Best Way to Clean Window Blinds – Tips from the Experts
Cleaning Window Blinds
Clean window blinds really enhance your home. The way they let in the morning light can be a great start for any day. But window blinds can also be problematic. Think about it. When was the last time that you cleaned your window blinds? How much dust and other allergens might be hiding within? If this thought fills you with dread it is probably a great time for you to be reading this article.
We wanted to share with you tips from the experts on the best way to clean window blinds – no matter what style of blinds you have in your home.
With this article we are going to share with you cleaning advice for the three most common blind types – venetian blinds, roller blinds and vertical blinds.
You shouldn’t let your blinds become dust collectors. Unfortunately many people do. They are one of the more often neglected pieces of furniture within the house.
If you don’t clean your blinds, it is noticeable and it can have a negative impact on the health of your family. You should clean your blinds the same way you clean your living spaces, bathroom and kitchen. You can do a quick clean if friends are coming over but you should also do a semi-regular deep clean of your blinds. This is great for the health of your family but it also increases the life of your blinds.
Cleaning Venetian Blinds (wooden, synthetic, and plastic)
Cleaning venetian blinds starts with a bit of preparation. Before you do a deep clean of the entire blind it is best practice to remove excess dust and then do a small spot test with your chosen cleaning product . It’s best to trial clean a small section of the blind that is not easily seen just so that you make sure you don’t damage your blind. You don’t want any blemishes or faded sections.
Assuming that this all works okay then the next step is to start cleaning. Before dusting we recommend that you put down a towel under the venetian blind to capture any dust and spills.
Here are the steps you should follow:
Regular Clean
First, you need to clean away the excess dust from your blinds. There are two ways that you can do this. You can do it using a vacuum or you can do it using a duster if you feel like the vacuum will be too harsh and could risk damaging fragile blinds. You should shut the slats one way, dust, then reverse the slats and dust or vacuum the other side. There are solutions available that can help stop dust accumulation in the future.
Deep Clean
Dusting your blinds regularly is great but occasionally you will need a deep clean. You should be able to do this without removing the blinds from the wall. But again remember, you do want to make sure you place a towel on the floor to capture any spills.
Step 1: dampen a cloth in a mixture of warm water and vinegar (vinger is great at preventing and removing mould naturally)
Step 2: use the damp cloth to clean away any grime that cannot be removed with the duster or vacuum. If your Venetians are wooden you need to be careful. You may find that too much dampness risks warping your blinds. If you have wooden Venetians you might be better off purchasing some specialised wood cleaning product instead. If your blinds are made from metal, then you might benefit from using a stainless steel cleaner after using Gumption to remove any rust.
Step 3: rinse and repeat. Rinse the cloth to remove excess dirt from it and then repeat the process in steps one and two.
Pro Tip: Some Venetian blinds and designed so that you can remove each of the individual slats and then slide them back in. If you can remove your slats easily then this will make it a lot quicker to clean them. Slide them out one at a time and put them back in after each one is done.
Source: Maids
Cleaning Roller Blinds (fabric and synthetic)
Regular Clean
You should regularly clean your roller blinds. You have two options to regularly clean your blinds. Both options involve you extending your blind fully before cleaning.
Option 1. Use your vacuum cleaner – If you have the right attachment for your vacuum cleaner a regular clean could be rather simple. All that you need to do is ensure that you vacuum thoroughly both sites of your roller blind.
Option 2. Using a damp cloth – Your other option for cleaning your roller blind is to wipe down both sides of your blind with a damp cloth. If using a cloth, make sure that you leave your blinds fully extended until they are dry. If you retract your blinds whilst they are damp, then you risk causing mould and mildew.
Regular cleaning of your roller blinds lessens the number of times you will need to do a deep clean, but you should deep clean your roller blinds 2-3 times per year.
Pro Tip: Roller blinds have a weight at the bottom, which is where most of the dirt and will accumulate. Make sure the crevice between the fabric and the weight are kept clean otherwise the dirt can accumulate and become difficult to remove.
Deep Clean
Deep cleaning your blinds involves removing your blinds from the wall and washing them in the bathtub.
Step 1 – Fill your bathtub with warm soapy water. Slightly unravel your roller blind and place it in the bathtub to soak for a few minutes.
Step 2 – After they have soaked for a bit, check both sides of your blind. If there are any stubborn stains use a cloth or sponge to clean these last stains. You could even use a brush or spot cleaning product to remove stubborn stains. However, be sure to spot test any cleaning products before using them to ensure that they do not change the colour of your fabric.
Step 3 – Empty the bathtub of your soapy water. Rinse off the blind using a detachable shower head in the bath.
Step 4 – Leave your blinds over a drying rack to dry completely before hanging your blinds back on the wall. If you don’t have a drying rack and you are desperate, you can wipe them down with a towel and then hang your blinds on the wall fully extended to dry.
Cleaning Vertical Blinds (fabric/synthetic)
The other common blind type is vertical blinds. These come in a variety of fabric of synthetic options. Like other blind types you have your regular clean options and you need to ensure you do a semi-regular deep clean.
Regular Clean
You should regularly clean your vertical blinds. You have two options to regularly clean your blinds. Both options involve you opening your blinds fully before cleaning.
Option 1. Use your vacuum cleaner – If you have the right brush attachment for your vacuum cleaner, then a regular clean could be rather simple. All that you need to do is ensure that you vacuum your blinds thoroughly. Vacuuming may not be enough on its own and you might need to use a duster to get into any crevices and around any corners.
Option 2. Using a damp microfibre cloth – Your other option for cleaning your vertical blinds is to wipe down both sides of your blind with a damp cloth. You might need to do some deeper spot cleans in some spots.
Deep Clean
A few times a year you will also want to deep clean your vertical blinds. Here is a step by step process that works.
1. Make sure that you close doors and windows. You don’t’ want to allow any wind to move any dust around the room
2. Ensure that you have placed towels on the ground to collect drips and mess
4. Dust or vacuum the blinds to remove excess dirt.
3. Wipe both sides of each vertical drape with a damp sponge. A mixture of soap and warm water should be enough here. Wipe from the top downwards to ensure the maximum removal of dust. This also prevents water dripping down onto the sections you’ve already cleaned.
4. Spot clean any stains as required. If you notice any spots that have been missed you should concentrate more intently on them with your damp cloth. You could also try using stain removal product but make sure that you spot test it first.
5. Lastly, you should remove any excess moisture with a dry cloth or dry towels.
Source: Good Housekeeping
Some Final Tips From the Experts
With this article we have shared with you some expert tips on the best way to clean window blinds – no matter what material they are made from. These are the key points that the experts want you to remember.
Do it more regularly – you should be dusting or vacuuming your blinds at least once a month
Do a deep clean of your blinds 2-3 times per year. You may need to do it more often if you have pets, children or allergy sufferers in the house.
Not all window blinds are the same. You need to be careful when doing a deep clean to avoid damage to your window blinds.
We know that clean window blinds are the last thing you think about when you think about household chores. But it doesn’t need to be this way. An effective window blind cleaning strategy needs to be too time-consuming. You just need to make sure you have the right process to avoid damaging your blinds.
But, if the thought of cleaning your window blinds leaves you with dread, we can help. If you would like a no-obligation with the team about our window blind cleaning services and how this can fit in with an overall cleaning routine, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team today
Book a home cleaning service or end of lease cleaner online instantly!
Book a home cleaning service or end of lease cleaner online instantly!
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