How to Clean Blinds
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Is your home feeling a bit darker and dustier than it should even though your windows are crystal clean? The culprit might be right in front of you: dirty blinds. Cleaning your blinds is an easy chore to forget, but adding it to your regular routine is a must if you want to keep your home looking and feeling sparkling clean. It’s also an important part of making sure allergens don’t accumulate and lead to uncomfortable symptoms, like sneezing or itchy eyes.
If you’re thinking to yourself, “Okay, but what’s the best way to clean blinds?” then we’re here to help! Keep reading for our easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide to how to clean both vinyl and wood blinds, along with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. Whether your space sports vinyl or wood blinds—or both!—here’s all the information you need to keep them, your home, and yourself looking and feeling their best.
How to Clean Vinyl Blinds
What You’ll Need
- Microfiber cloths
- Dish soap
- Bucket
- Stepladder
- Rubber gloves (optional)
- Vacuum with duster attachment (optional)
Instructions
- Close your blinds, and give them a once-over, front and back, with a dry microfiber cloth to remove as much surface dust as possible. Alternatively, you can use a dusting glove or feather duster. If you have a vacuum with a dusting attachment, even better.
- In a bowl or bucket, squeeze a few drops of dish soap into warm water, and agitate to mix. Dip a cloth into the solution, and wring it out so it’s damp—not dripping wet.
- Open the blinds, drape the soapy cloth over your hand, and grab the highest slat between your thumb and forefinger. Run the cloth down the entire length of the slat, cleaning both sides (top and bottom) as you go. Move down to the next slat, and do the same. Repeat until all slats have been cleaned.
- Repeat Step 3 with a damp cloth to remove any soapy residue.
- Repeat Step 3 with a dry cloth to finish the job.
Deep-Clean Alternative: Remove the entire blind unit from the window, and put it in a bathtub in about 4–6 inches of warm, soapy water. Let it soak for about an hour, then run a cloth or sponge over the slats to remove any additional dirt. Drain the dirty water from the tub, and run the blinds under clean water to rinse them off. Towel dry what you can, and hang them in the tub/shower until they’re fully dry and ready to go back on the wall.
How to Clean Wood Blinds
What You’ll Need
- Microfiber cloths
- Oil-based wood cleaner
- Stepladder
- Rubber gloves (optional)
- Vacuum with duster attachment (optional)
Instructions
- The process of cleaning wood blinds starts out like it does for vinyl: dry dusting. Close your blinds, and give them a once-over, front and back, with a dry microfiber cloth, dusting glove, feather duster, or vacuum duster attachment.
- Open the blinds. If any areas look like they need a spot clean, dip a cloth in warm water, wring it out as much as you can, and use it to gingerly rub off the spot. When you’re working with wood, the less water you can use, the better.
- Next, use an oil-based, wood-safe cleanser and a microfiber cloth to condition the top and bottom of each slat, one by one. Spray the cloth, then drape it over your thumb and forefinger, and run it down the length of the slat. Start with the highest slat, and work your way down each one.
- Repeat Step 3 with a clean, dry cloth to remove any remaining moisture or unwanted residue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to wash or dust blinds?
No matter what material your blinds are made from, dusting them should be a part of your regular cleaning routine. If your blinds are metal or vinyl, you can also wash them in the tub (as described above) every few months for a deeper clean. Wood blinds should never be submerged in water (unless you’re looking for a good excuse to get new ones).
Do dryer sheets clean blinds?
Are there any tips for how to clean blinds fast?
When is it time to replace blinds?
Cleaning Supplies for Blinds
Amy Gordon
Amy Gordon is a freelance writer and editor who splits her time between New York, NY and Vieques, PR. When she’s not at her desk, you’ll probably find her on a plane with her nose in a book, in the Caribbean snorkeling through coral reefs, or on the couch watching true crime TV. Learn more and read her work at www.amygordonmedia.com.
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