With spring coming full force, it’s time to open up those blinds and let the sunlight in! However, that might be a little difficult if your blinds are covered in a winter’s worth of dust and gunk. Instead of taking hours to get them cleaned and nice again, here are some super quick ways to take care of them. Remember, though, that different materials will require different cleaning procedures.
Clean with the Blinds’ Natural Form
If you have vertical blinds, then clean them going up and down. If you have horizontal blinds, then clean from left to right (or right to left). If you go against the blinds’ natural form, then you risk damaging them or taking a lot longer if they get unattached or tangled. This way, you’ll clean every part of the blinds while also avoiding any damage.
If Possible, Use a Vacuum
If your vacuum has a suction or tube attachment, then consider using that on your blinds. This makes cleaning a hundred times faster and also gets rid of any big chunks or sections of dirt and grime. Make sure the vacuum filter is clean so it doesn’t kick the dust back out when it’s turned on.
If Using Cleaner, Spray onto Cloth
If your blinds are made from a material that require a specific cleaner, then make sure to follow this suggestion! Instead of spraying or applying the cleaner directly onto the blinds, apply it to a cloth and then use the cloth to spread the cleaner. This will keep you from wasting cleaner while making the application as quick as you can.
Feather Duster
If you’re looking for a quick but relatively efficient clean, then use a feather duster. This easily slips between the slats of the blinds while also picking up any dust or dirt that may have settled on them. This method won’t deep clean the blinds, but it can tide you over until you have time to clean the rest of them.
Vinegar Water Mixture on Glove
While I like using dusters to clean blinds, it can sometimes be hard to control it. If you want a more fine-tuned approach to cleaning your blinds, then try this. Make a mixture of half vinegar and half water. Put on a pair of gloves and then dip your fingers in the mixture. From there, you’ll be able to slide your fingers across the tops and bottoms of each blind, giving you a quick and direct clean.
Gently spray with Garden Hose
For certain blinds (like vinyl or aluminum ones) you can take the blinds to the backyard and give them a good spray down. I would only suggest this for blinds that are pretty dirty, since it requires detaching the blinds from the wall. However, it will save you time if deep cleaning would take hours. When you hose the blinds down, be careful that the water pressure doesn’t damage the blinds. Once you’ve washed them down (and dried up as much excess water as possible), hang them up so they can drip dry.
Soak in the Tub
Another way to clean vinyl and aluminum blinds is by soaking them in the tub. Fill the tub up with warm water and add a bit of dish soap. Swirl it around so you get a nice, frothy mixture, and then put the blinds in the tub. Let them soak for a few hours, then pull them out and dry them off. Make sure they’re completely dry before you hang them back up (or else you’ll have wet and dripping blinds).
What is that cute little vacuum to clean the blinds?