How to Clean Blinds

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Learn how to clean blinds the easy way with these simple steps and tricks for getting even stubborn grime off.

I admit it. I constantly put off cleaning my blinds. They are awful! I mean, have you seen how many windows my house has?

There are TWENTY-EIGHT sets of blinds in the house. And a few weeks ago I finally couldn’t put it off any more. It was time to clean the blinds.

The thing is, it’s not hard to clean blinds, but the longer you put it off, the bigger the job can become. So don’t be like me friends! Clean them regularly and it will be much easier!

Click here to learn How to Clean Windows too!

How to Dust Blinds

If you do clean your blinds regularly, a simple dusting should be enough to keep them clean. There are a few different options for how to do this. You can buy one of these handy dandy blind dusting contraptions. (affiliate link)

Or you can wipe them with a microfiber cloth (affiliate link). One of my favorite methods and one my kids like when I can finagle them into helping is simply to put a clean sock over your hand and wipe them with that.

I always dust the blinds before vacuuming so I can shake the dust out right there and don’t worry about what’s falling on the floor. Then after I dust I vacuum up underneath the windows.

How to Clean Blinds with Buildup

If you are like me (hanging head in shame) and put off cleaning your blinds too long, you can end up with a grimy buildup on the blinds themselves that requires more than a simple dusting.

How you clean them will depend on what they are made of and how badly they are soiled.

How to Clean Plastic Blinds

• To clean plastic blinds, mix a 50:50 solution of white vinegar and water along with a squirt or two of dishwashing soap in a large bowl or bucket.
• Use a sponge, cloth, or thick sock and dip it in the cleaning solution, then wipe down the slats. After wiping with the cleaning solution, give it another wipe with plain water to remove any cleaner residue. Finally, let them air dry or wipe dry with a cloth.

How to Clean SUPER Dirty Plastic Blinds

• If your blinds are SUPER dirty and you can can’t clean them while they are hanging, you can try to soak them. READ YOUR MANUFACTURER”S WARRANTY AND INSTRUCTIONS FIRST-some blinds are not able to be soaked without voiding the warranty and causing rust.
• If you are able to soak them raise them all the way up to the top then take them down. Fill a bathtub up with warm water, a gallon of white vinegar and 4-5 quirts of dishwashing liquid.
• Place the blinds over the tub and release them to their full length. Submerge them in the tub and let them soak for at least an hour. Use a sponge to scrub any stubborn areas then rinse with clean water.
• Let excess water drip off the blinds, then hang to air dry outside or wipe dry with a towel.

How to Clean Wooden Blinds

Obviously with wood blinds you cannot use water or a lot of liquid to wash them so you need to take a different approach.

• First dust the blinds or vacuum them with a brush attachment.
• Next use a microfiber cloth (affiliate link) and wood polish to clean them.
• Clean one side, then flip them and clean the opposite side.

How to Clean Miniblinds

Miniblinds can be cleaned pretty easily most of the time.

• Fill a large bowl or bucket with warm water and a few squirts of dish soap.
• Dampen a sponge in the sudsy water, squeeze out excess and wipe the blinds.
• Follow up by wiping them down with clean water, then air drying or drying with a towel.
• If the blinds are very dirty soak in a bathtub with water and dish soap about 15 minutes before wiping with a sponge and air drying.

I won’t bore you with the details of how long it took me to deep clean all 28 sets of blinds in my house but I will tell you that I’ve added it to my weekly cleaning list so I can just dust them from now on!

When is the last time you cleaned your blinds? Tell me in the comments below!