One Good Thing by Jillee

Home Hacks, Cleaning Tips, & DIY

Header Right

  • Homekeeping
    • All Homekeeping
    • Cleaning
    • Laundry
    • Crafts & DIY Projects
    • Gardening & Outdoors
    • Organization
  • Natural Remedies
    • Essential Oils
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Main Dishes
    • Gluten-Free
    • Breakfast
    • Baking
    • Appetizers
    • Desserts
    • Snacks
    • Side Dishes
    • Instant Pot
  • Bright Ideas
    • All Bright Ideas
    • Advice
    • Saving Money
    • Green Living
  • Beauty
    • Hair & Makeup
    • Skincare
  • Shop
  • Get OGT Plus
  • Log in

sticky-header-right

Home · Homekeeping · Cleaning · The Best Way To Clean All The Blinds In Your House

25

The Best Way To Clean All The Blinds In Your House

Jill Nystul  ·  October 13, 2014

If there’s one chore that seems to be dreaded above all others, I’m pretty sure it would be cleaning the blinds. Whether wood, faux wood, fabric, vinyl or aluminum, most of us HATE cleaning the blinds! It’s a time-consuming task and no one seems to be sure that they’re even doing it right! So I decided to delve in and see if I could find some easy and effective ways to clean all kinds of window blinds, so maybe, just maybe, we can all loathe it a little bit less. ;-)

More Ideas You'll Love
microwave popcorn

The Best Way To Make Amazing Homemade Popcorn In Your Microwave

Save money and calories by making homemade popcorn! Continue Reading

Faux-Wood Blinds

Cleaning Blinds

Faux-wood blinds are one of the most popular types of window coverings. If your faux-wood blinds are just dusty, using a vacuum with a dust brush attachment can make cleaning them a breeze. Simply close the blinds all the way, hold the bottom rail, vacuum one side, then turn the blinds the other way and vacuum the other side. When using the vacuum, make sure that the suction is on its lightest setting to avoid twisting or warping the slats. Handheld dusters like a Swiffer can also be effective here.

MY LATEST VIDEOS

Cleaning Blinds

Cleaning Blinds

If your faux-wood blinds are in the kitchen however, they may have collected some grease and grime in addition to dust. This calls for a bit more thorough cleaning, but nothing that can’t be handled with some good ol’ white vinegar. Simply fill a small bowl with a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water, and then use a clean sock or microfiber cloth to dip in the bowl. Turn the blinds one way and wipe them while holding the bottom rail, then turn them the other way and clean the other side. The vinegar will take care of the grease and grime, and your blinds will be looking as clean as the day they were put up!

Wood Blinds

Cleaning Blinds

Most wood blinds are treated with a special finish to repel dirt and stains. Wood blinds can be cleaned with a good quality furniture polish and a soft cloth or clean sock. Spray the furniture polish on the cloth and wipe each slat individually. Avoid touching the cords.

For heavier cleaning, you can use plain water, but be careful not to saturate the wood. Wipe excess water immediately to prevent spotting, discoloration, or warping.

Fabric Shades (Cellular, Pleated, Roman)

Cleaning Blinds

Fabric shades are another window treatment where your vacuum will come in handy. To clean and dust fabric shades and coverings, use the dust brush attachment of your vacuum on a low setting.

Another tool that will help keep dust at by, especially for cellular shades is a hair dryer set to “cool”. Use this to blow away any dirt that has been trapped in creases or inside the honeycomb openings. If any bugs get caught inside these honeycombs, resist the urge to squish them and either use your hairdryer to blow them out or gently push them out of the shade.

Stains or grime on these types of blinds can be treated by using a sponge or microfiber cloth, dampened with warm, soapy water. Simply blot the area as necessary, but be careful not to oversaturate. Allow the shades to dry completely before raising them.

More Ideas You'll Love
Grease-Cutting Floor Cleaner

How To Make A Simple Floor Cleaner That Cuts The Grease!

One of your toughest cleaning challenges just got much easier! Continue Reading

Extremely soiled fabric blinds may need professional cleaning.

Vinyl or Aluminum Mini Blinds

Cleaning Blinds

There are a few different ways to clean vinyl or aluminum mini blinds, and it just comes down to personal preference. One way would be to treat them like the faux-wood blinds and clean them by dusting and washing with a cloth. But, if you have a lot of aluminum blinds in your home, this option can be quite time-consuming, especially if there is greasy grime in addition to the dust.

