How to Deep Clean Blinds and Shades?

Blinds or shades are the things that many people ignore to clean just because of the difficulty in removing and putting them back. But if you don’t clean them for a long time, they will start accumulating dust, pet hair, grime, and other forms of dirt which will give your home a negative appearance.

Read on to learn how to clean blinds and shades so that they look as fabulous as the day they were put up.

How to Clean Aluminium, Wood, Metal, and Plastic Blinds?

What you’ll need?

Microfiber Cloths
Tongs
Rubber Hands
Furniture Polish
Rag

Step 1: Prepare the Blinds

If you have a wood or faux wood type of blinds then lower your blinds completely so that they are fully extended. But for the aluminum or vinyl types of blinds, you should not completely close it as they will overlap each other, just tilt it downward.

Step 2: Remove Dust

Use your kitchen tongs to remove dust. Attach microfiber cloth at each end of tongs using rubber bands. Now, wipe clean each slate of your blinds using this tong starting from the top till the bottom. If you have aluminum mini blind then use a thin rag instead of microfiber cloth so that it can easily get in between each slate. Change your rag whenever it gets dirty.

Step 3: Machine Wash

Most types of blinds are machine washable but you should check the care label at least once to make sure. If it is ok to be washed in a machine then remove each slate from the rail. Roll them and cover them with a towel to prevent the material from snagging. Now, place them in a machine and start to wash it using cold water on a delicate cycle (with temperature no higher than 30 degrees).

Note: You can’t machine wash if your blind type is wood because the water can cause the wood to wrap and discoloration. This type of blind can be cleaned using furniture polish and a soft rag.

Step 4: Dry

After washing, it is necessary to dry the blinds throughout to remove moisture from them. But, don’t dry them in a tumble drier as the heat of it will damage the blinds. Dry them naturally on an airier place instead.

How to Clean Fabric Blinds?

What you’ll need

Vacuum cleaner
Bathtub
Detergent Powder
Fabric Cleaner
Clean Cloth
Sponge

Step 1: Vacuum Dust

Before you start washing your fabric blind, remove dust as much dust as possible from it using a vacuum cleaner. First, attach your vacuum’s brush attachment to its base so you can clean your blind softly.

Hold the bottom end of the blind and start vacuuming on a low setting from the top at one side. Now, tilt the blind so that the other side is facing you and vacuum again to clean the opposite side.

Step 2: Remove Grime

After dusting, it’s time to give each slate a thorough cleaning to remove the more stubborn grime. For this, you need to spray a few drops of fabric cleaner on a clean cloth and wipe it firmly across each slate. To avoid wiggling, you can use your other hand to hold blind. Once you’re done, dry each slate individually with another clean cloth.

Step 3: Wash

If your fabric blind is heavily soiled, it’ll need more than a dusting and spraying.

Steps to clean heavily soiled fabric blind

First of all, remove your blind from the window fixing.
Put your fabric blind in a bathtub filled with a few inches of warm water and a half cup of detergent powder.
Let your blind soak in the bathtub for at least half an hour.
Take a sponge and rub it over both sides of your blind to remove dirt or any marks present on it.
Now, drain the water and refill the bathtub with clean water to remove the detergent and dust out of the blind.
After cleaning, take the blind out from the tub and allow it to dry completely before hanging it back on the windows.

Also read, How to clean upholstery furniture effectively?

How to Clean Cellular and Honeycomb Shades?

What you’ll need

Feather duster
Hairdryer
Vacuum Cleaner
Vinegar

Step 1: Dusting the Shades

You can use a soft feather duster for routine dusting. Run a feather duster from top to down on both sides of your shades. But for cleaning bugs, spider webs or stubborn dust which are caught inside the honeycomb cells, you will need a hairdryer. After finishing the dusting process, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust from the floor or window sill.

Step 2: Spot Cleaning

If your shades have any spots of grease or fingerprints, take an old sock and dip in the solution created by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water. Wring out the sock and press it to remove excess vinegar. Now, wipe down the stain softly.

Repeat it until you notice the stain is gone from the shade. At last, dry it with a clean cloth. Remember that you cannot use a stain remover, bleach, or ammonia-based product while cleaning shades.

Also read about bedroom care tips for peaceful sleep.

Conclusion

Blinds and shades are not the easiest items to clean, but they deserve cleaning once in a while because they do not only add a decorative touch but they also help in blocking out the bright heat of the sun. Are your window blinds and shades looking dull these days? Use these methods to keep your blinds and shades shine again.