Blinds are very popular, elegant and very practical. Thanks to the wide variety of materials and designs offered, you can find the right type for every room of your home, including the bathroom. Regardless of what material they’re made of – whether it’s vinyl, wood, fabric, or aluminium – window blinds play an important role in blocking out light, keeping a room cool, and providing privacy from nosy neighbours. Blinds are a great way to make your bedroom cosier, but they can also improve your home’s insulation and reduce energy bills.
You might wash your windows regularly, but when was the last time you gave your blinds a good cleaning? But don’t worry— with these tips, you will learn how to keep them in tip-top condition.
All you need to do is follow a few easy steps. The cleaning method you choose depends mostly on the material from which the blinds are made. When choosing a cleaning product, first read the instructions thoroughly to ensure it’s suitable for your blinds.
How do I clean my blinds without taking them down?
Cleaning window blinds can be a tedious task. You can’t just throw them in the washing machine like you can with curtains. Blinds require a little more hands-on cleaning. But don’t worry; cleaning your blinds thoroughly without taking them down is possible.
There are two easy ways to do this:
- Use a microfiber cloth, glove or duster to lightly dust the blinds. For more tips, read our Dusting 101 guide.
- Vacuuming with a soft, dusting brush attachment.
For blinds made of aluminium, vinyl, or faux wood, you can wash them with a window blinds cleaner made of gentle soap and water. Wipe each slat with a damp cloth, starting at the top and working your way down.
For wood blinds, never use water – instead, opt for a dry cloth or vacuum.
Cellular shades are one type of window treatment that can provide a home with both style and function. Although they are sometimes called fabric blinds, they are actually quite different. These shades are made from woven or non-woven fabric and have horizontal channels or cells instead of slats. Gentle vacuuming is the only way to clean these shades and keep them in pristine condition.
Note: You should be careful with your fabric blinds, so check the manufacturer’s instructions.
If you want to know more about each type, here is our Blinds 101 guide full of tips on how to choose the right blinds for your home.
How to clean Venetian blinds without taking them down?
Venetian blinds can be made of wooden, faux wood, aluminium or plastic slats. All of these, except the real wood blinds, can be easily cleaned, whether horizontal or vertical. So, here are a few useful blinds cleaning tips for your faux wood or aluminium blinds, provided by expert window cleaners. They will allow you to keep them looking good without taking them down.
- Fill a bucket with some warm water and a few drops of washing liquid.
- Dip a sponge into the solution and use it to wipe each slat separately. This should remove most of the dust and stains.
- To make the entire process a lot quicker and to avoid bending or breaking the slats, you should wipe each slat from both sides at the same time. For this purpose, you should bend the sponge in half, so you can get to both sides.
- To make everything even easier, you just need to turn the slats to a parallel position to the window surface. This way, you can wipe them from top to bottom in just a minute.
- Once you wipe the blinds from one side, you should turn the slats by 180 degrees and repeat the process from the other side. This will ensure that the blinds are completely wiped and there isn’t any dust left on the surface.
How to clean Venetian blinds by removing them?
To get better results cleaning your faux wood or aluminium blinds, you can take them down and clean them in the bathroom.
- Cleaning the blinds under running water in the tub or under the shower will help remove more dust and dirt than simple wiping. This way, the water can get to those hard-to-reach parts, which the sponge can easily miss.
- Commercial cleaning products are perfect for removing stubborn or oily stains from your blinds, but if you want to try a homemade cleaning solution, here is a simple receipt. Make a mix of 1-part lukewarm water and 1-part white vinegar, then dip a cloth or sponge and wipe the slays.
- Be very careful with the running water – the strong pressure can easily bend the slats of plastic blinds. To avoid this problem or speed up the cleaning process, you can submerge the blinds into a bathtub filled with warm soapy water, then rinse them gently with water and leave them to dry completely.
How to clean wooden blinds?
