Cleaning Blinds the Easy Way

Whether you have mini-blinds, vertical blinds, Venetian blinds or any of the many kinds of wood, aluminum or plastic blinds out there, cleaning them, especially before opening those windows, can be a pain. There are some people who would prefer to take their blinds down, wash them in the bathtub, dry them and hang them back up, but that’s not as easy as it sounds. If you’re looking for an easier option, we have some tips. (Note: These are not recommended for fabric blinds, which should be periodically taken down, unstrung and washed per the manufacturer’s instructions.)

Part One – Removing the Dust

Before you get the blinds wet, you’ll want to get off as much excess dust as you can. A feather duster tends to spread dirt around, so we would rather use a disposable duster (like a Swiffer Duster), a microfiber cloth, the vacuum with the brush attachment, or even a sock. Make sure to keep your dusting item as clear as possible so you can continue to clean off as much dust as you can with each swipe.

Part Two – Getting them Clean

Once your blinds are dusted and as clear of loose particles as possible, it’s time to get scrubbing. You can use the same kind of microfiber cloth or sock you used with the dusting to do the washing, but you can also use a washcloth or sponge, as long as it can be curled around each blind. Mix a small amount of dish soap (you can add baking soda if you have smelly odors in your house) with warm water, get your preferred cleaning cloth or sponge just slightly damp and wipe both sides of each blind. If you have horizontal blinds, go from top to bottom. If you have vertical blinds, start with the blind that lays closest to the front when the blinds are closed. Keep your washcloth or sponge as clean as you can and, if you only use a small amount of water, you don’t need to worry about drying your blinds after cleaning them.

If you’d rather not do this yourself, your local TruBlue can help. Find your location to get started.