There is nothing like waking up to a soft morning glow. With warm sunlight peeking through the blinds, you know you have a brilliant day ahead. Oh, the glory of opening freshly cleaned blinds to greet the day instead of inhaling a puff of dancing allergens. It’s time to ask yourself: When was the last time you slid a white cloth across your wood or plastic panels? Afraid to see the amount of grime and dust firsthand? Window blinds are household furnishings that seem to get cleaned only when a sudden rush of energy takes over or when the sea of dust they emit becomes unbearable. However, the task isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. Cleaning the blinds requires few materials and only takes a few minutes. Trust us, when you notice that your allergies have lessened and there aren’t as many dusty particles floating in the air, you’ll be grateful you spent the time to do a good clean. As with most household items, regular dusting will decrease the need for an annual hose down.

Simply put a clean soft cloth over your hand and dip your covered fingertips into a bowl of vinegar. Swipe your hand across the top and bottom of each slat and voila! For vinyl, faux wood, and other less sensitive materials, run a microfiber cloth across each blind to reduce static cling and minimize the mess. Blinds with layers of neglect need a little more elbow grease than a simple wipe down. Start by reading the maintenance literature that came with the blinds. best canister vacuum cleaner 2015Wooden, fabric, and other types of blinds need to be handled more carefully than other materials.a/c duct cleaning equipment And don’t worry about removing your blinds from the hinges. how can i clean my laptop fan without taking it apart

Wood, faux wood, woven wood (such as bamboo), and fabric blinds do not need to be removed for routine cleaning. All they need is routine attention, and they’ll be good to go. We know you don’t have blinders on when it comes to the dust, so we at The Maids put together some pointers to help you clean all types of blinds! For the best way to clean blinds, follow this rule: Damp is okay, wet is not—especially when it comes to wooden blinds. Always remember that excess moisture can warp and discolor the wood. best way to clean truck upholsteryAfter performing the wipe down, use a vacuum brush attachment to eliminate excess dust and dirt. For stain-finished wood blinds, consider using lemon oil or wood preservative to give it extra shine. Close to let dry and enjoy those freshly cleaned blinds in less than an hour Faux wood blinds are enormously popular, and rightly so! They provide a pretty view without costing an arm and leg.

To clean them, remove excess dust and dirt with your trusty vacuum brush attachment. Then, mix together lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Dampen a soft cloth and swipe across the front and back. Be sure to blot dry and then close. You have to give woven wood blinds a little more love and care when it’s time for a clean. Vacuum them with a brush attachment, holding it an inch away from the material to not create suction that could damage the material. Warning: What works for many blinds—damp cloths, paper towels, or microfiber sheets—will shed and get caught in the weave of the bamboo and similar woven woods. Be sure to avoid wiping anything across the surface and just use a vacuum to clean them. Venetian blinds, which are often broader than most blinds, tend to get quite dusty compared to other varieties. However, since they are often made of faux wood, cleaning them is as easy as a wipe. Simply combine a drop of mild detergent to a damp cloth and swipe across the blinds.

Blot dry and close. You can enjoy your stylish blinds, sans the dust. In serious cases, a dry cleaner can handle fabric blinds but they are easy to clean at home as well. Start by gently vacuuming the blinds. Then spot clean with a soft clean cloth and mixture of mild detergent and warm water. Be careful not to crush or crinkle the fabric, blot gently, and let dry. For more adamant stains, use your favorite household stain fighter. Do a test patch first and let dry for 24 hours to make sure the fabric doesn’t fade. Giving your blinds a serious deep clean is a great rainy day project. Sometimes it’s those little things around the house that really add up when you haven’t cleaned them in a while. If life is simply too busy to dedicate an afternoon scrubbing the house and cleaning the blinds, you can always count on The Maids. We’re here to give your home a tip-top shine you can feel the moment you walk in the door. Give us a call at 1-800-THE-MAIDS for a free quote!

User ReviewedHow to Clean Wood Blinds Three Methods:Dusting Wooden BlindsWashing Wooden BlindsUsing Alternative MethodsCommunity Q&A Wood blinds are a great addition to any window and create a more sophisticated look than the typical plastic, vinyl, or cloth blinds that are available at most department stores. However, unlike other blinds, wood blinds require special care when being cleaned. Luckily, using the right techniques can save you time cleaning your blinds and ensure that they last for the long run. Obtain a feather duster or microfiber cloth. Avoid using rough material to clean your blinds because you can accidentally scratch them. A microfiber cloth or light feather duster are the best tools to use to quickly remove dust from your blinds. Microfiber cloth attach themselves to small dirt fibers on your blinds and will pick up particles that a normal rag would miss. You can pick up dusters and microfiber rags online or at a hardware store. Close your blinds so they sit flat against your window.

Your blinds come with an adjusting rod or rotating drum that makes them open and close. Rotate this to close your blinds completely so that you can target one side of your blinds. If you keep your blinds open it will be harder to clean both sides of the wooden slats. Wipe or dust each individual slat from left to right. Using your feather duster or microfiber cloth, begin to wipe each slat on your wooden blinds from left to right. Make sure that you focus on each slat individually so you can get the best clean. If you have vertical wooden blinds, then dust from top to bottom. Rotate the blinds and dust the other side. Rotate the adjusting rod in the opposite direction to open your blinds, so the other side of the slats are facing you. Repeat the process and fully dust the other side of your wooden blinds. This quick dusting should take under 10 minutes to complete. Wood blinds should be dusted at least once a month to maintain a clean appearance. Fill a bucket with 1-2 inches of warm water.

If your blinds have too much built up dirt, a simple dusting may not totally clean them. A deeper clean for wood blinds requires you to use water. Do not mix any cleaners or chemicals with the water. The chemicals in traditional cleaners can create stains and streaks that can ruin your blinds. Use a clean sock or soft cotton rag and dab it into the water. Wood blinds that make prolonged contact with water can cause your blinds to spot and warp.[6] To avoid this, lightly dab your cloth and wring it out before you use it. You only need a little bit of water to dampen your cloth, not totally saturate it. Angle your wood slats to an almost closed position. Positioning your wooden slats to an almost closed position will make wiping each individual slat easier. Starting from the top, wipe down each slat individually. Using your damp rag, wipe each slat from left to right. Once you are done wiping one side, make sure that also wipe the other side. Make sure to scrub harder on areas with stains, using a circular motion.

Dry each slat individually with a dry rag. Water can warp, discolor, or create spotting on wood blinds. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you get all of the water off the blinds with a dry rag. You can dry each slat with a microfiber cloth, dry sock, or a soft cotton rag. Angle your slats the other way and repeat. Use a soft vacuum attachment to suck up dust and dirt. Use the same method you regularly would use to dust your blinds, but instead of using a feather duster, use the arm attachment on your vacuum cleaner. If you are using a vacuum, anything other than a soft brush attachment runs the risk of scratching or scraping your blinds. Use this method if you are low on time and are already vacuuming. Use olive oil and warm water to make wood blinds shiny. You can mix a quarter cup of olive oil in a bowl with warm water to create an extra shine on your wood blinds. Use the washing method but replace the warm water with your new solution. Do not use olive oil if your blinds are cracked.