How Do You Clean Window Blinds?

Properly cleaning your blinds depends on how soiled they are which types you have installed. In general, the smoother the slats, the easier it is to clean the blinds. Learn more about cleaning different kinds of blinds in this handy guide.

Cleaning dusty blinds

If your blinds are only mildly dusty, you can easily clean them without taking them down, which saves time. Simply use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and suck up the dirt along each slat. You can also accomplish this by wearing an old sock, cotton gloves or a dusting mitt and running your hand over each slat. If your blinds are wooden, use a furniture polish like Endust or Pledge to condition and shine the wood while preventing new dust build-up.

Deep-cleaning vinyl, plastic or aluminum blinds

If your vinyl, plastic or aluminum blinds have seen better days and need more than simple dusting, you can remove the blinds from the window and soak in them in some warm, soapy water inside your bathtub -- a couple of squirts of dish detergent work well for this purpose. Leaving them to soak for about an hour should sufficiently loosen up the grime and dirt. Hang them outside to dry afterward, making certain that none of the slats stick together to ensure they dry properly. You can also place soiled blinds on an old sheet or drop cloth outside and spray them with your garden hose to clean or rinse them. When your cleaned blinds are dry, hang them back up in your windows. You can now enjoy the look of professionally-cleaned window blinds at a fraction of the cost!

If you do not want to pay someone to clean your window blinds, employ the techniques in this guide to ensure that your blinds look fresh and clean year-round.

Enjoy the look of professionally-cleaned window blinds at a fraction of the cost

by Melba Baquero, Home Services writer