9 Top Tips for Cleaning Vertical Blinds
Every now and then vertical blinds call for a good clean and dust removal.
Dust and grime tend to accumulate onto them, especially since they are hung in front of apertures.
The bigger the door or window is, the bigger the surface area of vertical blinds you will have to clean.
In these cases, cleaning vertical blinds can end up being a rather frustrating and time consuming task.
However, with the following tips you should be better able to clean your vertical blinds properly and relatively more easily.
Read on to learn more about cleaning vertical blinds or jump to a chapter by using the links below.
Chapters
- Remove the Blinds or Not?
- Start by Removing Loose Dirt
- Removing More Stubborn Dirt
- Vertical Blinds Cleaning Tool
- Prepare Two Buckets & Several Cloths
- Air Dry the Blinds Well
- Getting Rid of Stains
- Washing Blinds That Have Been Taken Down
- Cleaning Regularly
1. Remove the Blinds or Not?
Contrary to what some people think, it is generally best to keep the blinds fixed in their place while cleaning them.
Otherwise, if you take them down you are going to take longer to complete the job, while also running the risk of bending them, damaging them or not reinstalling them properly.
Blinds should only be taking down for washing when they are too dirty or when their hardware requires repair or cleaning as well.
2. Start by Removing Loose Dirt
Even though they sit vertically, there will be dirt stuck to the blinds.
Loose dirt and other debris should be removed first.
This can be done either by dusting, or else by using a brush attachment to a vacuum cleaner.
Always work from top to bottom.
3. Removing More Stubborn Dirt
Once the loose dirt and dust has been removed, you will be better able to see where there are deeper stains and other residue stuck to the blinds.
It is best to either use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe away this dirt.
An all-purpose cleaner, mild soap or detergent can help to remove the dirt more effectively.
These generally come in a spray bottle.
It is important to avoid spraying directly onto the blinds, but rather apply the cleaner onto the cloth or sponge and then rub it on the area where there are spots or marks.
Afterwards, rinse that area with a moistened cloth or sponge.
4. Vertical Blinds Cleaning Tool
If you have a lot of vertical blinds, cleaning them is going to become a boring and arduous task.
To make it a bit simpler and quicker for you, there are vertical blinds cleaning tools.
These are generally made from microfibre cloth, and come in a shape that makes it easier to simply insert the cleaning tool in between slats.
In this manner you will be able to clean three or more slats at a time.
This kind of tool does not even have to be bought.
You can actually make one yourself.
A pair of BBQ sticks, with a sponge fitted across each of them and stuck with waterproof glue will serve the purpose just fine.
5. Prepare Two Buckets & Several Cloths
It is best to prepare two buckets before you start the cleaning process.
One should be filled with clear water for rinsing, whereas the other one should be filled with warm soapy water for the actual washing.
In this way you will simply have to dip the sponge or cloth into the soapy water first, clean the blinds by moving from top to bottom, and then rinse in the clear water.
Repeat until you can see that the dirt from the blinds has been removed.
Obviously it is important to change the water in the buckets often so as to avoid using unclean water and reapplying the dirt onto the blinds.
6. Air Dry the Blinds Well
Even though you will be using a towel or soft cloth to wipe the blinds dry, it is still very important to allow them to air dry themselves properly.
The drying up with a cloth will remove most of the moisture as well as any drip marks from the blinds.
But proper air drying will still be needed for best results.
It is best to place a towel or floor cloth underneath so as to catch dripping water.
7. Getting Rid of Stains
At times it is not just about cleaning dust and dirt.
In some cases there are also stains on the blinds, and it may not be that easy to remove them.
You need to make sure that even though you manage to remove the stain itself, you do not end up damaging the blinds, or leaving a mark afterwards.
There are stain removers and spot cleaners that can be used to remove most stains.
However you need to be cautious when using these products.
Some may be too harsh for the blinds’ material.
Thus it is always advisable to try them onto a small, unnoticeable area first, just to make sure.
If stains are caused from smoke residue it is best to use white vinegar, combined with equal parts of water.
The solution can be placed in a spray bottle for easier application onto the blinds.
8. Washing Blinds That Have Been Taken Down
In this case always make sure that you mark the blinds’ sides and order, as this can make reinstalling them easier in some cases.
Fabric blinds can generally be washed in a bathtub.
This is always better than using a washing machine, even though it will take longer.
Always leave them to soak well before you start cleaning them.
Blinds made from other materials may best be washed outdoors.
You may find it best to spread out a tarp in your yard to make washing the slats easier.
Take care when disconnecting the spacer chains and their connectors as they may be quite flimsy.
These should also be washed in warm soapy water and dried well before reinstalling.
When installing the blinds back in their place make sure that you maintain proper spacing from one slat to the other and that your thread the chain through the holes or attachments neatly and carefully.
Otherwise it may break or cause problems when you open and close the blinds.
9. Cleaning Regularly
A quick vacuum weekly will ensure that there is not too much dust and dirt building up on the blinds.
This will also allow you to notice any stains and to deal with them immediately.
Regular cleaning will reduce the need for more thorough and time consuming cleaning and washing.