Vertical blinds are the most popular and stylish window coverings, featuring multiple vertical slats that can be controlled remotely and manually. Unlike others, cleaning these blinds is a bit different due to their placement and position of slats. Keeping them well-maintained is mandatory to reduce allergens, dust accumulation, and a healthy indoor environment.
Over time, when your window blinds get dirty due to dust, grease, and debris pile up, you can DIY clean them. If you don’t know where to begin with the cleaning process, this guide by Curtains Accessories will let you know about the essential tools and steps to clean every vertical blind type like a professional. So, let’s proceed without any further delay!
Vertical blinds made from PVC and vinyl materials are perfect for humid-prone areas and can be washed or soaked in water. On the other hand, delicate fabricated versions are not recommended to be soaked in water. So, based on the construction materials, you can get them cleaned differently as per our careful instructions.
Gather Requisite Cleaning Supplies & Tools
Make sure you have the following cleaning materials and supplies handy before you begin with the cleaning process.
- Microfibre Cloth
- Feather Duster
- Vacuum Cleaner
- Mild Soap
- Bathtub
- Warm Water
- Sponge
- Towels
- Washing Machine
- Compressed Air (optional)
- Silicone spray (optional)
- Hairdryer (optional)
Steps To Clean Washable Verticals
Follow the steps below to deal with window blinds that are waterproof like vinyl and PVC.
1. Detach Your Blinds From Windows
The very first step to initiate the cleaning process is to detach your window coverings from the headrail. For detachment, you’ll need to open the bottom blind chain which is connected to each slat, and slide the weight at the bottom. Through pushing or unhooking, these window coverings come off easily.
2. Clean The Headrail Of The Vertical Blinds
Once you finish removing window coverings from the headrail, make sure to give it a quick clean. At this point, you can use silicon spray to eliminate all kinds of dust and debris from the groove. This quick cleaning will ensure that your window coverings are operating smoothly. Also, to avoid rust formation, make sure to dry this headrail for an appropriate time.
3. Clean Slats Of Vertical Blinds
Now that everything is laid out in front of you, use a damp sponge or feather duster to remove the dust particles from the blind surface. Move the upholstery attachment from top to bottom to capture the dirt. Also, you can use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to run over your window coverings until they are dirt and debris-free.
4. Soak Blinds In A Warm Water
When you sure that there’s no dirt and debris left, soak them in warm water (not so hot). However, there are two ways to get them cleaned.
Hand Washing:
Use a wash basin or large bucket and fill it with warm water. To add some scrub factor, consider adding a few drops of laundry detergent. While cleaning in a bucket, gently scrub the window covering to discard any stains. Also, you can add a few drops of stain remover after testing and scrub the area with a sponge.
Machine Washing:
You can also machine wash them at 30 Degrees Celsius but make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding whether it’s machine washable or not. To prevent fraying and any other potential damage, make sure to put them in a pillowcase after rolling. Add mild detergent and keep the heat and temperature setting low.
5. Use A Sponge To Scrub Off Stains
Avoid soaking up your window covering for too long even if they are washable as it could damage the material’s effectiveness. So, you can take them out of your bucket or washing machine after some time and treat any stubborn stains through scrubbing. Keep rubbing the area until you get a stain-free window covering.
6. Lay Your Blinds Flat to Dry
Laying your window coverings to dry is the ultimate step to prevent them from mold and mildew build-up. Hanging them can result in stretching and putting them in a dryer can cause shrinking. Therefore, the best approach is to dry them while lying on the floor. Prefer laying them on the top of several clean towels so that they won’t capture floor dirt. Also, you can speed up this process using a hair dryer on a low setting.
Steps To Clean Verticals That Can’t Be Soaked In Water
The process of cleaning verticals is simple as you won’t have to take them off from the headrail and require only a few things.
1. Dust Off The Dirt
Firstly, clean the headrail and slats using a microfiber duster and upholstery attachment. Clean all the slats from front and back, and make sure you are eliminating the trapped dirt. Also, you can use the feather duster to get rid of all sorts of debris and dirt particles.
2. Use A Vaccum Cleaner
One of the effective and efficient ways to make your blinds dirt-free is to use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. The brush will target all the concealed areas and corners, removing dirt, grease, and all sorts of trapped hairs and debris without much effort.
3. Apply the Cleaning Solution
Stains on vertical window blinds can be treated with the application of stain remover or baby shampoo. Use a damp cloth pour a few drops of detergent on it and begin removing the stains from top to bottom. Softly rub the area until the stain fades completely.
4. Allow For Proper Drying
Take a dry and clean mop to remove the excess residue. Dry your window blinds naturally or you can use a hair dryer on a low setting for this purpose. After drying completely, rehang them on a headrail by clipping each louver back into its place. After hanging out, take a step back to appreciate for great work and make sure to follow a proper maintenance schedule for this purpose.
Final Note!
Vertical blinds and shades make a contemporary statement in any space with their distinct appearance, amazing functionality, and rustic aesthetics. To avoid dust accumulation, reduce allergens, and improve indoor air quality, regular cleaning of these coverings is necessary. To make your window blinds best looking all year round, you can get them periodically cleaned using the right tools and materials.
Whether your window coverings are water-resistant or moisture-prone, you can get them cleaned through different processes outlined in this article. To make your blinds serve you longer in a most presentable manner, this guide is an inspiration for cleaning blinds like a pro!