Do you love your blinds, but wish they didn’t get so dusty? How to keep blinds dust-free is a question I get asked regularly. Venetian blinds are the worst for picking up dust and grime.
The great news is that there is a way to keep them pretty much dust-free with little effort. In my post today I’m going to reveal what I do to keep my blinds looking great.
No time? Here’s the quick answer (or watch the video below):
The best way to keep blinds dust-free is to give them a thorough clean and then wipe them over with a dryer sheet. Then, once a month, wipe again with a microfiber cloth and a dryer sheet. The job should be much easier.
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How to repel dust from blinds
The best way to repel and keep dust off blinds is to do a quick dust regularly with a microfiber cloth and then wipe them over again with a dryer sheet.
The tiny fibers in microfiber cloths are electrostatically charged. They attract dust and keep it inside the cloth. This makes them perfect for cleaning off dust without spreading it around.
The dryer sheet will reduce static on the blind, so you won’t find dust arriving back on the blind so quickly.
Another thing you can do is to pull them up when you don’t need them. When the sun moves and I want to maximise the light in the room, I pull them up so that light can come in. At the same time, I am protecting them from gathering dust.
How to clean dusty blinds
I’ve owned both wooden and aluminium Venetian blinds. Wooden is my favourite because the slats are thicker and so don’t bend and kink as you clean them as aluminium blinds can. I’ve always used the same method to clean blinds whatever they are made of. There is no need to remove the blind you can do all the dusting in place.
We also have some fabric vertical blinds in our conservatory. Fortunately, they don’t need frequent cleaning as dust doesn’t tend to cling to them. They can just be wiped down from time to time with a dry microfiber cloth and spot cleaned with a damp cloth.
What to use to clean dusty blinds
Some folks say that a special tong-like duster or some old socks are ideal for cleaning blinds. I beg to differ on that because I have always found a simple dry microfiber cloth to be the perfect tool.
I prefer using microfiber cloths to clean blinds because when a section gets dirty, I can fold the cloth and use a clean part. That way I don’t redistribute dirt around the blind. You can’t do that with a tong, and it’s a bit tricky to do that with a sock.
As well as keeping dust inside, microfiber cloths are great for attracting dust because they have a small electrostatic charge which makes them perfect for dusting blinds and lots of other things too.
Here are 10 amazing uses for microfiber cloths from Cleanipedia.
As well as a microfiber cloth, it’s very useful to have some dryer sheets to hand. Dryer sheets will help to repel dust and will make dusting much quicker next time.
Here’s how to quickly clean your dusty blinds and keep them that way:
Step 1 – Pull the blind down fully and then tilt down
For Venetian blinds, the first thing you will want to do is to pull them down fully and then tilt them horizontally or slightly down. This will make cleaning much easier.
Step 2 – Dust
Next, take a clean and dry microfiber cloth and begin wiping each slat starting at the top. The top of the slat will be the dustiest. If you have dust underneath, wipe both sides. You will need to apply a bit of pressure to get all the dust off if you haven’t dusted in a while.
As you dust, refold it so that you are using a new part of the cloth. If your blind is very dusty and your cloth gets very clogged up, switch it out for a new one.
Step 3 – For very grubby blinds wipe again with a damp cloth
If your blinds are really grubby and you still have greasy marks and stubborn dirt on your blind, you will need to do a further wipe with a damp microfiber cloth.
Take a clean microfiber cloth, wet it and then wring it out thoroughly. You don’t want dripping wet cloth, especially if your blinds are wooden.
Then begin wiping again from the top slat down to the bottom.
Step 4 – Repel future dust
If you used a damp cloth on your blind, let your blind dry thoroughly. Then take a dryer sheet and wipe over the blind from top to bottom. This will help to repel dust, so you won’t have to dust your blinds so frequently.
Step 5 – Clean the window
After I’ve cleaned my blind thoroughly, I usually find that there is dust on the window and window sill. Now is the perfect time to clean them. So I pull up the blind and take a new microfiber cloth and then wipe all around the window and the window frame.
If you have a lot of dust, use your vacuum cleaner to clean up most of the dust first and then finish off with a dry or damp microfiber cloth.
How to keep wooden blinds dust-free
Wooden blinds should be cleaned with a dry or damp cloth. Do not soak them or hose them down due to the risk of damage to the wood.
- Pull down the blind and tilt it slightly downwards.
- Start from the top slat and work your way down, wiping both sides with a dry microfiber cloth.
- Wipe each slat again with a dryer sheet.
How to keep dust off Venetian blinds
Venetian blinds are the worst kind for collecting dust. Despite this, we have them on most of the windows in our house because we love them so much. They are great for filtering out strong sunshine whilst keeping the room as light as possible.
Your best option for keeping dust off your Venetian blinds is to wipe them over with a dryer sheet or a dry microfiber cloth at least once per month. It should take only a minute or so, but it will help to keep dust away by repelling it with an electrostatic charge.
How often should you clean your blinds?
Clean your blinds at least once per month, and they should stay dust-free. I like to make dusting blinds one of the ten-minute cleaning jobs I do around the house. If you dust regularly, you can get away with just a quick wipe over with a microfiber cloth or a tumble dryer sheet.
At a minimum, you should clean your blinds about every four to six months, though the job will take longer the longer you leave it.
If you have pets in the house, you will want to clean your blinds more often.
Over time, the dust can get sticky on the blind, and it will be hard to simply wipe off with a duster. You will need to use a damp cloth or even soak your blinds in the bathtub (if they are not wooden) to get the grime to dissolve.
The best dust-free blinds
If you are choosing a blind, and you want to avoid dusting them, you should avoid Venetian blinds because they are the worst for collecting dust on their horizontal slats.
For the least maintenance, go for a roman or vertical blind.
Roman blinds can pull up, down or in between. They are usually perfect for bathrooms or in areas where you don’t need to filter the light.
Vertical blinds provide more light control because you can tilt them from side to side. We have these vertical blinds in our conservatory. They are great because I don’t have to clean them very often at all.
How to prevent your blinds from fading
Frequently asked questions
Why are my blinds so dusty?
Your blinds are dusty because you haven’t dusted them! If you want to keep them dust-free, get into a habit of regular cleaning. That way you can keep on top of the dust and the job of dusting them becomes quicker and easier.
After you have dusted I recommend you wipe them with a dryer sheet. This will help to repel dust in-between cleans.