Cleaning Blinds

If so, you can choose to take each set of blinds down one at a time and let them soak in your bathtub with a bit of Dawn dish soap. Use a soft brush, sponge, or soft mop to go over both sides of the slats. (If you have a whirlpool tub, follow the directions for the tub soak, then turn on the jets for a few minutes…no scrubbing needed!) After soaking, drain the dirty water and refill the tub with clean water to rinse. Make sure to rinse away all of the soap suds to avoid spotting.

After rinsing, lay the blinds on top of a few bath towels to soak up some of the remaining water, then hang the blinds back up to allow them to dry completely. Once your aluminum blinds are clean, consider treating them with a dusting spray to discourage dust and dirt from settling on them.

Another option: Instead of soaking in the tub, you can lay them out on the grass on a hot, sunny day, squirt a bit of soap on them, then spray with a garden hose. Flip them over and spray again. Scrub with a soft nylon bristle brush if needed. Rinse with clear water. To dry: hang them on a clothesline or let them dry on the grass (flip them over so they dry on both sides).

Vertical Blinds

Cleaning Blinds

The process for cleaning vertical blinds will be much the same as the ones listed above, depending on whether they are fabric or vinyl. A lint roller made for clothing, easily rolls over vertical blinds picking up dust and cobwebs along the way.

A Few Bonus Tips…

Cleaning Blinds

DIY Cleaning Tool

You can make a great DIY substitute for those blind cleaning tools you see in stores by attaching a couple of microfiber cloths to a pair of tongs with some clips or rubber bands. This handy little hack will help you speed through this chore in no time!

Cleaning Blinds

More Ideas You'll Love

33 Hacks That Will Make You Better And Faster At Cleaning

Bonus Hack: Bookmark this post, then refer back to it the next time you need cleaning advice. Continue Reading

Keeping Track of Slats

Always keep a clothespin in your pocket when you are cleaning individual slats of windows blinds by hand. If you are interrupted, pull out the trusty pin and attach to the last slat you cleaned. Whether you are called away from your cleaning for two minutes or two days, you will immediately know exactly where you left off when you return.

Cleaning Blinds

Protect Your Blinds

When cleaning your windows, rather than spraying the cleaner directly onto the glass, it is recommended that you spray it on a cloth and then wipe the window clean. This will eliminate the potential of the window cleaner damaging the blinds.

Cleaning Blinds

Make The Results Last

Sweep or vacuum them regularly and you’ll only need to wash them once or twice a year. After washing, you can treat them with dusting cloths (mix 1 cup hot water and 2 TBS lemon oil), or wipe them down with a fabric softener sheet to repel dust. Wipe them with another sheet whenever the effect wears off.

Dust Prevention

  • Brush pets often – Less hair falling off pets means less is present to work its way into corners and onto surfaces.
  • Change HVAC filters – Heating and cooling filters are dust traps that need to be replaced or cleaned regularly to maintain air quality and reduce dust levels.
  • Curtains – Even a sheer curtain can help minimize dust from settling on your blinds.
  • Clean ceiling fans – Clean those ceiling fans, which can be dust-collecting magnets that fling dust bunnies across the room. Click here to find out the easiest way to clean them!

Cleaning Blinds

Remember, regular dusting is key—taking a proactive approach to cleaning blinds will keep your window blinds looking fabulous!

I may include affiliate links to products sold by others, but only when they are relevant and helpful. I always offer my own genuine recommendation. Learn more.  
Read This Next
  • Crockpot Conversion Chart For Your Favorite Oven-Baked Recipes
  • This Is The Only Thing That Helps Me Sleep Without Feeling Groggy
  • This Easy Homemade Cleaner Makes Granite Countertops Sparkle

Hi, I’m Jillee!

I believe we should all love the place we call home and the life we live there. Since 2011, I've been dedicated to making One Good Thing by Jillee a reliable and trustworthy resource for modern homemakers navigating the everyday challenges of running a household. Join me as I share homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make life easier so you can enjoy it more!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

Read More
Categories
Cleaning Homekeeping

More Ideas From Homekeeping

Things You Can Clean In One Minute

13 Little Ways To Have A Cleaner Home In Just One Minute

swimsuits

The 7 Things You Need To Know To Make Your Swimsuit Last

DIY Floral Candle – The Perfect Handmade Gift Idea!

