Parts VinegarVinegar And WaterWhite VinegarH20 VinegarDistilled VinegarVinegar GrabSock VinegarVinegar ScentVinegar WarmForwardKeep Home Simple: How to Clean Dirty Blinds (so thankful we have wood shutters, but dealt w/blinds for years)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. Wooden, fabric, and other types of blinds need to be handled more carefully than other materials. And don’t worry about removing your blinds from the hinges. 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. After 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. sofa cleaning service miamiHowever, since they are often made of faux wood, cleaning them is as easy as a wipe. vacuum cleaner low wattSimply combine a drop of mild detergent to a damp cloth and swipe across the blinds. best panasonic vacuum cleaner reviewsBlot 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!Edit ArticleHow to Clean Faux Wood Blinds Three Methods:Removing DustCleaning Grime and StainsPerforming a Deep CleaningCommunity Q&A Faux wood blinds are usually made of composite wood-like material and vinyl.

They cost a lot less and are easier to maintain than real wood blinds. Like all window treatments, faux wood blinds get dusty over time. They are quite easy to keep clean because they are so durable. Maintain your faux wood blinds with routine dusting using a microfiber cloth and/or a vacuum brush attachment. Stubborn dirt and grime can be removed with a solution of warm water and a mild detergent. Dust once a week with a feather duster or microfiber cloth. For routine dusting, start by closing the blinds completely. Run a feather duster or dry microfiber cloth over each slat, starting at the top corner and working your way down to the bottom slat. Open the blinds again and then close them in the opposite direction. Use the cloth to dust the slats on the other side. Run a dryer sheet over the slats every couple of days to prevent dust from sticking to them. Avoid pushing dust into the cords running through the slats. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment.[3] Attach the brush attachment to the hose of your vacuum cleaner.

Close the blinds face down. Use one hand to hold the edge of the blinds steady, and use the other to vacuum. Start at the top corner and run the brush attachment from one side of the slat to the other. One pass is usually enough but, for extra dirty blinds, run the brush attachment back and forth across the slat. Move down to the next slat and repeat the same actions. Use the vacuum’s lowest setting. Too much suction can twist or damage the slats. Flip the blinds the opposite direction. Remove stubborn dust with a mild detergent and microfiber cloth. Sometimes dust is too thick to whisk it away with a feather duster. If you live in a very humid climate, dust may settle on your blinds and stick to them. In these situations, mix a small amount of warm water with a mild detergent. Slightly dampen a microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution (don’t soak the cloth, you only need a small amount) and run it over each slat. Close the blinds in the opposite direction and repeat the same actions.

Gently blot the slats with a dry microfiber cloth. Mix up a cleaning solution of warm water and mild detergent. Fill a bucket with warm water and add a mild detergent to it. Take a clean microfiber cloth and dip it into the soapy water. Wring the excess water out of the cloth. Starting at the top corner, run the wet cloth from one side of the slat to the other. Avoid using abrasive cleaners on faux wood blinds, since these can damage the finish or paint. Work your way down the blinds. Go green and disinfect your blinds with white vinegar. If you’d prefer to use an all-natural cleaner, white vinegar is an excellent choice and will efficiently disinfect your blinds. Pour a small amount of white vinegar into a bowl or shallow bucket. Put on a pair of clean cotton gloves or substitute with a clean pair of socks. Dip one gloved hand into the vinegar. Use your other hand to hold the edge of the blinds firmly. Start at the top corner and wipe from one side of the slat to the other.

Skip down to the next blind and do the same. Continue in this manner – across and then down – until you get down to the bottom slat.[7] Flip the blinds to the opposite side and repeat the process. Work with one sock or glove until it becomes dirty. Remove it and let it soak in the vinegar while you work with the other glove/sock. Alternate in this manner. Be sure to wring the glove/sock out after letting it soak in the vinegar. Dry the blinds with a clean microfiber cloth. After wiping the blinds down with the detergent solution or the vinegar, use a clean microfiber cloth to gently blot the slats until they are completely dry. Make sure to dry both sides of the slats. After you dry both sides, close the blinds. You can also put a portable fan in front of the faux wood blinds to dry them quickly, or open a window on a breezy day and allow them to be dried naturally. Spot clean stubborn stains with warm soapy water and a cloth. If a stain persists after the initial wipe down, blot at the stain with a washcloth dipped in a soap and warm water solution.

Continue dipping the cloth in soapy water and blotting at the stain until it disappears. Use a dry cloth to blot the spot-cleaned areas dry. Don’t use household cleaners or bleach on faux wood blinds. These chemicals may damage the finish on them. Remove extremely dirty blinds from the window for cleaning. If the blinds are caked with layers of dirt and dust, open the slats and then unhook the blinds. Carefully remove them from the window frame. Lay the blinds down on a large white sheet. When you place the blinds down on the sheet, the slats will be open and horizontal (since you opened them before you took them down). Wipe down every slat. Blot the slats dry. After you’ve cleaned each slat, blot them dry with a microfiber cloth.[10] Spot clean the pull cords with the same solution. Before you re-hang your blinds, run a dryer sheet across each slat. This will help prevent dust from settling on them.[11] If your blinds are heavy or hung very high, have someone assist you with re-hanging them.