If you’d like to give your blinds an extra-gentle wash in the machine, roll them up into a coil, place them in a pillowcase, and put them in the drum with a few towels on a delicate wash – this will help prevent fraying! Be sure to consult the manufacturer’s instructions to check your blinds are machine washable. Vertical blinds – they look pretty, but they can be quite tricky to wash. So tricky, in fact, that many people simply opt to remove the fabric slats and take them to the dry cleaners. However, cleaning vertical blinds at home is possible – and can even be easy – regardless of whether you’re dealing with wooden, plastic, or fabric slats. Here’s what you need to know: Beware of the washing machine when cleaning vertical blinds at home When trying to discover how to clean vertical blinds, many people will look at the washing instructions on the label. While this is a good idea, here are a few additional tips on how to try to keep your blinds safe.

Even though many vertical blinds state they can be machine washed safely at temperatures of 40 degrees, some people find their blinds never come out quite the same as when they went in. Fabric blinds can snag and fray very easily, so if you do decide to machine wash, roll the blinds up and put them in an empty pillow case to protect them, and use a gentle wash cycle designed for woollens and delicates. How to Clean Vertical Blinds at Home & Dry Them Clean vertical blinds with warm, rather than hot, water Don’t automatically assume that hot water is the better option for getting vertical blinds clean. If your blinds are folded and weighted at the bottom to keep them hanging properly, the fold may be glued, rather than stitched. Washing with hot water can melt the glue, unravelling the fold and exposing the weight. Warm water is always much better – it’s just as efficient at stain removal, yet won’t ruin any glued sections. If you’re cleaning vertical blinds in a bathtub, basin, or bucket, you can use your hands to gauge the temperature of the water.

If you decide you do wish to use your washing machine (after checking your blind’s care label states they are machine washable) don’t set the temperature higher than 30 degrees as a rule of thumb. You should also select a mild, non-bio detergent like Persil Silk & Wool, which is designed for washing delicate fabrics. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label and check that the product is suitable for your fabric.best upright vacuum cleaner on market Dry your blinds naturallycar leather cleaning sydney Regardless of whether you go down the machine washing or hand-washing route, one thing you’ll always want to ensure is that the blinds dry naturally, and that they dry flat. couch cleaning service orange county

By putting the blinds into a dryer, you’ll be subjecting them to heat – which could not only cause them to shrink, but also they may also shrink in different places at varying levels, leaving you with very odd-looking blinds. This is also an issue if you hang the blinds to dry – different amounts of moisture in each slat will stretch the blinds to varying degrees. Lay your clean vertical blinds out on some towels, and then leave them until they’re completely dry before rehanging.best vacuum cleaner cat allergies Ongoing Maintenance for Clean Vertical Blindswhat is the best vacuum cleaner for suction To reduce the need to clean vertical blinds frequently, incorporating a small amount of regular maintenance into your weekly tidying schedule should be enough to keep your blinds looking cleaner and fresher for longer. best vacuum cleaner cat allergies

It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes out of your day, but can make a huge difference. Dust your vertical blinds regularly Before dusting, you may wish to spray an aerosol onto the blinds to dislodge any caked on dust. For fabric blinds, you can use a small amount of regular air freshener or clothes freshener (test on a small inconspicuous area first just to be sure), but when cleaning vertical blinds with wooden slats, it’s best to stick to using compressed air, which won’t damage them. Using a very full, thick duster, gently wipe up and down the slats to remove any dust and particles. Don’t use a cloth or a very thin feather duster – these will simply move the dust around rather than actually lifting it off the surface. Clean vertical blinds at home with gentle vacuuming As you’ll know, cleaning vertical blinds is much less effort if you don’t have to dismantle them, and one way of avoiding this is to vacuum the hanging slats regularly. It’s best to use a brush attachment when vacuuming vertical blinds – the bristles will help remove dust particles, and there is less a powerful suction when using the brush, so you can clean your blinds very gently.

One important thing to remember is that you should always vacuum from the top in a downward motion – vacuuming upward could accidentally unhook the slats. Regular maintenance will prevent you from having to deep clean your blinds more frequently. Regularly dust, or vacuum your blinds with a brush attachment. If your blinds are machine washable they should be washed at a temperature no higher than 30 degrees. Blinds should be left to air dry naturally and laid out flat when drying.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..which 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. First thing we’ll do it get as much dust off the blind as we can using a duster – or better yet, a vacuum. 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.  If 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’. 

I find feather dusters throw dust around too much, so I avoid them. 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.