Wooden blinds can be made of real wood or faux wood (plastic/PVC), and it’s important to know what type of blinds you have to choose the right cleaning method.
For both types, you should start by removing the dust. The easiest way to do this is to open the slats and run a clean, soft cloth (microfibre) or feather duster along each slat individually.
How to Clean Real Wood Blinds
The essential cleaning tip for your real wood blinds is to keep them away from any moisture. Any excess moisture will be absorbed by the wood, causing the wood to swell or warp. If cleaning the dust is not enough, you can use a slightly moist (not wet) cloth to remove grime or dirt. The cloth should not leave any water or excess moisture on the surface of the blinds.
How to Clean Faux Wood Blinds
Despite the word “wooden” in their name, these blinds are made from plastic or aluminium, which means they are not susceptible to water damage. Once you have removed the dust with a soft cloth or a duster, you can clean any stubborn dirt and grime. Get a bowl of lukewarm water with a small amount of soft dish detergent (avoid abrasive or acidic ingredients). Dip the cloth in the bow, remove the excess water and wipe each slat individually. Once you are done, take a dry, soft cloth and wipe the slats.
How to Clean Fabric Blinds
Different kinds of blinds have different pros and cons when it comes to cleaning. Some, like roller blinds, roman blinds, and Day & Night blinds, don’t easily collect dust because they don’t have horizontal slats. Another advantage of these styles is that they’re quick and easy to clean – you can simply remove them from the headrail and operating mechanisms and place them in the washing machine. However, some types of fabrics may need to be hand cleaned, or you should call a dry cleaner to take care of them, so be sure to check your blind’s care instructions before starting the cleaning process.
How to Clean Roman & Roller Blinds
Cleaning your roman or roller blinds doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Vacuum them using an upholstery brush attachment on a low setting, moving in the direction of the fabric weave to avoid any damage. You can also use a stain remover to get rid of any stains or grime build-up, but make sure that it is safe to use on your blind fabric first and test on a small patch to see how the textile will react.
How to Clean Day & Night blinds
It’s important to be careful when cleaning layered fabric blinds like Day & Night blinds. Vacuuming can cause stretching and damage the blind, so it’s best to use a damp microfibre cloth instead. Run the cloth along the fabric, following the weave to clean quickly and safely.
How to Clean Vertical Blinds
You don’t need much to clean your blinds quickly – just a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or a soft microfibre cloth. You can also use a feather duster or mini blind duster. Start from the top and work your way down, removing any light coatings of dust.
Note: Always check the manufacturer’s care instructions before cleaning your blinds!
Deep clean your blinds.
Depending on the material/fabric the blinds are made of, you can wash them by hand in the bathtub or by using the washing machine.
Hand Wash Vertical Fabric Blinds
To do this, you will need a microfiber cloth, warm water, and mild detergent to clean your blinds. Start by removing the vertical slats from the headrail. Put them in the bathtub and fill it with warm water and soap. The water must not be hot or above 30 degrees C (86F). Gently rinse the blinds until they are clean, then wring out any excess water and let them dry completely. You can use a hair dryer or lay them in the sun or another warm area to speed up the drying process. Once they are dry, you can rehang them.
For stubborn stains, you can use a soft sponge and soapy water to gently buff away the stains. If you wish to use a stain remover, first spot test the product on a small area to avoid any visible damage.
Use a Washing Machine to Clean Your Vertical Blinds
If you are going to use a washing machine, roll them up and place them into a wash bag or a pillowcase and secure it. Use a gentle detergent and set the settings for delicate fabrics at a temperature no higher than 30 C.
Conclusion
- To keep the good look of your blinds, give them a regular clean. Depending on their type, you can use a duster, microfiber cloth or vacuum.
- Always start cleaning your blinds by removing the dust and then use water. Avoid at any cost cleaning with water, wood blinds and cellular shades.
- Rehang the blinds once they are completely dry.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning your blinds to avoid any damage.