Although many of us know how to clean our window on regular basis, we mostly forget about the window blinds. Regularly cleaning your blinds is as important as cleaning your windows and will keep them working and looking like new. However, this is a task most of us would rather avoid. The best way is to keep the dust and dirt from accumulating over time. When it comes to window blinds, prevention is the best cleaning tool. So make sure you add it in your regular house chores.
Window blind manufacturers give proper instructions along the blinds so that you carefully read them and follow the cleaning guidelines that come with them. Additionally, look for tips and recommendations to avoid potential problems during the process. Manufacturers test the instructions they provide and they’re the ones who can give you the best tips available on how to keep your blinds in a good condition.
However, if your window blind manufacturer hasn’t given you any cleaning advice, then here’s what you should do:
Green Cleaning Method
- Add white vinegar in a small bowl and find a pair of cotton gloves (or socks).
- Put the gloves on your hand and dip your fingers into the bowl.
- Run your fingers along the slats to remove all the dust and dirt. You may have to rinse the gloves a few times.
- Switch the two gloves back and forth, soaking one while you use the other.
Note that although this method is safe, don’t oversaturate your blinds. This is especially important for wooden blinds because water wraps the wood. So make sure you squeeze the water out as much as possible and then dry the blinds immediately. Also, don’t let the vinegar touch your skin or eyes while cleaning.
Material of Blinds
It is important to know the material of your blinds so that you can clean them accordingly. Here are a few tips for different materials of blinds:
- Faux Wood Blinds: These blinds are the easiest to clean as they’re highly durable and resistant to wrapping. You can simply dust them and also spot clean them with warm water and a mild detergent on a slightly wet cloth. Use a dryer sheet to prevent dust from sticking on blinds.
- Wooden Blinds: Moisture is the worst enemy of wood, so don’t get your wooden blinds wet. You can dust them using a soft, clean cloth, a vacuum brush, or a feather duster. To make your wooden blinds look as good as new, you can use a cleaner made especially for wood, like lemon oil. Also, know that manufacturer’s guidelines are more important than anything else with wooden blinds. So make sure you check what cleaning products the manufacturer recommends before using anything on the blinds. Use a dryer sheet to keep the grime and dust from sticking.
- Vinyl and Aluminium Blinds: These blinds require frequent dusting. You can also spot clean them with warm water and a mild detergent and then dry them afterwards. For dusting, tilt each slat up and down and dust both of its sides. Don’t press down too hard or you may break or bend them. If there is too much dirt which is hard to remove, then take the blinds off from your window and put them in a bathtub filled with soapy, warm water. Rinse and wipe them dry, or hang the blinds and let them air dry.
- Fabric Vertical Blinds: You need to dust these blinds often using a vacuum brush so that the dirt does not build up. You can also spot clean them with a clear detergent and then dry them afterwards. Using a clear detergent is important to avoid staining. Although you can’t soak these blinds in water, check the company’s recommendations to confirm if you can get them dry cleaned. If you clean your blinds according to the company’s guidelines, it will help you keep your blinds looking as good as new.
