What Is The Easiest Way To Clean Venetian Blinds?

I love my venetian blinds, they look so stylish! Plus, they are an ideal way to get the best level of light and privacy in a room..

Virtually every room in our house has had a venetian blind hanging in it at some stage. We currently have wooden venetian blinds on all windows downstairs and an aluminium blind hangs in the bathroom upstairs.

Venetian blinds may be a perfect choice for your window, but sadly they are also perfect for collecting dust too!

There are several ways to clean venetian blinds depending on what they are made of, but the easiest way is to clean them in place without taking them down. Take a microfibre cloth or a dusting mitt and wipe both sides of each slat in turn starting from the top of the blind.

The method of cleaning for venetian blinds will depend on the type of material it is. The rule of thumb is that if it is wooden always avoid getting it wet. Anything other than a damp cloth could damage the wood. Aluminium, PVC and plastic blinds are waterproof so you can safely use soapy water to clean them.

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How do I clean my blinds without taking them down?

The easiest and simplest way to clean venetian blinds is to clean them while they are in place. If you have a wooden blind this is actually the preferable way to do it otherwise you risk damaging the wood.

Here are some tips:

1. Pull it down and angle. Before you start to clean your blind in place make sure it is pulled down all the way first and then angle the slats down at about a 45-degree angle. Some people suggest angling them down vertically but I find it easiest when they are open. Plus, you can see where the dust is more easily.
2. Always work from the top down. That way you don’t get dust on the slats you have already cleaned.

At this point you have several options for cleaning the slats, let’s have a look at those.

1. Use a dry microfibre cloth

I love microfibre cloths, so this is my preferable way to clean blinds. Microfibre is perfect for attracting dust particles rather than spreading them around.

I find it best to use a dry rather than damp microfibre cloth because a dry cloth can attract dust much better and you can still remove greasy marks if you apply a bit of pressure. A damp cloth tends to spread the dust around into clumps.

Related reading:

• Homemade Detergent for Microfiber Cloths – Will It Work?
• How To Keep Blinds Dust Free (quick and easy method)
• How To Keep Books Dust-Free

2. Use a fluffy sock

If you don’t have a microfibre cloth to hand you could use a fluffy sock instead.

3. Use a dusting mitt

A very convenient way to clean venetian blinds is to use a dusting mitt. You can buy microfibre dusting mitts from Amazon.

Buy at Amazon

4. Use the soft brush attachment on your vacuum

If you hate spreading dust around this is a good option for you. This works best if your venetian blind is just dusty. If you have stuck on dirt and grease you will need to wipe again with a damp microfibre cloth.

5. Use a venetian blind cleaning tool

These cleaning tools from Amazon help you to clean both sides of the slat at the same time. I haven’t tried these but people have said that they are a brilliant time-saver.

Buy at Amazon

The easiest way to clean aluminium blinds

If your blind is made from metal such as aluminium you have more options than for wooden blinds. You can clean them in place or take them down and clean them in your bathtub or outside.

How to clean aluminium blinds without taking them down

The best way to clean aluminium blinds without taking them down is to use a dry microfibre cloth.

1. Open the blind and tilt it 45-degrees downwards.
2. Take a microfibre cloth, fluffy sock or a blind cleaning tool.
3. Work from the top down, dusting both sides of each slat.
4. If very grimy, wipe again with a damp cloth concentrating on the very dirty areas.

How to clean aluminium blinds outside

Any non-wooden blind can be cleaned with water without the risk of damage. This means you have more options available to you. If you can take your blind down and hang or lay it outside you can spray it and rinse it with water and you can avoid wiping it completely.

1. Remove the blind.
2. Hang your blind outside or lay out on a towel or blanket.
3. Spray with equal parts vinegar and water or soapy water.
4. Use a hose with a spray attachment and rinse.
5. Allow to dry or wipe down with a microfibre cloth.

How to clean venetian blinds in the bathtub

If your blind will fit in the bathtub this is an easy option because you can avoid having to wipe each slat. This will only work for metal blinds such as aluminium or plastic blinds. Don’t use this option if your venetian blind is made of wood.

1. Take down your blind.
2. Lay a towel or sheet in the bottom of the bath to protect it from scratching.
3. Fill a bathtub with warm water and washing-up liquid.
4. Add your blind and allow to soak for 30 minutes or until the dirt lifts from the slats.
5. Rinse with clean water.
6. Dry with a towel or microfibre cloth or hang outside to dry naturally.

How to clean really grimy venetian blinds

If your venetian blind hasn’t been cleaned for a long time and has built-up dirt and grease, it will need more than a quick wipe over.

I find my kitchen blind needs the most care. If I leave it too long I have grease and water spots on it that are more tricky to clean off the longer I leave it.

For non-wooden blinds, you are safe to let them soak in the bathtub or take them outside and wash them down with soap and water.

For wooden blinds, the most effective option is to use a dry microfibre cloth or dusting tool to remove the dust first. Then use a damp cloth to rub each slat to remove ingrained dirt.

How to keep venetian blinds clean

Once I have spent an hour or so cleaning a blind I always vow to keep it regularly cleaned because I know it will be much easier to keep on top of. However, it doesn’t always work out that way!

If my blind isn’t very dirty I will usually opt for a quick vacuum with the dusting attachment or I will wipe over with a cloth.

1. Turn down the slats and wipe them over with a microfibre cloth or vacuum.
2. Turn the slats the opposite ways and repeat.

Of course, the more frequently you clean your blind the quicker and easier it will be to clean. Why not incorporate blind cleaning into your 10 minute clean up plan? That way you will never have to deep clean it.