How to Clean Blinds – Expert Tips and Advice

Blinds are a fantastic addition to the home, providing a stylish solution to controlling light and privacy. However, like everything else, they will need regular cleaning to keep them in pristine condition. In this blog, we'll provide you with expert tips and advice to help you clean your blinds efficiently and effectively.

You should always check the cleaning guidelines provided with your specific blinds, but the below tips and advice can help to get you started. Remember, Kingswood at Home has a range of stylish and practical blinds, with many styles in waterproof and wipe clean options for easy maintenance. You can contact us for more information or book an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation with our design team.

How often should you clean blinds?

You should aim to clean your blinds of dust every one to two weeks. You could work them into your usual dusting routine to stop too much dust building up over time. Remember to dust your surfaces and blinds before you vacuum or sweep your floors, as the dust will just transfer to the floors, and you may end up needing to clean them again.

Sometimes, you might need to spot-clean your blinds on an ad hoc basis if they get a spillage on them. You should clean up spills from your blinds as soon as possible to prevent staining.

What materials do you need to clean blinds?

The tools and materials you’ll need to clean your blinds will depend on what sort of cleaning you require. For regular dusting, you’ll need a microfibre cloth, a vacuum with an upholstery attachment, and/or a duster. For spot cleaning, you would need a microfibre cloth and warm soapy water and/or a fabric stain remover. For deep cleaning, you’ll need a screwdriver so you can remove the blinds, warm water, and a gentle cleaning solution such as white vinegar and baking soda.

When using fabric soap and cleaning solutions, you should always test the product on a small area of the blinds first to see how to reacts.

How to clean Venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are versatile and practical, but due to the horizontal position of the slats they can collect dust. Luckily, they’re very easy to clean. To clean Venetian blinds, simply lower the blind and open the slats. Then take your microfibre cloth and wipe both sides of each slat from left to right, starting at the top slat and working down to the bottom. You can also use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment and run it across each slat gently to remove dust and debris.

For Venetian blinds that are particularly dirty or sticky and require deeper cleaning, you can still clean them without removing them. First, dust the blinds as usual. Then mix a solution that is equal parts white vinegar and warm water (but not too hot, as this can warp the slats). Using a clean cloth, submerge the cloth into the solution and then wring it out so it’s just damp. Wipe the cloth over each slat firmly but gently and then leave them to dry.

How to clean roller blinds and Roman blinds

Roller blinds and Roman blinds will usually collect less dust and debris than slatted blinds. They’re also very simple to clean. With a lot of fabric blinds, you can just use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment to remove dust and debris. Other types of fabric blinds, such as those with double layers, might require cleaning with a microfibre cloth instead, to prevent pulling and stretching.

For deeper cleaning, some types of fabric roller blinds or Roman blinds can be removed and put in the washing machine. Others might need to be sent for dry cleaning or need to be gently handwashed. You should check the cleaning label on your blinds to see what sort of deep clean they need.

How to clean vertical blinds

Vertical blinds can be cleaned in a similar way to horizontal blinds. Vertical blinds will usually pick up less dust than horizontal blinds, but you should still aim to clean them every one to two weeks either using a microfibre cloth or a vacuum with an upholstery attachment. If you have vertical blinds made from fabric, the vacuum may be the better option to get a better clean.

When should you replace blinds?

With the right care and maintenance, blinds can last for a very long time. However, there may be some instances when it becomes time to replace your blinds:

• The slats of the blinds are broken, warped, or bent
• It’s difficult to open and close the blinds
• The blinds are cracked, frayed, or heavily discoloured
• The blinds don’t fit the windows snugly

If it’s time for your blinds to be updated, contact Kingswood at Home. Our made-to-measure blinds will be expertly designed, built, and fitted by our in-house team, made bespoke for your window measurements. With a variety of styles, colours, patterns and finishes available, we’re sure to have the right blinds for your interior tastes and lifestyle.

Contact us for more information or book an appointment for a free, no-obligation consultation with our design team.