How Often Should You Clean Window Blinds? Whether your blinds are metal, wood, or plastic, weekly vacuuming with a brush attachment goes a long way towards keeping them clean. As blinds accumulate dust and dirt, they should be deep cleaned every month to two months to help keep them clean and dust-free.
Trying to clean dusty blinds with soap and water can leave dirty streaks, plus, it's drippy and messy. It's easier to wipe them with a duster or microfiber cloth. Leave your blinds in place to dust them. Just open the blinds and clean them from the top to the bottom with a lambswool or other type of duster.
The easiest way to maintain your blinds is to prevent them from getting too dirty in the first place. Clean your blinds regularly—every week or two is best—and the dust won't have a chance to build up, says Sara San Angelo, a professional housecleaner and founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady.
Fill your bathtub with warm, sudsy water (use a grease-busting dish soap) and give the blinds a good soak. Then gently wash them with a sponge, wiping along the edges, where dust tends to accumulate most. Drain the dirty water, and then rinse the blinds thoroughly.
To clean dirty vinyl blinds, mix one part vinegar to 10 parts water in a bucket. Use a sponge to apply the mixture to the affected areas and scrub gently.
Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes may be appropriate for vinyl, plastic, aluminum and sealed wood, and can easily wipe away built up dust and grime. If allowed, wipe each slat with Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes, gently wiping the top and underside of the slats at the same. Use additional wipes as needed. Air dry.
Regular dusting with a microfiber duster, feather duster, or soft cloth is a benefit to all blinds. For best results, make sure the blinds are fully extended and that all of the slats are closed and facing the same way. Dust lightly, moving in the same direction as the slats, then turn 90 degrees and dust again.
Schmitz says that cleaning your baseboards once every two to three months should be sufficient, though that will depend on the room of your home and how much traffic it gets. If your baseboards have collected a layer of dirt, dust, and pet hair, they're due for a cleaning, regardless of when you last wiped them down.
How Often to Clean Walls. As part of your regularly scheduled chores, painted walls should be dusted and cobwebs removed at least monthly—twice a month is even better. You should clean smudges and dirt around doorknobs and light switches weekly.
Damp can also cause mould to grow on the blind fabric. This is particularly prominent if the blind sits flush to the glass. Mould is an indicator that the blind is too close to the glass and you should consider moving it away. A good solution is to completely remove the blind and allow it to fully dry.
For residential windows, we recommend that you fully clean your windows at least twice a year, but three times a year may be best for those who live in areas with lots of trees where pollen tends to accumulate. Every six months is a good rule of thumb for window cleaning, but more often is even better.
Only wash vertical blinds in the dishwasher if you've been looking for an excuse to buy new ones.
Use an old sock or glove.
Repeat on every blind. Windex is safe to use on most blinds, but if you'd prefer a natural substance, use a solution of half water, half vinegar. For an even quicker cleanup, open your blinds and use your glove or sock-covered thumb and forefinger to pinch one blind at its edge.
If you're washing your blinds in a washing machine, roll them up and secure them inside a pillowcase to help prevent fraying and damage. Use a gentle laundry detergent and use a wash setting designed for delicate fabrics at a temperature no higher than 30 C.
Dip a microfiber cloth in a mixture of dish soap and water.
To remove stubborn stains and sticky residue from metal, vinyl or faux wood blinds while they are hanging, dip a microfiber cloth in a bowl of warm water mixed with a few drops of dishwashing liquid.
Rinse blinds with clean warm water and remove them from the tub. For thick wood blinds, carefully towel-dry each slat, front and back, to avoid streaking. If your blinds are aluminum or minis, it's preferable to remove them from the water, shake them out, and hang them back up to air-dry.
The good news is that blinds generally don't require a ton of maintenance. Most blinds need a brief dusting every few weeks and the occasional deep clean if they happen to get dirty or grimy. However, some styles may require extra thought and attention when cleaning to avoid damaging the materials.
Vinyl blinds
As a moisture and water-resistant material, you can freely use your shower or bath without having to worry about the damage the water and steam is doing to your beautiful blind.
Washing Grimy Blinds–Aluminum or Vinyl
If dusting or vacuuming isn't enough to get soiled blinds clean, you can give aluminum and vinyl blinds a bath! (This necessitates taking them down from the windows.) If the weather permits, you can wash blinds outside with soapy water, a sponge and a garden hose.