How to Clean Blinds and Window Coverings to Keep Them in Tip Top Shape

An often-overlooked aspect of home cleaning is the windows. While sinks, floors, and appliances tend to get a regular scrub-down, it can be easy to forget to clean blinds and window coverings until they’re absolutely caked in dust. That’s because the task of figuring out how to clean blinds can feel daunting. Whether it’s blinds with numerous slats or shades made from unfamiliar fabric, it’s not always obvious how to go about cleaning our window treatments.

Luckily, it’s not that difficult. With these tips and tricks under your belt, you can make your blinds and shades spotless and keep them in great shape for years to come.

For blinds:

If you’re not sure how to clean blinds, you’re not alone. With so many different components and potentially sensitive materials like wood, cleaning blinds may seem overwhelming. Especially if you’ve invested in custom blinds that you love, you want to ensure you clean every nook and cranny without damaging them. Here are some simple steps to keep in mind that can help you maintain blinds of any style:

Wood blinds:

Never use water to clean real wood blinds. Instead, after dusting with a dry cloth, use a wood furniture polish to avoid any warping or damage and to make sure the blinds maintain their shine.

Other materials:

Fill a bucket with warm water, and use a mild detergent like dish soap. Harsher cleaning agents may not be ideal depending on the type of blinds you have. That’s why, before cleaning, we recommend you try a small corner on the back side to make sure the cleaner will not spot or damage the material.
Use a microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths are basically the Olympic champions of dust collecting. Plus, they are soft and won’t scratch any soft surfaces. Dip the microfiber cloth in the water and wipe down each side of each slat. Then take another cloth and dry them off.

For any type of blind, the dust that may accumulate around corners or around the opening mechanisms of blinds can be tricky to reach with a cloth. Use a handheld vacuum or nozzle attachment to quickly scoop up any leftover clumps.

For shades:

Vinyl shades can be cleaned in a similar manner to blinds: with a wet cloth and soapy water. For other materials, such as fabric, a vacuum with a brush attachment or a handheld vacuum is the ideal way to remove dust and other grime from your shades. This method will work on Roman shades, transitional shades, and solar shades, too.

Note: Whenever you use a vacuum to clean your window treatments, make sure it’s on a low suction setting. That way you can gently glide the vacuum over the blinds and shades to remove dust, without losing control and damaging them.

For cellular shades:

Cellular shades have unique cleaning needs and there are two important factors you should remember before you get started:

It’s not a good idea to get cellular shades wet. Doing so on a regular basis can cause damage, as water can cause the pleats to lose their stiff shape. When possible, try to clean with a dry cloth, a duster, or a vacuum, and only use a damp cloth to spot-clean tough stains that can’t be cleaned otherwise.

Clean the pockets. The pleats of cellular shades create pockets between each layer that can, over time, accrue just as much dust as the outside. An easy way to keep the pockets clean is to use a can of compressed air to blow the dust out, or a hairdryer on the cool air setting.

For drapes:

Since they are fabric, it may be tempting to simply throw them in with your laundry. However, we don’t recommend this. Instead, it’s best to have dirty drapes sent to out to be professionally dry cleaned. That way you can ensure no damage is done. Either way, the best way to keep drapes clean is to dust or gently vacuum them regularly.

Now that you know how to clean blinds, drapes, and shades, you can make sure your window coverings sparkle as much as the rest of your home. Doing so will not only keep your home free of dust and grime, but it will also keep your window treatments in great shape so they can last for years and years.

Interested in new window treatments that can improve the lighting and style of your home? Contact us today for a free design consultation.