The Best Way to Clean Blinds

 

Blinds are a pretty important part of an office or home design. They add a sense of creativity, vibrancy, and comfort, making our homes and offices more conducive as we conduct our day-to-day activities.

 

This piece covers the importance of window blinds in our working and living spaces and the best ways to clean your blinds and shutters using readily available materials.

 

How Often to Clean Blinds

 

 

It’s recommended to deep clean your blinds every two months. However, consider adding this task to your monthly to-do list if you have furry pets, leave your windows open often, or have blinds near kitchen work surfaces, they’re a magnet for grease and grime.

 

The Best Way to Clean Blinds

 

Cleaning blinds can be a bit tedious, but there are several effective methods you can use. The best approach depends on the type of blinds you have. Here are some general tips:

• Adjust your blinds so that they lay flat with the widest part of the blind facing you. You’ll want to create a smooth, flat surface that is easy to vacuum.
• Grab a lightweight or handheld vacuum cleaner and slowly work your way across each blind in horizontal strokes. It’s a good idea to invest in a vacuum with a HEPA filter or buy one that you can attach to the vacuum you currently have. Open and close the slats in the opposite direction and vacuum the entire surface, as well.
• Once you’ve thoroughly vacuumed your blinds, switch the position so the most narrow edge of the blind faces you. Look for finger marks and dirt buildup that may need some extra attention. Then, grab a dampen non-abrasive sponge or microfiber cloth, lather with soapy water, and get to wiping.
• For fabric blinds, fill a bathtub or large washing sink with clean water and a few drops of mild dish soap, take the blinds and submerge the it in the sudsy water. Let the blinds sit in the water and soak for about an hour to help release more dirt, then rinse the blinds with clean warm water and remove them from the tub.
  • For thick wooden blinds, carefully towel-dry each slat, front and back, to avoid streaking and warping.
  • For aluminum blinds or minis, it’s preferable to remove them from the water, shake them out, and hang them back up to air-dry. They will air-dry pretty quickly and you will avoid possibly bending the slats by drying them with a towel.

 

The Best Thing to Clean Material Blinds With?

 

Microfiber Cloth

• For vertical blinds, start by closing the blinds and gently wiping them down with a microfiber cloth, moving from the top of the blind down. (For horizontal blinds, wipe from side to side.) It helps to hold the bottom of the blind in your other hand so it’s pulled out from the window.
• Adjust the blinds to open them, and run the microfiber cloth over them again. Then close them the opposite way and repeat.
• Vacuum up any dust and debris with your vacuum attachment.

 

Tongs

Take your kitchen tongs and wrap a microfiber cloth around each blade, securing each with a rubber band. Spray some cleaner on a few blinds at a time. Then, pinch a single blind with the tongs as if you were picking up a piece of food in the kitchen. Squeeze gently so the microfiber cloth touches either side, then run the tongs back and forth the entire length of the blade to remove dust and dirt.

 

Cleaning Blinds Without Taking Them Down

 

Cleaning blinds without taking them down can be a bit more challenging, but it’s definitely possible. Here are some blind cleaning methods you can use:

 

 

• Gather up the cleaning spray of your choice, a white vinegar and water mix works, as does rubbing alcohol, and some old but clean socks. A pair should do it unless you’ve got very dirty blinds or lots of windows in your home.
• Open the blinds at a perpendicular angle to you so that you see the thin edges of each blind when you stand in front of the window.
• Turn a sock inside out so the nubby part is showing, then pull the clean sock over your hand like a sock puppet.
• Spritz some cleanser on two or three blades at a time. Don’t spray the entire set of blinds at once because the spray will dry by the time you get to all of the sections.
• Gently wipe both sides of every blade with your socked hand, switching to a clean cloth or put a clean sock as needed. You might wipe in either of two ways, depending on the width of the blades and your personal preference:
  • For wide blades: Run your socked hand along one side of the blade, then run it along the other to remove pet hair, dust and dirt.
  • For narrow blades: Open up your sock-covered hand like it’s a mitten or an actual sock puppet. Then, clamp your hand down so that the sock touches the top and bottom of the blade. Gently run your hand back and forth (or up and down) on each blade to remove stubborn stain and dust.

 

Cleaning Other Types of Window Treatments

 

Drapes & Shades

 

Even though drapes may not show dust as clearly as hard surfaces you find with Venetian or slat blinds, dust does accumulate, and they will benefit from periodic dusting as well.

• Starting from the top, use a vacuum to clean the hardware that has accumulated dust with a soft dusting brush attachment. The most common culprits are curtain rods, but check valances or other horizontal surfaces holding up your curtains. After vacuuming, wipe down with a dry microfiber dusting cloth.
• Open the drapes or Roman shades as fully as possible to minimize folds.
• Again, using the brush attachment on your vacuum and starting at the top, vacuum down the shade or drape to the end. Try to cover a three to five-inch horizontal area from top to bottom, then return to the top and start with the next portion.
• For drapes, you can use a clothespin to mark off the area you just did and move the pin over a few inches to indicate where to return to on the next go around. Unfortunately, the back side of the drape (facing the window glass) should be vacuumed too.

 

Roller Shades

 

 

These are the trickiest to clean because they need to be scrubbed with soap water and a brush. You can imagine how difficult this is when they are hanging since soapy water will drip onto your window sill, frame, floors, and any other area that can receive dripping water. Instead of risking a watery mess, we recommend extending the roller blinds and vacuuming them. While this cleans the surface, it will not remove rubbed-on, built-up dirt or yellowing. That will require a little extra care.

 

How to Brighten White Blinds & Re-Whiten Yellow Blinds

 

To whiten yellowing blinds that are vinyl or plastic, most pros suggest using a bleach spray. Be sure to spray on the cloth and not directly on blinds, as the spray may discolor the carpet and other furniture around them.

 

Tips to Keep Your Window Blinds Clean Longer

• Dust blinds weekly by vacuuming them using the vacuum brush attachment or a duster.
• Wipe the blinds with used dryer sheets to help lift dust off and repel any future dust.
• Avoid using wood furniture polish  and cleaner on wood or faux wood blinds, as it can cause a sticky build-up that attracts dust.
• Loosen up and blast dust away in hard-to-reach or hidden places, such as the header of your blinds, using a powerful blow-dryer in a cool setting.
• If you are doing a quick cleaning using a sock, add a bit of vinegar and water to the material as you are working each slat.

 

FAQs

 

Can you clean blinds with dryer sheets?

Yes, but it might also leave residue from the fabric softener that’s often in dryer sheets. If you do want to use a dryer sheet, make sure it’s an old one you’ve already sent through the dryer cycle.

 

How do you clean dirty blind cords?

Take a plastic bag and create a mixture of 50% bleach and 50% water. Put the cord in the bag, close the bag with a clothespin, and leave it overnight. The pull cord will look brand new.

 

How do professionals clean blinds?

Professional ultrasonic cleaning is the recommended method for most types of blinds. This method involves immersing the blinds into a cleaning tank filled with water and eco-friendly cleaning agents and solutions.

 

When should you replace your blinds?

 

 

When one slat or more are broken or bent, or they won’t close tightly anymore, the blinds are hard to raise or lower, which means the pulling mechanisms are failing or broken, and the cords are worn and frayed, which may cause the blinds to come apart, the blinds look outdated or lack safety features that help protect children and pets, or when you are installing new windows and the old blinds won’t fit them properly.

 

For more cleaning tips and tricks from the best house cleaning services in Boston, check out our blog full of helpful hacks and DIYs for around the house. You can also browse and book any of our available services so that we can help you keep your home happy and healthy all year long.

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