Cleaning the blinds is quite a tricky task in itself. Most people damage their blinds while cleaning them. Because they don’t understand the nature of blind material and its design. For example, vertical & Venetian blinds are as delicate as they are beautiful, so you need to practice caution. Cleaning Roman blinds at home might be difficult, but not impossible if you have the right guide. However, roller blinds are the easiest of them to clean. This guide by Lush Loom provides you with the cleaning routine for all of these blinds. For the homeowner’s convenience, we also enlisted all necessary tools and materials for blinds cleaning.
Why Cleaning Blinds Is Important — The Frequency Of Cleaning
A clean window blind sets the total vibe and the ambiance of your space. Moreover, they also determine the air quality index of your space. Their surface, if left uncleaned for many days, can accumulate dust, grime, and allergens. These allergens can affect your environment and the health index. Normally, roller blinds are the easiest to maintain. Clean them every three to four months. The other three types- vertical, Roman, and Venetian blinds require thorough cleaning every month.
Materials & Tools Required To Clean Each Type Of Blinds
Here is the list of materials & tools required for the cleaning routine for each type of blind.
| Roman Blinds | Roller Blinds | Vertical Blinds | Venetian Blinds |
| Vacuum cleaner with soft brush attachment | Microfiber cloth | Feather duster or soft cloth | Blind duster or microfiber cloth |
| Lint roller for pleated fabric | Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment | Vacuum cleaner for routine dusting | Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment |
| Mild liquid detergent (for spot cleaning) | Mild liquid soap or detergent | Mild detergent (fabric/PVC safe) | Mild detergent (metal & faux wood) |
| Soft microfiber cloth | Soft sponge (non-abrasive) | Soft sponge or cloth | Soft sponge (for deep cleaning) |
| Bucket with lukewarm water (limited use) | A bucket with warm water | Bucket or bathtub (for removable slats) | Bucket or bathtub (metal/faux wood only) |
| Fabric-safe stain remover (optional) | Anti-static spray (optional) | Anti-mold or fabric-safe cleaner | Wood-safe polish (wooden blinds only) |
| Dry towel for blotting | Dry towel for wipe-down | Absorbent towel for air-drying | Dry cloth to prevent water marks |
How To Clean Fabric Blinds | Roman And Roller
First, we are going to discuss a generalized cleaning routine for fabric blinds. Fabric blinds are generally very easy to clean. Roman blinds have elegant folds and cascading sophistication — presenting the European style, while the roller blinds are the minimalistic version of these. They are in the form of one continuous fabric sheet that rolls around a rolling tube when closed. Both of these blinds are made from delicate, yet durable fabric, which makes their cleaning routine almost the same.
Step 1: Remove And Dust The Blinds
First, remove the roller or Roman blinds from the windows and lay them flat. Be extra careful with the Roman shades, as they can lose their folds if not taken off properly. Now, prepare the blinds for the cleaning, i.e., remove their rolling gear and vacuum the blinds superficially.
Step 2: Prepare The Cleaning Solution
Now, prepare the cleaning solution by mixing two spoons of a mild liquid detergent into 2 cups of warm water. But first, use the lint roller to clean them further. Next, spot clean any stain you might find on the blinds. Dip the sponge into the solution and gently agitate the stained areas of the blinds.
Step 3: Spot-Clean And Wash The Blinds
Wash the stained spots gently with fresh water. Now, the blind are spot-cleaned and ready to be thoroughly cleaned. Check the tags on the blinds to see if they are machine-wash safe. Do not wash the Roman blinds in a machine as they can lose their shape. Soak them in a tub with warm water and a mild detergent. You can wash the roller blinds in the machine if the tags say so.
Step 4: Dry Them Completely
Your fabric blinds are washed, cleaned, and good as new. Take the freshly washed blinds and let them air dry completely. Even a little moisture can damage their structural integrity.
Step 5: Re-Hang The Blinds Carefully
Now, your blinds are completely dry. It is time to hang them back on the windows. Carefully attach the operational gear of the blinds, including the rolling mechanisms, cords, and remaining equipment. Now, hang them carefully and steam iron the blinds to get rid of any wrinkles. Be extra careful with the Roman shades as they can lose their pleats if not ironed properly.
Step 6: Finalizing Touches
After the blinds are washed, dried, hung, and ironed, there is just one step remaining. Make a solution of 4 to 5 drops of tea-tree oil and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on the blinds. This solution would prevent any mold or mildew buildup.
How To Thoroughly Clean Vertical And Venetian Blinds
Venetian and vertical blinds are both hard types of blinds. They consist of slats made from PVC, wood, wood veneers, or aluminum. Here is a step-by-step cleaning routine for these hard blinds.
Step 1: Remove And Lay Down The Blinds
Take off the blinds from the headrail with care. You must practice extra caution, or you might tangle the slats together — which would annoy you afterwards. Lay the slats flat on the ground and set them so the cord doesn’t get tangled.
Step 2:
After the blinds are laid on the ground, dust them properly and thoroughly. This is done by taking out the cord from the ladder. Use a feather duster or a soft microfiber cloth to superficially clean the blinds.
Step 3: Prepare The Cleaning Solution For Spot-Cleaning
Now, make a cleaning solution with either vinegar and water in a 1:3 ratio or a mild soap with warm water in the same ratio. Dip a sponge or a soft cloth in the solution to spot clean any stains or spills on the blinds. After spot cleaning, rinse the stained areas.
Step 4: Rinse & Thoroughly Clean The Window Blinds
Thoroughly clean the blinds with a damp sponge dipped in the soapy water first. After that, use a clean and damp sponge dipped into clean and warm water and thoroughly wipe down the soapy solution off the blinds. Do not soak or flood the surface of these blinds. The venetian blinds can warp the paint, while the vertical blinds may swell or crack due to excess water.
Step 5: Air-Dry The Blinds Completely
Now, let the blinds completely dry in the open air. Make sure that there is no moisture left in them. After that, wipe them one last time with a dry cloth and hang them carefully. Thread the cord through the ladder and hang the blinds back on the rolling mechanism.
Step 6: Finishing Touch For The Blinds
As a finishing touch, spray the venetian and vertical blinds with a dust-repellent spray so that they don’t let the dust settle on their surface. For wooden vertical coverings, use an additional layer of wood polish to give them a beautiful shine.
Concluding The Debate!
And… It’s a wrap! We have now summed up the debate about the cleaning methods of different types of fabric and hard blinds. These types included Roman, roller, vertical, and Venetian blinds. We started by listing the material required for each type of blinds individually. After that, we talked about the cleaning routines to efficiently clean the blinds, fabric, and hard surfaces individually. Fabric blinds can easily be washed in a machine or by hand, while you need to clean the hard blinds by hand with a cleaning solution and a sponge or a microfiber cloth. So, keep your window covering clean and enjoy a healthy atmosphere.