How to clean venetian blinds
Tired of looking at those dirty blinds every single day? Want to clean your Venetian blinds but anxious about where to begin? People tend to worry about breaking something in the cleaning process. If you have had similar thoughts, you are in the right place, mate.
Many of us either do not find the time to clean our Venetian blinds or find it too difficult. A Venetian blind has more horizontal surface area than other blinds and is prone to gathering dust. The process of deep cleaning slightly varies for wooden Venetian blinds and other materials. It is also different from other blind types like roller blinds. Presented below is a vital guide on how to clean your Venetian blinds well.
Light Routine Cleaning
To start, let's understand how to approach light routine cleaning. And, how it is the easiest way to clean amidst our hectic schedules.
Light routine cleaning should essentially be a part of our day-to-day lives. To handle Venetian blinds with care, this step is a must. You can either clean it with a soft cloth or use a vacuum cleaner. Additionally, you can also use a mild detergent with a damp cloth or a soft brush for those gorgeous blinds. You should eventually make light cleaning a habit for the durability of your blinds.
Light cleaning with a soft cloth: An easy solution for dust removal
Window blinds are prone to dirt. Yet you don't always need to take them down or rinse the blind. To remove a mild stain, use a mild detergent, window cleaning spray, or washing liquid to gently clean. After that, carefully dry the louvres with a paper towel. Before cleaning the rest of the blinds without sticky stains, it is crucial to close the blinds. Then, use a soft cloth to systematically clean each slat. When you wipe, start wiping from the middle of the slats and then move towards the edges. You can use a glove or a special duster mitt (my favourites) as an alternative to a soft cloth. Furthermore, open and close the blind on the opposite side to clean the other side.
Light cleaning with a vacuum cleaner: God bless vacuum cleaners!
Light cleaning with a vacuum cleaner is a time-saving way to clean Venetian blinds. However, make sure to attach an upholstery attachment brush to avoid scratching the blinds. Be careful and set the vacuum to a low suction level. Pre-cleaning testing is vital to avoid pulling the slats out of shape. Later, close the blinds and attach the upholstery brush to the vacuum cleaner. Run the brush over each slat from top to bottom with the utmost care. Lastly, open and close the blind to clean the other side of the blind slats.
Note: Due to the potential to scratch the slats, this method is suggested to be used with wooden venetians.
Deep Cleaning for Grime and Stains: A must-do for longer-lasting blinds
Unlike popular opinion, all types of blinds, including Venetian blinds, require deep cleaning occasionally. Its process involves the removal of window blinds from their frames. Frankly, how else can you clean your blinds well? This can prove to be an extremely time-consuming and tedious process for people, as they would want to relax on the weekends.
Well, although it seems to be a difficult task, deep cleaning is only required when grime begins to build up. It should ideally be done when light cleaning cannot suffice to repair the damage caused.
Only aluminium, plastic and other metal Venetian blinds should be associated with the process of deep cleaning with water. You could also consider a cleaning solution in mild consistency as an alternative. Proper attention must be paid if your blinds have wooden slats as too much moisture can make your wood all swollen and fungal in no time. If you don’t feel the need or feel it is too risky, stick to routine light vacuuming and dusting to prevent blind materials from wearing out.
Deep cleaning can be undertaken in the following quick and easy steps.
Step 1: Get your work area set by removing the clutter
This is the first and very essential step of the process. You must understand whether you'll be deep cleaning indoors or outdoors. If you're undertaking it inside, get the bathtub ready. If you're planning to take it up outside, get equipped with a garden hose.
The first and foremost thing you must bear in mind before you give a good bath to your blinds is to protect them. You may need to lay a cloth or towel to protect the blinds against dirt and scratches in outdoor areas. If it is indoors, do protect your blinds against scratches by using a towel or rubber mat if it's in the bathtub.
Keep a bucketful of clean water ready for a little cleaning spree outside. It should be warm water if you're cleaning in the bathtub and cold outside the bathtub for obvious reasons. One of the best tips would be to add vinegar or a mild detergent in equal parts. Use a microfiber cloth, a non-abrasive sponge or a clean cloth for cleaning Venetian blinds.
Step 2: Remove the blinds
Start by removing your blinds as per the manufacturer's instructions. If you have perfect blind fits, they do not require drilling or power tools to be removed. Easy snapping off the frame is possible in such cases.
However, not all blinds fit perfectly. Not all can be removed easily. Other types of Venetian blinds may require a screwdriver to be removed completely. So, you must keep every piece of hardware safe and be aware of where each piece goes during the remounting process of Venetian blinds.
Step 2: Start the cleaning
If you are stuck midway and still find yourself wondering how to clean those blinds completely, here is what you should do next. Start the cleaning of the blinds by carefully laying the blind on the bathroom floor or the prepared space outdoors. Make sure you clean each blind individually with the cleaning tool. You must be vigilant and check if both sides of the Venetian blinds are cleaned. Ensuring cleanliness in its entirety makes any blinds last longer. In the end, rinse the blinds with cold water after the cleaning is completed. If there is any soapy residue, ensure that they are removed from the blinds if you don't want the colour to look faded in parts.
Step 3: Dry your blinds
Drying your blinds is vital to keeping your Venetian blinds safer for a longer duration of time. You may need a dry cloth to remove moisture from individual slats so that they are completely dry. Later on, set a hair dryer to a low setting and finish the drying process. Turn the hair dryer's setting to low because too much heat might damage the blinds. You can also air-dry them by hanging them on the fence. Secure the blinds while hanging them so that they do not fall or get damaged in the process. Use the manufacturer's guide to remount the blinds once they are dry.
Conclusion
Owning Venetian blinds is now easier with the simplest cleaning techniques and processes. You can use various methods and simplistic techniques for cleaning your blinds. Light or deep cleaning using a duster, cotton gloves, a damp cloth or a mild detergent and a soft brush can sort the cleaning of your Venetian blinds in no time.
Blinds add convenience and character to your home. I hope this guide on cleaning your blinds for regular dust or stubborn stains was helpful to navigate your cleaning more easily. Venetian blinds are the perfect example of modern interiors mixed with practicality. I trust you to approach this daunting task of cleaning those blinds with much more calm now. You got this!