Blinds are actually easier to clean than standard blinds. Typically, vertical blind louvers can be easily removed for cleaning, and then replaced once you’re done.
For general dusting, just use a cloth, or vacuum attachment as noted above. If you need to deep clean some louvers, begin by removing the affected louvers and laying them on a flat surface, such as a table.
Once you have the louvers away from the headrail, you can use a mild fabric or carpet cleaner, to clean fabric vanes. For vinyl vanes, use a sponge with the water/vinegar solution from tip #2. You can also place vertical vanes in your bathtub and then hang them to dry.
4) How To Clean Blinds Professionally
When all else fails, you can turn to the professionals! Many commercial steam cleaning and carpet cleaning companies have specialized cleaners and equipment for window blinds. Some may use handheld cleaning wands and others even have very specialized ultrasonic cleaning equipment. While this includes a small cost, it may be much less than replacing an entire blind or shade.
5) Maybe It’s Time To Replace Your Blinds
If you have tried everything else, or your blinds are just beyond cleaning, sometimes the best thing to do is replace the soiled blinds with a new model. This may be the most expensive option, but you get the chance to update your space with a modern blind or shade. Using this guide, you can also take good care of your new blinds, which will make them last longer!
When you are ready to purchase new blinds or shades, make sure you check out www.bestpriceblinds.com for all of your custom blind and shade needs. We provide excellent customer service and a truly custom product at unbeatable prices!