Closet Hacks

8 Brilliant Closet Hacks That Will Actually Help You Get Organized

How Often You Should Replace Things in your Bathroom

9 Things You Need To Replace In Your Bathroom

Kitchen Update

The One Cheap Swap That Will Update Your Whole Kitchen

things you clean too much

7 Things You Clean Too Often, And Why It’s A Mistake

Eliminate Odors

This Unexpected Item Will Get Rid Of The Worst Odors

Removing Candle Wax From Carpet

How to Get Candle Wax Out Of Your Carpet

How To Make Your Own “Flu Shot” Using Essential Oils

Dollar Store Organizing Ideas

9 Ways That A Trip To The Dollar Store Can Help You Get Organized

Lovely DIY Letter Bookends

Kitchen Counter Clutter

This Is What You Need To Know To Avoid Kitchen Counter Clutter

Make Your Own Deodorizer Disks

This 10-Minute DIY Will Solve Your Odor Problems

Homemade Honey Sticks

How To Make Your Own Honey Sticks In 3 Simple Steps

Homemade Spray Starch

Make This Easy Spray Starch To Look Sharp For Less Money

Repurpose A Glass Vase Into Trendy Home Decor

Uses for Hairspray

12 Uses for Hairspray That Will Amaze!

newest oldest most voted
trackback
10 Spring Cleaning Hacks to Get You Out of That Winter Funk – Get Real

[…] Image from One Good Thing […]

Vote Up0Vote Down 
4 months ago
trackback
Como limpar persianas de forma eficaz e fácil

[…] Traduzido de: The One Good Thing […]

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Diane
Diane

I like to use the tub method, but I usually use ammonia. It smells awful but it sure cuts grease and gets them super clean. Especially helpful in the kitchen.

Vote Up2Vote Down 
5 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

That grease can be so stubborn!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Ann
Ann

Wow, I was just looking at mine and thinking how I really really need to clean them before winter gets here. Normally I do mine on the deck outside. I hang them over the rails, spray them down with Clorox cleanup, scrub and hose them off and leave hanging to dry. I’m afraid the bleach will weaken the strings though so I’m not going that route this time. I’ll definitely try the vinegar and socks method. I may even do the bathtub method for the smaller size ones. Thanks for another great article!!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Marjorie
Marjorie

You mentioned “dusting spray” in the section on cleaning vinyl and aluminum blinds; can you tell me what that is? I’d like to try it on furner as it gets very dusty here in the desert.

Thank you for the helpful information.

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

Here’s my own recipe: https://onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2014/01/all-natural-diy-dusting-spray.html

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
JackieM
JackieM

Thanks Jillee, lots of great information!!!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
CTY
CTY

Cleaning blinds used to make me crazy; I think I tried everything you mentioned. To expand on the tong idea–buy a fluffy chenille pair of stretch gloves and place finger between slats–you can clean 4 at once this way. Save the second glove for preventative. Once the slats are clean & dry I spray a product called Touch of Purple on a clean glove and wipe the slats again. This product is amazing–it actually repels dust. I use it on ceiling fans & chandeliers too; it works so well all I do now is feather dust when I think of… Read more »

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

Thanks for the tip!

Vote Up2Vote Down 
5 years ago
Deb
Deb

Where can I find this “Touch of Purple ” product ?

Vote Up-1Vote Down 
5 years ago
CTY
CTY

Available on line. My original purchase was at a trade show featuring new/little known products.

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Elaine
Elaine

Last week I cleaned four of my aluminum mini blinds (three more to go). I used the outside method and sprayed them with an all-purpose cleaner, brushed them a bit, and rinsed with the hose. It was a sunny and breezy day so they dried quickly. I was pleased with the results. Thanks for all this good information!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Dolores
Dolores

Oh I do love your knowledge , even motivated me to clean my blinds, hum which one of these methods will I use, I think all of them.
Thank you Jillee

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

Thanks Dolores!

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Patricia
Patricia

Armour All. I have a cleaning service and after we have a day of cleaning blinds we wipe Armour All on all the slats to keep them protected.

Sly, we use an air compressor and literally blow them clean. If the material gets dirty rub a little corn starch on them then follow up with the compressor.

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago
Jill Nystul
Jill Nystul

Thank you! Great tips :-)

Vote Up0Vote Down 
5 years ago

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jillee!

Every day I share creative homemaking and lifestyle solutions that make your life easier and more enjoyable!

Read More
  • Contact
  • About
  • Work With Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy

copyright © 2019 One Good Thing by Jillee · All rights reserved