Best Way to Clean Blinds – Your How-To Guide

Posted June 10th, 2018.

It’s easy to conveniently “forget” about cleaning blinds. Seeing the dust on them isn’t always the biggest motivator to clean them when you think of how difficult the job is going to be. However, the longer you go without cleaning your blinds, the worse they will become. You might get to a point where you just want to rip them down and just get a whole new set. If you take the time to do simple blind cleaning and at least monthly spot check and maintenance, you will be able to keep your blind cleaning job simple. Knowing how to clean blinds will save you time, money, and stress in the long run. As a bonus, you’ll remove lingering dust, hair, and dead skin cells from this often overlooked area of your business.

Cleaning your blinds is not as daunting as it may seem, and nowhere near as much work as buying and installing new ones. As most blinds are made of either plastic or wood, knowing how to clean them effectively is as simple as knowing how to clean either of the materials mentioned above.

Simple is the word here, so let’s first talk about the tools you will need to make cleaning your blinds easier.

Tools For Simple Cleaning

The “best way to clean blinds” is not a one trick pony. There is no best way, but there are a couple of standard tools that you will want when you are learning how to clean blinds.

When you are planning to clean your blinds, knowing the methods needed for the type of blinds you have is essential. The tools you gather not only have to match the type of job but also the job to be done.

How much dust is on your blinds? How dirty are they? Does the dirt just wipe off, or do you have to scrub them a bit? These are the things to think about when gathering the tools you are going to need.

Two tools should be at the top of your list, as they will be used more often than not.

• Microfiber mini-blind duster or microfiber cloths. The duster is a great tool to have because you can clean multiple blind slats at the same time.
• A vacuum cleaner with a hose and brush attachment.

These two tools should be all you need for simple blind cleaning, whether your blinds are wood or plastic.

Cleaning Blinds the Easy Way

When you take a look at your blinds, dust is likely the first thing you will notice. Taking a wet towel to them is only going to create a mess when the dust and the water are mixed. The best way to clean dust off of your blinds is to clean them using dry methods.

Using a microfiber mini blind duster

1. Open your blinds into the neutral position, not facing up or down. Start at the top and wipe the slats from one side to the other. Starting at the top and working your way down will cause the dust to drop down, and the dust will not re-coat already cleaned blinds.
2. When you have finished cleaning the blinds, use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to collect the fallen dust particles.

Using a microfiber cloth

1. Completely close the blinds with the concave side facing you. Again, start at the top of the blinds, wiping from one side to the other, working your way to the bottom.
2. Completely turn and close the blinds with the convex side facing you, and continue to clean the blinds as noted in the previous step.
3. Use your vacuum cleaner with the attachment to collect the rest of the fallen dust particles.

The instructions above are for your simple blind cleaning, but what about blinds that are more soiled? This is where cleaning wood vs. plastic makes a difference.

Cleaning Plastic Blinds

1. Start your cleaning process using the steps in the Cleaning Blinds the Easy Way section to remove the dust from your blinds.
2. Fill your tub with warm water, remove the blinds from the window, and place them in the tub. Let them soak for an hour.
3. Next, remove the blinds from the tub, and use your microfiber cloth to remove any leftover dust particles.
4. Dry the blinds or let them air dry, then hang them back in the window.

Cleaning Wooden Blinds

1. Start your cleaning process using the steps in the Cleaning Blinds the Easy Way section to remove the dust from your blinds.
2. Use your vacuum with a brush attachment to remove any resistant dust from the blinds.
3. Use a cleaner approved for wooden blinds and a microfiber cloth to clean one side of the blinds. When done, turn them completely closed in the opposite direction and repeat the process.

Knowing how to clean blinds is essential in keeping your blinds clean and your office building dust free. Doing a simple cleaning every few weeks is a great way to maintain your blinds and keep them from becoming soiled and in need of more aggressive cleaning methods.

If you notice dust beginning to settle on your blinds, grab your vacuum with the brush attachment and give your blinds a quick spruce up. If you notice an isolated soiled spot or two, grab a dry cloth, spray a little mild cleaner on it, and remove the spot. Staying on top of the dust, dander, and grime that get on your blinds will make it easier to keep them clean.

Let’s face it, our day to day lives are getting busier and busier. Keeping our houses and offices clean isn’t always on the top of our list of priorities. If you don’t have the time to clean your blinds, or you have too many blinds to clean and are overwhelmed at the thought, give Fox Cities Janitorial a call, and let us handle it for you. After all, cleaning is what we do, and we are ready to help you keep the dust and grime out of your office space.