How to clean window blinds for each material
To clean window blinds, close the slats flat, dust them top to bottom with a microfiber duster or a vacuum brush attachment, then flip them the other way and repeat. For grime, wipe each slat with a barely damp microfiber cloth and dry it. Wood stays nearly dry, vinyl can be washed, and fabric gets vacuumed.
Blinds are slow, not hard. The trick is matching the method to the material, so here it is by type, with curtains at the end.
What do you need?
- A vacuum with a soft brush attachment
- Two or three microfiber cloths, or an old sock you can slip over your hand
- A small bowl of warm water with a drop of dish soap
- A dry towel to put on the sill
- Kitchen tongs with a cloth rubber-banded to each side (optional, but it does both sides of a slat at once)
How do you dust blinds?
Close the blinds so the slats lie flat with the curved side facing you. Start at the top and work down with the vacuum brush or a microfiber duster. Then turn the slats the other way and do the back.
Put a towel on the sill and the floor under the window first. Dust that falls on carpet is dust you vacuum twice.
If you dust them every week or two, the wet wipe becomes a once-in-a-while job.
How do you deep clean blinds by material?
Vinyl, faux wood and aluminum blinds
Dip a microfiber cloth in the soapy water, wring it out until it's barely damp, and wipe each slat from the middle out to the ends. Follow with a dry cloth. The sock trick is fastest here: wear a damp sock on one hand and a dry one on the other.
If they're greasy (kitchen blinds usually are) and they come down easily, take them outside or to the bathtub. Lay them in warm water with dish soap, let them soak for 20 minutes or so, wipe the slats, rinse and lay them flat on a towel to dry. Hang them back only when the headrail is completely dry.
Real wood blinds
Keep water away from them. Wood swells, warps and loses its finish. Dust them, then wipe with a cloth that's barely damp, or one sprayed lightly with a wood cleaner, and dry each slat right after. Never soak wood blinds.
Fabric, cellular and roller shades
Vacuum on low suction with the brush attachment. For honeycomb (cellular) shades, a hair dryer on the cool setting blows dust out of the cells. For a spot, dab it with a cloth and a little mild detergent and water, and blot. Don't rub, and don't soak them.
What should you not do?
- Don't spray cleaner straight onto blinds. It drips into the cords and the headrail and leaves water marks on the sill.
- Don't use a soaking-wet cloth on anything except vinyl or aluminum.
- Don't pull hard on bent slats. Aluminum creases and won't go back.
- Don't forget the window sill and track underneath. Once the blinds are clean, the dirt that fell is sitting right there.
How long does it take?
A quick dust takes a few minutes per window. A full wipe of every slat takes 15 to 20 minutes for an average window, longer if they're greasy. Soaking a set in the tub is an afternoon, mostly drying time.
How do you clean curtains?
Start with the label
The care label decides everything. Cotton, linen blends and polyester often wash at home. Lined curtains, silk, velvet, wool and many blackout curtains often say dry clean only, and they mean it.
Vacuum them where they hang
You don't have to take curtains down every time. Use the upholstery or brush attachment and work top to bottom, paying attention to the top hem and the pleats. Do it every few weeks and they'll need washing far less often.
Washing curtains at home
- Take off all hooks, rings and clips.
- Shake them out outside.
- Wash on cold and gentle with a mild detergent. Don't overload the machine.
- Skip the dryer or use the lowest heat. Hang them back on the rod while slightly damp and let gravity pull out the wrinkles.
For hand-wash fabrics, soak them in cool water with a little detergent in the tub, swish, drain, rinse well and hang to dry.
Refreshing curtains between washes
A handheld steamer takes out wrinkles and freshens fabric without taking anything down. Keep it moving and test a hidden spot first.
What makes a difference?
They close the blinds before dusting, protect the sill and floor, and work top to bottom. They wipe with a cloth that's barely damp, never wet, and they dry as they go. And they clean the sill last, because that's where everything ends up.
Can you have blinds done in a house cleaning?
Yes. On Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, the blinds are dusted.
Hand-wiping is a separate add-on, Wet Wipe Window Blinds, which you can pick when you book with Standard or Deep Cleaning. It hand-wipes the blinds to remove dust and buildup. Heavy buildup may need extra time.
For the rest of the window, see how to clean windowsills and window tracks, and for the whole house, how to properly dust your home.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to clean blinds? Close the slats flat, run a vacuum brush attachment or a microfiber duster from top to bottom, then turn them the other way and repeat. For grime, wipe each slat with a barely damp microfiber cloth.
Can you soak blinds in the bathtub? Vinyl, faux wood and aluminum blinds can soak in warm soapy water if they come down easily. Real wood and fabric blinds should never be soaked, because water warps wood and can stain fabric.
How often should blinds be cleaned? Dust them every week or two and give them a full wipe every few months. Kitchen blinds collect grease and usually need the wipe more often.
Can curtains go in the washing machine? Check the care label first. Many cotton and polyester curtains wash fine on a cold, gentle cycle, but lined, silk, velvet and blackout curtains usually need dry cleaning.
Are blinds included in a house cleaning? On Deep Cleaning the blinds are dusted. Hand-wiping each slat is the Wet Wipe Window Blinds add-on, which you can pick when you book.
Book a cleaning
We clean homes across South Jersey and Central Jersey. Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455.
