How To Clean Blinds, Curtains, And Drapes In 8 Easy Steps

How to clean blinds

How to clean metal + plastic blinds

Metal and plastic blinds are generally quite simple to clean and you don’t have to worry about water causing them to warp, like you do with more sensitive wood blinds.

• Close blinds. Make sure your blinds are closed so that each individual slat is accessible, but straighten them so that they’re open and letting in sunlight.
• Dust blinds. Trap and lock dust and dirt on blinds with a Swiffer Duster. Try a Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Extender to reach the blinds at the top of the window, since they can extend up to six feet. These convenient Swiffer dusters actually absorb the dust instead of spreading it around or sending it airborne (and ultimately into your lungs). If you don’t have a Swiffer duster, a dry microfiber rag will suffice.

• Mix a gentle dish soap like Dawn with hot water, dampen sponge and wipe down each individual slat from top to bottom.
• Reverse the slats and repeat.
• If the blinds are really dirty (ie: kitchen blinds that have greasy residue or stains on them), you can gently remove the individual blinds for a deep cleaning. You can also remove blinds and soak them in the bathtub in a mixture of warm water and dish soap for about ten minutes. After removing blinds from the tub, dry them off with a clean rag.
• Blinds still visibly dirty post sponge bath? Spray them down with a multi-purpose cleaner.
• Give blinds a final wipe down with a clean, damp rag to remove soap or cleaner residue.
• Allow the blinds to dry for at least an hour before closing and/or rehanging.

How often to clean metal + plastic blinds

Blinds should be routinely cleaned once a month. The more often you clean them, the less disgusting it’ll be. Set yourself a reminder each month. Pay rent; clean blinds. Boom, easy.

Best products to clean metal + plastic blinds

• Swiffer Duster or Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Super Extender or microfiber rag
• Multi-Purpose Cleaner
• A gentle dish soap like Dawn + warm water
• Sponge and/or clean rag

How to clean wood blinds

Wood blinds, much like wood floors, are a bit delicate. While they are hearty enough to withstand a few bumps and curious cat swipes, wood blinds don’t jive well with water.

But, wait — are those really wood blinds? This sounds silly, but they make real convincing fake wood blinds these days. So examine your blinds closely to determine if they are, in fact, real wood. If they’re not, they’re likely made of PVC (translation: plastic that’s doing a really good wood impression). If they’re fake wood, see above for how to clean plastic blinds.

Faux wood blinds are:

• Heavier
• “Grain pattern” is exactly the same on all slats
• Color of the blinds does not change when they are wet

Wood blinds are: Lighter in weight Grain patterns vary slightly Excessive moisture causes color changes and warping

Now that you’ve (hopefully) determined whether your blinds are wood or not, you can move on to cleaning them:

• Close blinds. Make sure your blinds are closed so that each individual slat is accessible, but straighten them so that they’re open and letting in sunlight.
• Dust blinds. Trap and lock dust and dirt on blinds with a Swiffer Duster. Try a Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Extender to reach the blinds at the top of the window, since they can extend up to six feet. These convenient Swiffer dusters actually absorb the dust instead of spreading it around or sending it airborne (and ultimately into your lungs). If you don’t have a Swiffer duster, a dry microfiber rag will suffice.
• Using a store-bought wood cleaner, wipe down each slat from top to bottom with a soft rag. Be sure to wring out the rag well, so you’re not dripping cleaner or using an excessive amount. Always be sure to read directions on ready-made cleaning products, since sometimes they need to be diluted before using.
• Reverse slats and repeat on opposite side.
• Give blinds a final wipe down with a ready-made wood preservative or lemon oil to restore their sheen.
• To clean the blind’s “ladders” (aka the strings that hold them in place), you can apply shaving cream to a clean rag and rub it carefully into the strings. No need to rinse. (Yep, you read that right.).

How often to clean wood blinds

Wood blinds should be routinely cleaned once a week to prevent thick layers of dust from accumulating. You should deep clean your wood blinds every six months or so, or about twice a year. If your wood blinds are in the kitchen, you ought to deep clean them more regularly so they don’t get any greasy build up on them.

Best products to clean wood blinds

• Swiffer Duster or Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Super Extender or microfiber rag
• Wood cleaner for wood floors or furniture
• Lemon oil or wood preservative (optional)

How to clean curtains + drapes

Curtains require more regular cleaning than blinds. It’s like carpet versus hardwood floors. Curtains soak up dust and smells into their fabric and folds and should therefore be vacuumed and (carefully!) laundered somewhat often. Be sure to check all care tags on your curtains to see if they’re washable or must be dry cleaned before attempting to do so, or you might end up shopping for new curtains.