Keeping your vertical blinds clean and in optimal condition will ensure they last for many years to come. Not only this but having clean vertical blinds ensure that the interior style you worked so hard to create continues to impress your guests. And, that your vertical blinds can work properly too. At Lifestyle Blinds, we get asked regularly how to clean vertical blinds and we’ll bring all our tips and tricks here today.
Why clean vertical blinds?
When they were first invented, vertical blinds were designed to be less maintenance-intensive than traditional window covering styles. Wooden blinds and Venetian blinds, for example, have horizontal slats where dust and dirt can easily settle. The only way to get them completely clean was the dust or wipe down every single slat individually. Not only was this time consuming, but it also increased the risk of airborne contaminants too. Vertical blinds have no horizontal surfaces. Therefore, the majority of dust falls past them and onto the floor. The dirt that does gather can be dusted off quickly or hoovered with little effort.
Cleaning your vertical blinds will:
- Keep the colour strong
- Ensure the fabrics you’ve chosen can perform their desired function
- Be easy to operate and won’t get stuck because of grime or debris
- Effectively manage light and privacy throughout the day
How often should I clean my vertical blinds?
Think of your window blinds as every other surface in your home. As part of your weekly clean, we recommend dusting and vacuuming your blinds with the hose attachment. You want to prevent the build-up of dust and dirt which can become ingrained and much harder to shift. If you notice stains or harder to shift dirt, remove it as quickly as possible to prevent the fabric dye from being compromised. And, schedule in a monthly deep clean of your blinds to keep them at their best for longer. The exact frequency that they will need to be cleaned is likely to depend on the room and how often they are used. Blinds that sit still for many days and in rooms that aren’t frequented often may only need to be hoovered once a month. In contrast, those in high-traffic rooms or used on outside facing doors may need to be cleaned more regularly.
What is the easiest way to clean vertical blinds?
So outside of hoovering and dusting your blinds, how can you clean them most easily and conveniently? Firstly, let’s consider that there are two types of louvre/slat with classical blinds.
Rigid louvres
Rigid vertical blinds, such as those manufactured from PVC or Metal have hard slats. These are very popular in demanding, moisture-rich or high-contamination environments due to their wipe-clean nature. To clean these blinds, you can:
- Wipe each slat from top-to-bottom with warm water
- Use a mild detergent and microfibre cloth to clean away dust and dirt
- Avoid abrasive cleaning chemicals
- Consider removing each louvre and cleaning them individually.
Fabric louvres
Most of the vertical blinds that we sell here at Lifestyle Blinds have fabric louvres. And to wash these, you need to use a slightly different method.
- Vacuum or dust each of the slats as normal with the brush attachment
- Hold your hand behind each slat and vacuum from the top to the bottom
- If you need to clean a stain, spot clean it with a microfibre cloth and warm soapy water
- Dab stains – never scrub as this can cause piling and damaged fibres
- Never put the slats into the washing machine. The heat will cause them to shrink out of shape.
This process will help work to remove dirt from the surface of most standard vertical blinds.
How do I get my vertical blinds white again?
Another query that we get regularly is how to make white vertical blinds white again. If there’s one colour that shows dirt incredibly easily, it’s white. And, over time, no matter how many times you dust or spot clean your white blinds, it’s likely that they’ll start to look less crisp. However, it’s easy to bring them back to their original charm once again. Simply:
- Unclip the slats/louvres from the headrail
- Fill a bath with cold water
- Add 2-3 cups of liquid bleach
- Submerge the slats and allow them to soak for 10 minutes
- Make sure to wear rubber gloves and use a soft cloth to spot clean any areas
- Drain the bleach solution and refill the bath with cold water
- Submerge the slats in this water to rinse off the bleach
- Don’t squeeze the blind slats/louvres. We recommend hanging them to dry – either back on the headrail with a towel underneath or over the bathtub.
Can I use a steam cleaner to clean my vertical blinds?
For many of us, the power of steam has become essential to our weekly cleaning routine. And, as such, you may be wondering whether you can use your steam cleaner on fabric vertical blinds. As long as you can control the temperature and set it to a very low setting, there’s no reason why you can’t. Just be cautious. You don’t want to leave the louvres soaking wet or make the fibres so hot that they become damaged. It also pays to speak to your blind manufacturer to make sure that steaming the blinds won’t remove any protective coatings or finishes. To steam clean your vertical blinds:
- Make sure you have removed the dust and dirt from the surface beforehand. Dust or vacuum them with the brush attachment.
- Set your steam cleaner to the lowest setting
- Test it out on a hidden section of your blinds to make sure it doesn’t cause any damage
- Move from top to bottom with your steam cleaner, moving continuously and avoiding holding it on one set position for any length of time
- Avoid any plastic components as the heat can cause them to melt
Don’t want to wash? Choose Replacement Vertical Blind Slats
If you can’t face washing your vertical blind slats, you can always buy new replacement blind slats! Available in 100’s of colours and styles and in 89mm and 127, maybe it is time to treat yourself to some new slats! Our vertical blind slats are made to your exact measurements – all you have to do is measure your existing slat and tell us how many you require. We can then make you brand new bespoke slats at the same size as your old ones
Cleaning your vertical blinds is an easy task and one that every homeowner should integrate into their weekly, monthly and annual schedules. Here at Lifestyle Blinds, we have an experienced team on hand to help you get the most out of your window dressings. Whether it is washing your existing blind slats or buying some brand new replacement blind slats we are here to help and advise. please do get in contact with us here today and we’ll be happy to help.
