How To Clean Blinds: 5 Easy Steps & Bonus Hacks
Maintaining the cleanliness of your window blinds is just as important as having shiny windows. It’s easy to overlook cleaning the window coverings that protect your windows, but knowing how to clean blinds efficiently can make the task a breeze.
Whether your blinds are made of vinyl, wood, fabric, or aluminum, they are excellent at keeping rooms cool, blocking light, and providing privacy. However, they also tend to accumulate dust, pet hair, and other grime.It's Easier Than It Looks
If you’ve been avoiding cleaning your blinds because you think it requires a lot of time and effort, don’t worry. You don’t have to clean each slat meticulously or remove the entire blind from the window in most cases. By using the right tools, you can learn how to clean blinds in 30 minutes or less.
Here are some expert-approved cleaning tips that make use of vacuum brush attachments, microfiber cloths, and even a clean sock that can work wonders. By following these steps, you can keep your blinds clean without the hassle.
Why Maintenance Matters
To begin with, the easiest way to clean your blinds is to prevent them from getting excessively dirty before all else. Regularly cleaning your blinds, ideally every week or two, will prevent dust from accumulating. Using a handheld blind duster tool can quickly pick up lint and other particles, acting as a “floss” for your window treatments. Apart from enhancing their appearance, keeping your blinds clean can also extend their lifespan. Well-maintained blinds should last for decades, even though most new blinds come with a five-year warranty.
When it comes to cleaning blinds without taking them down, you can use a vacuum with an upholstery wand attachment to remove everyday dirt and dust. Start from the top and vacuum the blinds in a top-to-bottom motion, ensuring they stay in place. Alternatively, you can use a feather duster or a soft paintbrush to remove excess dust. For stubborn stains, warm water and dish soap can be effective. This cleaning method is suitable for wood, aluminum, and vertical blinds.
Now, let’s dive into a detailed outline of the five easy steps to clean blinds:
Step 1: Gather cleaning materials
Prepare the necessary cleaning supplies, including vacuum cleaner brush attachments that fit your blinds, microfiber cloths for reaching tight spaces, and a small tub of warm water and dish soap for tougher grime. Avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia, as they can damage vinyl, wood, and aluminum blinds.
Step 2: Close the blinds
Lower the blinds fully so that they cover the entire window length. For vinyl and aluminum blinds with overlapping slats, tilt them downward but not completely closed for cleaning. Wood and faux-wood blinds can be fully closed.
Step 3: Dust the blinds
For vertical blinds, stabilize the bottom of the blind with one hand and wipe them with a microfiber cloth from top to bottom, using a downward motion to prevent them from coming unhooked. Alternatively, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a soft dusting brush attachment and low suction to remove dust. For horizontal blinds, the process is the same, but you wipe from side to side. Start from the top slat and work your way down to avoid dust falling on previously cleaned areas.
Step 4: Flip the blinds and repeat
Once one side of the blinds is clean, flip them to face you and repeat the process. Even if you’ve already used a vacuum brush attachment, it’s important to repeat the cleaning, especially if it’s been a while since the last cleaning. For stubborn spots, use a microfiber cloth. The side facing the window may be dirtier due to outside pollution, and a solution of warm water and dish soap can help remove the grime. Wipe with a damp cloth and let the blinds air dry.
Step 5: Clean the surrounding area
While cleaning blinds, dust and debris are likely to fall onto the floor and windowsill. Use a vacuum cleaner to clean up this mess. A microfiber dusting mitt can also be handy for picking up stray particles. Consider using a drop cloth to catch falling dust if your blinds haven’t been cleaned in a while and visible dust bunnies are present.
Any Secret Tools and Hacks?
Professionals clean blinds using the same tools and techniques available to homeowners. There’s no secret trick. Microfiber cloths are commonly used as they are affordable, easy to care for, and less likely to leave behind debris compared to regular dusters or feather dusters.
Other Types of Blinds - Our Recommendations
When it comes to cleaning vinyl blinds and wood blinds, the process is similar to the steps mentioned earlier. Most traditional blinds, including vinyl blinds, can be cleaned using the outlined process. All-purpose cleaners are generally safe for vinyl blinds, but it’s recommended to test the solution on a small area first to avoid discoloration. For wood blinds, dust them as instructed and consider using furniture polish to preserve the wood and repel dust.
If your blinds require more than just dusting, such as in the case of grease accumulating in the kitchen, a microfiber cloth dampened with warm water can be effective. Take care not to make wooden blinds too wet. Store-bought cleaners can also help, and products like Dawn Powerwash Spray are useful for tough jobs.
However, keep in mind that cleaning blinds with liquid cleaners can be time-consuming, requiring cleaning each slat individually. Alternatively, you can soak the blinds in warm water with dish soap and baking soda, rinse them, and let them dry before rehanging. If white blinds look dingy and yellowish due to sun exposure, soaking them in cold water with liquid bleach for a maximum of 10 minutes can help revive their appearance.
For other types of window treatments, such as shutters, you can follow the same cleaning process mentioned earlier. Fabric shades like Roman or honeycomb shades can be cleaned at home as well. Lower the shades and use the soft brush attachment and low suction setting on your vacuum cleaner to go over them, starting from the top.
Vacuum the other side by maneuvering behind the fabric shade. For stains, spot-treat them using a mixture of clear liquid dish soap, warm water, and, if necessary, baking soda for stubborn stains. Dab the stain with a damp microfiber cloth multiple times, then repeat with a clean cloth moistened with plain water. Let the shade air dry. If spot cleaning doesn’t resolve the stain, consider taking the fabric blinds to a dry cleaner for a thorough refresh.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What blinds are good for the bedroom?
When choosing blinds for a bedroom, the main thing is a balance of functionality and aesthetics. Blinds should not only be a decor that reflects the mood of the interior but also solve functional problems – block light, energy efficiency, sound insulation, as well as ease of use and maintenance.
How much are blinds for a bedroom window?
The cost of blinds for a bedroom window depends on the window’s dimensions, the material used to make the blinds, and the thickness of the slats. The type of fastening and the mechanism of the blinds are also taken into account.