Has the dust gathered? Do your once-white blinds look a hazy shade of grey? If it's been a while since you gave them a clean, this is your sign to do so. Learning how to clean vertical blinds is easier than you might imagine, and it doesn't take as long as many would think.
Vertical blinds can be made of a whole bunch of materials. According to retailer Hunter Douglas, they can be made from "vinyl, aluminium, woods and other alternative wood materials". However, for this guide, we will focus mainly on fabric vertical blinds — the type you see in offices and many modern homes now.
You've come to the right place if you have ever wondered how to clean vertical fabric blinds. Read our step-by-step guide to get things right from the start. Here's what you should know.
How to clean vertical blinds
1. Start by dusting the blinds
First things first, you're going to want to start this process with some dusting. If you clean your blinds with water and there's dust on them, all that nasty grime will sink into the material. That will make cleaning and making them look new almost impossible. With that in mind, you'll need to know how to dust like a pro.
The first step in how to clean vertical blinds is to grab your feature duster. You should run the feather duster along each of the blinds. You might find it helpful to hold both the top and the button of the blinds when you do this. If possible, ask someone to do that for you so you can focus on quickly getting rid of all that surface-level dust.
For tips on how to reduce dust, check out our other article.
2. Use a microfibre cloth to wipe
Next, you need to get in there and deal with the dust that is a little deeper. That is where the microfibre cloth comes into play. Grab yourself a clean one and start wiping in a downward motion. The idea is to draw all the dirt towards the ends of the blinds and out of the way.
Make sure that you do both sides of the blinds equally here. If you want to ensure that the cloth picks up all the tiny bits of dirt, you can dampen it slightly. However, you want to avoid completely wet cloths as this will rub the grime into the blinds.
3. Next, try a light vacuum clean
Now that you've got most of the dust off, let's get out the vacuum cleaner. This machine is likely the best way to clean vertical blinds in a rush. Most vacuum cleaners have a small brush attachment to use as a nozzle. If yours has one, you should start by fitting it to the tube and turning the vacuum cleaner on.
Hold each blind slat out and vacuum down the length of them. The brush will help remove any grime stuck to the blinds, while the vacuum's suction lets you lift off any excess dirt. You should aim to be as thorough as possible when completing this step.
4. Remove blinds from headrail
By this point, you should have removed most of the dirt from your vertical blinds. However, the truth is that cleaning vertical blinds does not start and end there. If you want to ensure your blinds look as good as new, remove them from the headrail.
Now, in most cases, you can lift each of the blinds out of the spring clips. You don't need to be an expert to get this right, but you do need to persevere. Of course, how you remove the blinds from the headrail will depend mainly on the type that you happen to have.
If you're not sure where to start, FixMyBlinds has a quick tutorial that you can follow on YouTube. As you can see here, removing the blinds from the handrail takes patience. However, it is worth it in the end. When done, you can take a damp cloth and clean the headrail. Since the blinds are not attached, it should be easy to wipe down.
5. Soak blinds in the bathtub
You already know the drill — blinds are long and hard to clean. For the best results, we suggest filling a bathtub with warm water and adding some cleaning products. Since the vertical blinds are made from fabric, you can use detergent and some fabric conditioner.
Carefully put each of the blinds into the bathtub and leave them to soak for around an hour. Then, allow the water to drain completely and fill the bath with cool water. This will allow you to rinse the blinds. Washing vertical blinds can be challenging as you don't want to leave any product residue. Make sure that you rinse them thoroughly before moving on.
6. Allow the blinds to air-dry
Now that you have cleaned your blinds, it's time to allow them to dry. There's only one option here, and that is to air-dry them. Of course, you can't put them in the tumble dryer!
You should use some pegs to put your vertical blinds on a clothesline. Alternatively, you can hang your vertical blinds up inside, but note that this will mean they take longer to dry. Leave the blinds to completely dry before attempting to re-hang them. For faster air drying, use a dehumidifier.
7. Re-hang each of your blinds
When cleaning blinds, the rule is to ensure they are bone-dry before you re-hang them. Once they are, you should carefully put each back onto the headrail. Often enough, this is an easy process. However, you may want to refer back to the product manual — or even the blind brand website — to make sure that you get it right.
How to steam clean your blinds
The above process is the best way to clean vertical blinds thoroughly. However, if you don't have much time to spare, there is another way to go. With a handheld steamer, you can clean vertical blinds swiftly.
Steam is a highly effective cleaner as it is hot enough to kill germs and effortlessly lifts dirt away from the fabric. Using this method, you can directly target any areas of your vertical blinds that are particularly messy. Give it a go!
This guide has looked at the best way to clean blinds. If you are tired of your blinds looking less than pretty, make sure that you follow our steps to make them look as good as new. As you can see, you don't have to be an expert cleaner to do the job!
Q&A
Want to know more about cleaning vertical blinds? You've got it. Here are some of our frequently asked questions (and answers) about this home-cleaning topic.
What is the best thing to clean vertical blinds with?
When cleaning vertical blinds, you don't want to use any products that are too harsh. Therefore, one of the best methods is to use a mild detergent on the fabric. You can also use fabric conditioner here to make your blinds look and smell amazing.
Can you use vinegar to clean vertical blinds?
Yes! Thanks to its acidic nature, vinegar can be used in various cleaning processes. If cleaning vertical blinds, mix white vinegar with warm water and put it in a spray bottle. Spray a small amount of the solution on dirty areas and wipe with a clean cloth. Note that you will need to thoroughly rinse the blinds of the vinegar to prevent a lingering smell.
How do professionals clean blinds?
Many professional cleaners will help you when it comes to cleaning vertical blinds. Much of the time, these people will use an ultrasonic cleaning method to make your blinds look fresh. That means submerging the blinds in water and cleaning products, then high-intensity sound waves in the liquid to do the bulk of the work. While you most certainly cannot do this at home, you can use the guide we have shared to get your vertical blinds looking clean.
What is the best way to deep clean blinds?
When cleaning vertical blinds, we recommend the bathtub method. That is removing the blinds from the headrail and soaking them in a bathtub of warm water and mild cleaning products. You should leave the blinds in the water for around an hour before rinsing.
Need more advice? Leave a comment below.
That was really thorough thank you xx Love how each step was explained 😊
You're welcome!