I have several very dirty & greasy blinds that need cleaning. Can someone suggest an easy and inexpensive way for how to clean vinyl blinds? If they are mini blinds, I would take them outside and drape them over a clothes line, spray them off with the hose, then wash down with a solution of ammonia and water, rinse and then turn them over and repeat the process for the other side. I have gotten several really disgusting mini blinds clean that way in places we have rented. I read a tip somewhere that said to put on rubber gloves (I used surgical gloves) and then an old white sock over that, dip your whole hand in rubbing alcohol and start cleaning the blinds. So much better than those blind "finger" looking things, and it was so easy too. Give it a try! Woman Washing Blinds photo from Shutterstock I used to manage an apartment complex and we used one of two methods for cleaning blinds Elizabeth B. in West Valley City, Ut I used to work part-time cleaning apartments between tenants and the best way to clean vinyl blinds is to take them down, put them in the bathtub, saturate them with 409 cleaner and degreaser, let them soak, then turn the shower on them to rinse.

You'll get lots of good suggestions for cleaning blinds, so I just want to add one little caution. If you have plastic or vinyl blinds, test them for lead content prior to cleaning. Lead testing kits can be found in hardware stores in the paint department. If the blinds contain lead, they must be disposed. Contact your local waste department for the correct way to go about this. I have tried many different ways to clean dirty and greasy mini blinds, and the best way i have found is putting very warm water in the bath tub, with degreaser or pine oil and laundry soap. About 1-1/2 cups laundry soap and 1 cup pine oil to 1/4 tub of water. put blinds in and soak for a half hour, moving them around to get the solution between the blinds. Let the water out and rinse well. Then I take them outside and put them on the deck or fence to air dry. It works well for me. Don't forget to use the ebates cash back site and receive cash back on all of your purchases. We have the mini blinds thru our house and they can be a pain to clean.

We take them off once a year and take them outside. We lay them out in a closed position and use either baking soda or borax and warm water solution. Then we scrub them with a handled scrubbie sponge and finally we take the hose and hose them off. Hang them to dry outside for a few hours and they're done. We have done it this way for the last 11 years and they are still holding up. Share your thoughts about this article with the editor.There seems to be two main schools of thought when it comes to cleaning slatted blinds (vertical or horizontal).  The first, involves using a cloth, some dish liquid, water, a bucket and your hand – the second involves taking the blinds down, putting them in your bathtub, scrubbing them, drying them and then putting the blinds back up. To me, one measure seems reasonable and the other extreme, any guesses as to which is which? Now, I have never had anything so nasty on my blinds that it required me to remove them from the window to clean them. 

The thought behind this method is to get a thorough clean and for it to be easier to do.  I don’t’ think this method is easier nor palatable so with that in mind, let me show you how to clean your blinds using a few simple tools. I should mention that this method works wonderfully on aluminum, plastic or wood blinds – however, I wouldn’t recommend it for fabric blinds..carpet cleaning services in perthwhich actually do need to be taken down, perhaps even unstrung, and ‘bathed’ in warm (not hot) soapy water, rinsed well and left flat to dry.air duct cleaners usa First thing we’ll do it get as much dust off the blind as we can using a duster – or better yet, a vacuum.dryer vent cleaning standards

For horizontal blinds, work top to bottom, and for vertical blinds, work left to right, starting at the top and gently pulling down toward the bottom.  Now, keep in mind, a lot of blinds are not hung correctly, meaning they may fall out of their brackets mid-clean.  Just prepare for that.  best value dyson vacuum cleanerIf you are using a vacuum, select a brush attachment, and if you are going to dust by hand you can choose one of several dusting tools including a proper blind duster like this one, a simple microfiber cloth, or even an old sports sock turned inside out and worn on your hand as a sock ‘puppet’.  best dyson vacuum cleaner 2015I find feather dusters throw dust around too much, so I avoid them.used duct cleaning truck for sale

Add 3 drops of dish liquid into a bowl or bucket and fill with warm water.  Take a microfibre cloth and dunk it in the mixture, wring well to the point of the cloth being damp-dry.  Now, twist the blind slats so they lie completely flat, tilting slightly towards you (so that you can slip your hand in).  Now,  take your cloth, and starting from the top (for vertical) or left (for horizontal), pinch the cloth around each blind slat and wipe away dirt and dust by pulling the cloth to the other end of the slat. Rinse your cloth as you go, you’ll be surprised how dirty your cloth is going to get!  If you have heavy staining on the blinds like grease, dead bug residue, dog slobber or nicotine, you can add a bit of baking soda to the wash (like a tablespoon), and that should help break down the scummy build up. You may find this method to be a little easier for horizontal blinds.  Start by gripping the middle of the slat, work your way out to one end, and then head back to the midpoint of the slat and clean in the other direction. 

It is simple, and of course requires patience. If you have vertical blinds – the steps are the same except you will start at the top of the slat and work your way to the bottom.. Once your blinds are clean, you can maintain them by dusting on a regular basis using a simple duster or your vacuum  – just turn the blinds upright and work from the top and make your way to the bottom.. That’s all there is to it and the best part is you don’t have to fiddle with your blinds by taking them down, waiting for the to dry and then putting them back up.. I don’t have any to demonstrate on, but what I do recommend is to vacuum them regularly to avoid build-up and discolouration.  Dust attracts dirt, which leads to discolouration.  So, if you are dusting regularly, you will be OK.  If you want to wash them and they are flat roller blinds, completely unroll them, vacuum first, then use warm soapy water on a well-wrung out sponge and wash each side.  Then, leave unrolled for a day or two and allow to dry.