Adding blinds to your windows is a great way to bring style into your home, as well as offering a practical solution to keeping light out of the room. The only issue with blinds is that they can be tricky to keep clean.
There are different styles of blinds to suit different styles of homes, and they all need to be kept clean in different ways.
In this article, our commercial cleaners share a useful guide on how to clean different kinds of blinds to keep your blinds in great condition and look very smart in your home. Keep reading to find out what you need to do.
How Do You Clean Vertical Blinds?
Vertical blinds collect a lot of dust and dirt so it is important to clean them regularly. You should dust them every few weeks to keep them clean and stop them from looking dirty.
You should also carry out a deep clean of the blinds at least once or twice a year to remove more stubborn dirt, including the headrail.
For a quick clean you will need a vacuum cleaner with a narrow brush attachment, a soft cloth like a microfibre cloth, and a feather duster or a blind duster. Start by vacuuming the blinds one by one to remove the dust, then go over them with a cloth to remove any dirt or more stubborn dust.
You can then use the feather duster or the blind duster to get to the hard-to-reach areas to remove the last bits of dust.
When it comes to your deep clean, you will need to remove the blinds from the headrail and place them in a bathtub full of warm water mixed with mild detergent. Make sure the water is not too hot or it will warp the blinds. Use a cloth to remove any stubborn dirt, then rinse the blinds off.
Make sure the blinds are completely dry before you hang them back up again. You can let them air dry, leave them out in the sun, or dry them with a hairdryer. Make sure the handrail is clean before re-hang the blinds. Clean it with a microfibre cloth and then make sure it is dry.
How Do You Clean Fabric Blinds?
There are several different kinds of fabric blinds, including roller blinds, roman blinds, and Day and Night blinds. Unlike vertical blinds, they don’t have horizontal slats. This means that they don’t collect as much dust, but dust and dirt can still gather on the material.
Some material blinds are very easy to clean as they can be removed from the metal attachments and placed in the washing machine or hand washed.
You can also vacuum clean material blinds with a handheld attachment to remove the dust. Some vacuum cleaners have an upholstery brush attachment. Make sure you put the vacuum cleaner on the lowest setting so it is gentle on the fabric and won’t cause any damage.
Vacuum in the direction of the fabric weave as this also helps to prevent damage.
If there are any stains on the blinds then you can use a fabric stain remover to get rid of them. Make sure you carefully read the instructions on the bottle to check that it is suitable to be used on the fabric that your blinds are made from, otherwise it could end up causing more damage.
You can also use homemade cleaning solutions to remove dirt and stains from your fabric blinds. You make a mixture of water and distilled vinegar or a mixture of water and baking soda.
You shouldn’t use a hoover on layered material blinds, like Day and Night blinds. It could cause pulling and stretching and affect the fabrics in different ways. Instead, use a damp microfiber cloth to remove the dust by running it along the weave of the fabric.
How Do You Clean Wooden Blinds/Venetian Blinds?
Wooden blinds or Venetian blinds are made from real wood or faux wood. You can also get some Venetian blinds that are made from aluminum, though these could also be classed as vertical blinds. It is important that you know which material your blinds are made from to ensure you don’t damage them as you clean them.
You cannot submerge real wood blinds in water as they could warp. They could also lose their shape if you wipe them with a damp cloth that has too much moisture on it, as they could expand and bend. The best way to clean wooden blinds is to use a dry microfiber cloth or a duster to remove the dust.
Make sure you run the cloth over the top and the bottom of each slat. If there are any more stubborn bits of dirt or grime, you can use a slightly damp cloth to get them off.
However, you should make sure you dry that area immediately afterwards with a towel or a dry cloth. Be especially careful around the ends of wooden slats, as sometimes they are not sealed. The exposed wood is much more vulnerable to absorbing moisture.
If your Venetian blinds are made of faux wood or aluminum then you can wipe them with a damp cloth, similar to how you would clean Venetian blinds. It is still a good idea to dry the blinds afterwards.
How Do You Clean The String Of The Blinds?
Some blinds are controlled using a plastic or wooden handle that you twist. This is easy to clean as you can dust with a dry cloth or wipe it with a wet cloth. Other blinds are controlled by a strong or a thin rope.
This is more difficult to clean. You should use a sponge or a cloth that has been dipped in warm water mixed with mild detergent or fabric cleaner. For more stubborn areas of dirt, you might need to apply the soap or the fabric cleaner directly to that area and rub it in using the cloth.
