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3 Tips For Cleaning Vertical Blinds… The Secrets Are Out!

Rest assured, the need to clean your vertical blinds is not a reflection of your cleaning standards; it’s a natural occurrence. Dust, dirt, and spider webs can accumulate over time, even in well-organized homes, requiring occasional washing.

Whether you’ve got spring cleaning fever or it’s just a job on the ‘to-do’ list, it’s time to get down to business cleaning those vertical blinds.  Believe me, although it mightn’t be your favourite job, it’s one that’s very rewarding.

Before you use soap and water on your blinds, make sure to review the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions to determine if your blinds are washable.

Modern contemporary living room featuring vertical blinds installed by Complete Blinds.

How to Clean Vertical Blinds

Vacuum and Dust Your Blinds Regularly

Begin the process of cleaning vertical blinds by either vacuuming or dusting them. Utilize the brush attachment on your vacuum or a dry cloth to wipe away dust, starting from the top and progressing downward. Consistent weekly or monthly maintenance in this manner can help avoid the need for more extensive cleaning sessions.

Vacuuming brush shutters. Our guide on cleaning plantation shutters.

Glass cleaner in front of Timber Venetian Blinds - cleaning blinds.

Remove Cobwebs and Dust from Frames

While cleaning your blinds, ensure to address the frames as well. Use a vacuum or a damp cloth to remove cobwebs from the corners. Thoroughly clean and remove any accumulated dust.

Dry your Windows and Windowsills

This step is especially important in the cooler months. To minimise the chance of mildew growing on your blinds, keep the areas around them, dry by increasing ventilation in the area or drying the area with a cloth.

Wiping window shutters with dry cloth. Guide on cleaning plantation shutters.

How to Clean Vertical Blinds with Non-Washable Fabrics

Non-washable doesn’t mean that you can’t keep your blinds clean.  It simply means ‘don’t immerse them in water’. For this fabric type, follow the basic routine outlined above, performing regular cleans as part of your weekly or monthly schedule. For delicate fabrics, consider using a baby’s brush during dusting to safely remove dust without causing damage, and use a damp cloth to clean spots or marks.

Lady in gloves feather dusting/cleaning window blinds.

How to Clean Vertical Blinds with Washable Fabrics

There are several different methods of washing vertical blinds, so you need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your fabric type.

Machine wash

Some care labels list machine washing as an option, and if you choose to go this way remember:

  • Delicate fabrics may fray or snag
  • Hot water cycles may shrink the blinds

For machine washing, roll the blinds up and place them in an empty pillowcase.  Wash them on the ‘woollens & delicates’ cycle, ensuring that the water does not heat above 40°C.

Hand Wash

Hand washing is generally considered the safer option for most types of blinds.  For vertical blinds, remove the slats from the track.  Fill the bathtub with a few inches of lukewarm water and a touch of very mild detergent.  Immerse the slats in the water, rubbing them with your hands or a soft brush to get rid of the ingrained dirt and dust.  You may choose to let them soak a while in the tub before you rub them down.  Rinse the blinds thoroughly – it’s very important to remove all traces of soap because dust will stick to it once they dry out.

Drying

Vertical blinds must be dried flat.  Lay some towels out on the floor and, after you’ve drained as much water as you can from your blinds, lay them out in a single layer on the towels.  Hang the slats once you are satisfied that they are dry, however, do not crowd them against each other for at least an hour.

For more tips on washing your vertical blinds or for more information about our vertical blinds range, call the team at Complete Blinds on 02 8824 7975 today! You might also want to check out our article on how to remove oxidation from shutters, or our tips on cleaning window shutters.

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