How to Clean Your Blinds and Keep Your Home Feeling Fresh
Don't overthink this chore. We're taking a practical, low-stress look at how to clean blinds in your home. (Bonus: for most methods, you won't need to take them down!)
Laura Sumrak
From roller blinds to Roman blinds, they all accumulate dust.
Blinds collect dust fast, whether or not you keep your windows open or closed. In addition to dust, traces of pollen and insects and webs are quick to make them look dirty even when the rest of the room feels clean.
Regular dusting helps a lot. If you do it regularly, you might never need to deep clean. The trick is being gentle and knowing when moisture helps and when it causes damage. Whether your blinds are wood, fabric, vinyl or metal, these tips will help simplify your cleaning routine.
Tools and Materials
We're going to reference a few tools in this tutorial. Here are links if you need to purchase:
Getty/Larisa Stefanuyk
Dusting your blinds more often eliminates buildup and stains.
The Best Techniques for Cleaning Blinds
Start Dry; No Moisture
Most of what you'll need to clean is dust, not stains. These tools and techniques work well:
- A vacuum with a brush attachment. For horizontal slat blinds, move the attachment from side to side across the slats, not up and down. For honeycomb and Venetian blinds, reduce the suction of your vacuum by covering the end of the nozzle with a piece of breathable fabric (and go slow). For vertical blinds, go top to bottom (rushing upward can unhook the vanes). For either type of product, start at the top and work downward so dust doesn’t fall onto areas you already cleaned.
- Microfiber and lamb's-wool dusters. Avoid plastic dusters because they tend to scatter dust instead of grabbing it; so counterproductive.
- A rubber dry-cleaning sponge. These sponges, sold at hardware and paint stores, lift dust and residue without water. Wipe firmly across each slat. You’ll feel it working.
Getty/brizmaker
Only use a small amount of moisture if you're spot-cleaning.
Carefully Spot Clean
Most blinds are best cleaned where they are, right on the window. Taking them down adds time... and also increases the chance of bending or tangling. Spot cleaning is an important part of the chore, but do it gently.
- Spray an all-purpose cleaner onto a clean cloth. Don't spray directly onto the blinds.
- Wipe the spot gently with the cloth.
- Stain remover spray from your laundry room will be useful for fabric blinds, but always test in an inconspicuous place first.
Tips for Wood and Faux Wood Blinds
Wood blinds can handle a little moisture, but you never want to soak them. Dust them often, and when needed, use a slightly damp cloth to spot clean. Remember to dry the blind immediately to avoid warping and damaging the finish.
Faux wood blinds are more forgiving; I never had much trouble keeping them clean. You can treat them like ordinary vinyl blinds and use light moisture to remove stains after you dust. Still, you'll want to dry them after cleaning to make sure they aren't drippy.
Tips for Vinyl and Metal Blinds
Vinyl and metal blinds can handle deeper cleaning, but remember that they're usually fragile. Cleaning them gently helps prevent bending, creasing and snapping.
If you need to remove the blinds to clean them, try this:
- Take them outside to a patio or driveway. Lay them flat on a rug or carpet scrap.
- Use a bucket of water with a few drops of dish soap.
- Brush side to side along each blade with a microfiber cloth (a car washing brush works well for this, too!).
- Flip the blinds over and repeat.
- Once you've gently scrubbed them, you can rinse with a garden hose. Don't use a spray jet; let the rinse be very gentle. Hold the blinds up to help the water run off them. Rinse gently with a garden hose, angled so water runs off.
- Dry them before reinstalling. To prevent water spots, run your fingers along the slats to remove extra water. Let them air dry atop a clean, dry towel on a flat surface.
Getty/Astibuk
Pleated blinds gather dust between the folds. Be sure to clean both sides!
Tips for Fabric and Honeycomb Blinds
Fabric blinds trap dust inside folds, so plan to vacuum them every few months. A brush attachment on your vacuum is the best bet, but consider the delicacy of the fabric. For many types of blinds, you'll want to go slow and keep the suction light.
For spot cleaning, blot with a cloth lightly dampened with mild cleaner. Don't rub the fabric! It can spread stains.
Under no circumstances should you try to submerge the blinds in water (especially if they're honeycomb). If they're really dirty, take them to a professional dry cleaner. Submerging them in water can collapse internal structures, tangle cord systems, and ruin their shape.
Cleaning Myths: Don't Try This at Home
Some popular methods sound efficient but create problems later.
- Don't dunk blinds in a bathtub. Many types of blinds wouldn't be compatible with this treatment. Vinyl and metal may endure the moisture, but you'll risk bending slats and tangling cord systems.
- Don't spray them down with a car-wash hose. Too powerful!
- Don't add moisture before dusting. It's way easier to dust dry slat blinds.
