Check Your Technique: You're Cleaning Your Window Blinds the Wrong Way
It’s the cleaning task no two people will agree on, but there’s a better way to clean dusty Venetian and vertical blinds in just six steps
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If you ask five random people to describe how they clean their vertical and horizontal window blinds, there’s a good chance you’ll come away with five completely different blind-cleaning strategies and techniques. I can vouch for this highly unscientific approach because I recently posed this question to fellow CR editors and my own mother. Here’s a sample of their responses:
“We clean the vertical blinds by wrapping a moist paper towel around each slat and wiping,” Jodhaira Rodriguez, CR’s multimedia content creator, told me.
“[We] stick to the Swiffer Dusters for blinds . . . my mother-in-law used to put them in the tub to wash them,” says David Schipper, CR’s associate director of Audience Expansion.
“I vacuum them first. Of course you have to vacuum them first—didn’t I teach you to vacuum them first?” (You guessed it—this last response was from my mother. Don’t tell her, but I have never vacuumed my blinds.)
How to Clean Window Blinds
Step 1: Prep Your Blinds
Opened, closed, or somewhere in between—that question mystifies us when it comes to how Venetian blinds should be positioned for optimal cleaning. Fierman says the right way is to lower Venetian blinds until they are fully extended. “Tilt the slats until they are about three-fourths of the way closed,” Fierman says. “You don’t want them to overlap or you will miss areas.” When cleaning vinyl or plastic vertical blinds, Fierman says to close them fully (side to side). After each step of cleaning, turn blinds fully to the other side and repeat. You should NOT follow these steps when cleaning fabric vertical or Venetian blinds, Fierman says.
Step 2: Vacuum the Blinds
Time to grab your vacuum and its attachments—specifically, the small brush tool. It’s important to vacuum first to remove any loose dirt, dust, and debris, and to make dusting more efficient and effective (because sometimes the dust has really collected), Fierman says. She says that it’s best to start vacuuming your blinds at the top, working your way down. “Gently vacuum each slat from side to side or top to bottom,” Fierman says. “Be methodical, so you don’t miss any slats or spots.”
Step 3: Vacuum the Reverse Side
Here’s where patience is key: It’s not enough to vacuum just the side of the blinds that faces you—dirt and dust accumulate on both sides of the slats. Vacuum the back of your blinds as well as the front of them.
Step 4: Prepare a Dishwashing Liquid Soak
With your vacuuming complete, prepare a dish soap soak by adding three or four drops of dishwashing liquid to a bucket of warm water. “It may sound odd, but liquid dish soap is a mild, effective, inexpensive, and versatile cleaning product that we recommend for many household chores,” Fierman says. “And you always have it on hand!” Mary Farrell, a home writer at CR, says she likes Dawn dishwashing liquids because they “cut through grease” better than other cleaners she has tried.
Step 5: Wipe Slats With Soapy Water—and Work Methodically
Dampen a microfiber cloth or soft cotton rag in the solution of soapy water, Fierman says, and then wring it out well and wipe each slat, again using the same methodical order as you did while vacuuming—top to bottom or side to side. “Be careful: Your cloth should not be dripping,” Fierman says. “Wash out the cloth as you go, and wring it out well. You may need to do this a few times. If the water starts to look dirty, be sure to change it.”
Step 6: Dry the Slats
When you’re finished washing your sparkling new slats, dry each one with a microfiber or soft cloth.
What Not to Do When Cleaning Blinds
Whether you choose to fully adapt Fierman’s blind-cleaning tips or you’d rather pick and choose the ones you like most to incorporate into your own routine, there are a few do-not’s to heed when you’re cleaning blinds.
Don't Use Harsh Cleaners
Fierman cautions against using harsh cleaners like bleach or anything that contains bleach. “Remember, less is more—vacuuming followed by wiping down with a mild detergent and water usually does the trick,” Fierman says. “The easiest method is just diluted dish soap in water for non-porous surfaces. Always remember to wipe well to dry the blinds and never let it drip. Even one drop of water left on a windowsill or wood floor can stain it.”
Don't Wait Until Spring to Clean the Blinds
Even though spring is a popular time to thoroughly sanitize and organize your home, waiting all year until the temperatures rise to clean your blinds isn’t the best move for your health or your patience (because the longer you wait, the more daunting the task will become). Blinds are one sneaky area in the home where dust accumulates. According to the American Lung Association, “a regular dusting regimen is key to achieving better indoor air quality.”
“Regular, thorough cleanings are the best tool in the box,” Fierman says. “Even just using a Swiffer or vacuuming every time you dust or vacuum the rest of the room will help in the long run. When your blinds are squeaky clean, vacuuming or dusting with a Swiffer between the slats will help to prevent dust and dirt from accumulating. After that, a quarterly or seasonal cleaning is usually the best option.”
