Blinds, whether vertical or horizontal, can be a nightmare to keep clean, and if you didn’t think your blinds were dirty, try running a finger along them and you might be surprised at what you find!
Dust and other dirt can quickly accumulate on blinds in the home, so it’s important that you try and keep them as clean as possible at all times, using any of the following techniques:
Cleaning with paper towels
For plastic blinds, wet paper towels followed by dry paper towels is the most effective material to use for cleaning, but if they’re stained with more than just dust, you might use to a dish soap, vinegar and water combination to get them properly clean. This dry cleaning method also works well for wooden blinds.
Vacuuming
If you’ve got a lightweight or handheld vacuum cleaner, these can be great for getting rid of dust and other debris that may be sitting on the slats of your blinds. A vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter is even better, as its methods of purification will effectively remove pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and smoke.
Microfiber cloth
Microfiber cloths can easily be run along the slats of your blinds to get them clean, and they’ll attract and lift off the dust instead of simply loosening it and spreading it around the room. For grease and tougher stains on your blinds, use a damp microfiber cloth.
Cleaning the cords and rods
Frequently touched, the cords and rods on blinds can quickly get grubby and hold bacteria, too, but you can get them sparkling clean with a microfiber cloth dipped in a combination of soap and water, or vinegar. Dry them off afterwards to prevent streaking or water stains.
Vinegar
As a natural substance, vinegar is great for helping to restore your blinds to their former glory, and by wrapping a clean, soft towel dipped in vinegar around your hand, you can simply swipe the blinds from left to right or top to bottom, to get rid of dust and grime.
Deeper cleaning
Some blinds may require a deeper clean, especially if they’ve been left to accumulate dust and dirt over a long period, and the above methods might not be powerful enough. To begin with, check whether the blinds have any care instructions that you should be following, and in fact, this is a sensible thing to check before cleaning any type of blind.
It might be possible to remove some blinds and wash them in the tub, but it will depend on what they’re made from. If you want to add cleaning the blinds to the list of chores your regular cleaner takes care of (if they’re not already doing it), why not do so?
It’s easy to ignore dust and grime on blinds, but once cleaned, you really will notice the difference. Not only that, but you’re preventing any debris from coming loose and floating about your home as the blinds are opened and closed.
Follow the methods above for spotless blinds, or ask a cleaning service to come in and get them clean along with the rest of your home.
