Tips For Cleaning Blinds

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How To Clean Blinds And Mini-blinds

If you're really up on today's home decorating lingo, you don't have "blinds", "mini-blinds", or "shades" - you have "window treatments"! However, for those of us who still have plain old blinds, we know that blinds get dirty and we need some easy tips on how to clean blinds.

You seldom see the old variety of roll-up or roll-down window shades or blinds anymore. As I recall, they were spring loaded and required a lot of coaxing to be returned to the up position. Pulling them down was also a treat as they were usually covered with dust and the air would look almost alive with lint particles that were dislodged and released from their resting place.

Today's blinds or window treatments,  come in a variety of materials, fabrics and colors. However, they still harbor dust and lint, and even acquire stains from atmospheric humidity and dirt.

Tips For Dusting Blinds

Venetian blinds are usually made out of curved metal slats strung together with cords at each end and through the center. They are magnets in attracting dust and lint out of clean air. You might not even notice how dirty they are until you raise or lower them and see the air full of dust particles.

You know it's time to grab your feather duster or a dust rag and get busy!  Pull the blinds down, as far as they will go, and turn the slats so they are curved away from you, and as flat as possible. Then begin at the top and begin dusting.  Dust from one side to the other, making sure that the surface of each slat is touched.

The "lazy" duster might even use a dust mop on the blinds in order to cover more area with one swoop back and forth. There are also sprays that you can use to treat your feather duster or dust mop with that causes it to attract dust and lint.

Another "cheap trick" in dusting blinds by hand is really - by hand or foot!  Grab a clean cotton sock and put it on your hand. Then run your hand back and forth over and under the slat.

When the dust has been removed to your satisfaction, then go back over the slats by hand with an anti-static sheet that you use in your clothes dryer. The anti-static properties contained in the sheet will help repel and prevent dust and lint from settling on the slats of the blinds.

Vacuuming Dust From Blinds

If you don't have a whole lot of blinds to do, you can use the tip of your vacuum wand to vacuum up the dust on your blinds, this works well on mini-blinds too. Most vacuums also have a brush attachment that works pretty well on stirring up the dust from the slats and in between mini-blinds and then sucking it into the vacuum.

The only problem with trying to clean a lot of blinds with the vacuum is that the wand does get heavy and can be awkward to hold up high enough to reach the top of the blinds.

Vacuuming is about the only way you can clean fabric covered blinds. In this case, we suggest removing the blinds from the window frames, then spreading the blinds flat on a clean floor.

If you want to try this in a garage, spread clean sheets on the garage floor before placing the blinds on the floor. By removing the blinds to vacuum them, you will also have a sturdy backing that will allow you to use a little more pressure against the blinds making better contact with the vacuum wand.

Cleaning Stains From Blinds

On metal or hard surfaced blinds or mini-blinds, stains are relatively easy to remove since most are from atmospheric humidity. In this case, on vinyl covered or aluminum slats, remove the blinds from the windows and dust thoroughly.  Dampen a household sponge in warm water with household ammonia added - 1/2 cup ammonia to 1 quart water. Wear rubber gloves. Wipe the entire length of each slat with the water/ammonia solution. This does not need to be a drippy sponge. Dip it into the solution and squeeze it out.

To rinse, you may either use a clean sponge in clean water, or bundle the blinds loosely together, stand them on edge against a railing or fence, and give them a light spraying of water. Allow to completely dry before re-hanging.

Another effective way to clean spots from Venetian blinds is to use a cloth dipped or moistened with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is a great stain remover and is kind to most surfaces - except paint and lacquer. Best to test a spot first before rubbing it on the blinds.

A tip from the "cheap trick" department, use a pair of light colored cotton gardening gloves. Dip in a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 cup of hot (warm) water and put them on. Then run your fingers over and under the slats of the blind. You'll be amazed at how much dirt they collect! You'll need to take them off frequently, dip them in the water and wring them out.

After the blinds are dry, you may also give them a quick, light spray with the same anti-static spray as is used on clothing. Don't use the spray on fabric covered blinds as it may stain.

If fabric blinds are badly stained, it's pretty hard for you to attempt to clean them yourself. You may need to have them professionally cleaned. Look in your Yellow Pages to find companies that specialize in this service.