Step-By-Step Guide on Cleaning Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are both elegant and practical. They provide excellent light control and ensure your privacy, and are a great choice for larger windows and patio doors. Simply put, high-quality vertical blinds can truly enhance your space—when you are diligent about regular cleaning to maintain their appeal. In this guide, we will break down the process of cleaning this type of window blind to get the best results.

How to Go About Cleaning Vertical Blinds for A Pristine Look

The time and effort it will take to clean your blinds will depend on how dirty these are. Additionally, different types of blinds require their distinct, correct method of cleaning—and vertical blinds are no exception.

How do you clean vertical blinds that that fairly fresh-looking in their current state? Basically, you do not need to do much except light dusting, and maybe some vacuuming. Additionally, you do not need to take the slats down. Experts recommend that you do this light cleaning often, so you do not need to go through the more hands-on deep clean process often.

Eventually, your vertical window blinds will lose their colour and vibrance due to dirt. When that happens, go through this step-by-step process of cleaning vertical blinds to transform them back to that new-like appearance.

Step 1: Dust and Vacuum Blind Slats

Make sure you lay out all your cleaning tools before you begin. The tools you use depend on how do you clean vertical blinds. For a deep clean, you will need everything from a feather duster and hand-help vacuum cleaner to a soapy solution and washing container. Then, tackle the slats in this order:

  1. Start by using a feather duster to remove loose dust and other particles. Next, use a microfibre cloth to gently remove additional debris.
  2. You can dust and wipe the slats after taking these down, but doing so as a first step will help minimise the mess.
  3. To remove all the dust, you may need to run the slats using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment.
  4. Vacuum from top to bottom on each side—until the slats look sufficiently clean. Know that not all debris will be gone at this point.
  5. Finally, use a damp cloth to get rid of cobwebs from nooks and crannies. You can skip this step, but you will have an easier time washing afterwards.

Most premium blinds manufacturers provide clear instructions for cleaning, including what to use and not to use. Make sure you ask about cleaning polyester or PVC properly—whichever material your vertical blinds feature.

Step 2: Remove Slats & Clean Headrails

Once you have dusted and vacuumed the slats, unhook the blind louvres (slats) from the headrail. Continue with cleaning by wiping the headrails meticulously. Doing so is vital in cleaning vertical blinds, as your window coverings will look completely refreshed once you are done.

Ideally, use a microfibre cloth to clean the headrails so that you can detach stubborn debris. For tricky gaps and grooves, get a can of compressed air and force the dust out. End this step by wiping the headrails a couple of times with a damp microfibre cloth.

Step 3: Treat Washable Slats with Soap Solution

How to wash vertical blinds? For vertical blinds, hand washing is often the best route—as recommended by most experts as well. To handwash the slats.

  • Fill a bathtub (or a large sink or tub) with lukewarm water. Mix in liquid soap, or some detergent for cleaning extremely dirty blinds.
  • Submerge the slats in the solution for a while. Gently rub these with your hands or a soft brush to remove the dirt and dust.
  • If you are dealing with mildew on blinds, add one lemon juice to the water as a natural cleaning solution.
  • Make sure to rinse the blinds well to eliminate any stubborn dirt as well as soap residue. Do not wring the slats at any point!

Some care labels allow machine washing as a vertical blind cleaning option. That said, keep in mind that hot water cycles can cause some materials to shrink. Moreover, any wash cycle at all can cause the material of your blinds to fray.

If you do opt to machine wash the louvres, roll these and place them carefully inside an empty pillowcase. Keep the water temperature below 40°C (104°F) and wash at the gentle setting.

Step 4: Clean Non-Washable Slats Safely

Do you have ‘non-washable’ blinds? It does not mean that you cannot clean your blinds, but that you simply cannot dip these in water. Some water to wipe the blinds may still be fine.

For cleaning vertical blinds with non-washable fabric, regular cleaning can keep you from having to stress about too-dirty blinds down the line. When you do go for deep cleaning, use an approved cleaning solution and a gentle brush.

If your blinds have stubborn stains, go for spot-cleaning in between brushing the slats. Do not use bleach or any other harsh chemical intended for tougher fabrics. Do a spot test on an inconspicuous part of the blinds before applying it to the rest of the slats.

Step 5: Air Dry & Hang Blind Slats

To ensure the freshness and integrity of the slats after cleaning vertical blinds, it’s important to let these dry properly. Spread some clean towels on the floor. Pat the blinds dry, getting as much water to absorb in the towels as possible. Lay the partially dry slats on a clean surface to air dry. Avoid hanging them up to dry, or the slats may lose their shape.

Once all the slats are fully dry, you can carefully reattach them to the headrail. Do not place them too close together for at least an hour to avoid microbial growth due to lengthy dampness.

There you have it. Your blinds will be back up and looking as if new, easier to maintain and easy on the eyes for a long, long time with regular cleanups.

Start Out with Top Quality Vertical Blinds

The process of cleaning vertical blinds requires a bit of effort. However, once you are done, you will be able to enjoy clean blinds and a revitalised look in your space. That said, if your blinds are too old, no amount of deep cleaning may be able to bring back that vibrance.

So, why not revamp your space with new, high-quality vertical blinds? If want to replace your old vertical blinds with new ones, or even looking to switch things up with another type of blinds, Queen Blinds is your ultimate destination for quality custom window treatments.

Get in touch with us today for a free quote. You can also send us a message with any concerns or ask for a free consultation to let our experts help you create a perfect blinds match for your space.