Tips for Cleaning your Mini Blinds

Those mini blinds are a beast to clean... or are they? Here are some tips for cleaning your mini blinds in a hurry.

Cleaning Mini Blinds

At some point in time, all of us have come across mini blinds at the local home improvement center. They look really nice sitting there, although no one wants to spend a few days removing the dust from them.  Regardless of what you may hear or think, it doesn't always have to be this way.

It will probably seem obvious, but you should close the slats prior to dusting.  Weekly blind
dusting is the best way to go, using a lamb's wool duster, as lamb's wool will naturally attract dust and can help prevent buildup as well.

If lamb's wool isn't available, a paintbrush may also do the trick.  Make sure you place some towels underneath the blinds to catch any excess dust.  If you want to be thorough, you can also take the blinds down and clean them in your bathtub. 

To remove the grease from the blinds, an all purpose cleaner can be used.  Spray the blinds good, then let the cleaner work on them for a few minutes.  Then, wipe the cleaner off with  a soft cloth, although rinsing the cloth will make it even more effective.  To clean the other side of the blinds, flip it over and do the same thing as mentioned above. 

This one is simple - simply use an old pair of cotton gloves to clean your blinds.  Slip the gloves on, dip your fingers into a solution of 1 teaspoon ammonia and 1 quart water, then run your fingers through the mini blinds. 

If you prefer, you can also use the vaccuum cleaner hose attachments.  You can even use the vaccuum cleaner without having to remove the blinds. Putting a dryer sheet on the blinds will remove any static so that dust will no longer be attracted to the blinds.

Mini Binds are the Easiest Window Blinds to Clean

When it comes to cleaning window blinds, aluminum is the easiest to clean. You can use almost any soft dust cloth to do the job. Mini blinds are commonly made from aluminum and if you use a cloth that is chemically treated, this can be more effective than using one that isn't. If your blinds are very dusty, it's a good idea to vacuum them first by attaching a brush head to the vacuum hose. Make sure the slats are pointing downwards and vacuum gently. Cover the entire slats carefully and pay attention to vacuuming horizontally for horizontal blinds and vertically for vertical blinds.

After vacuuming, use a small portion of household cleaning liquid on a damp cloth with only warm or cold water for cleaning them. Lay the blinds down on the floor and place some rag cloths under them to avoid a mess. Remember, never use hot water! If your window blinds are very dirty you can take them down, put them in your bathtub full of warm water and mix in some dishwashing detergent. Wipe the slats gently with a soft cloth or sponge and when you're done, wipe them dry with a sponge or cloth, or you can hang them up to dry.

If you need to do just a quick cleaning, you can use a feather duster or a soft cloth. One unique way is to use an old soft cotton sock and a bottle of all-purpose cleaning spray. Use the spray with the sock on your hand to gently wipe the slats If the cords are dirty, use a good stain remover and that should do the trick. If you are cleaning wooden blinds, they need special attention. Do not clean them with water as it may damage them and cause them to warp or curve. All you need to do is wipe them gently with a soft cloth or dust them with a duster. You can also vacuum them by using a brush attachment and if you would like to make them gleam use a non-wax furniture polish. If you would like to clean them thoroughly you can use a wood cleaner such as oil soap. Of course, if energy or time is not at a premium, you can get a professional window blind cleaning company to do them for you.

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How to Clean Mini Blinds

Mini-blinds are very convenient and attractive window treatments. They typically have either vertical or horizontal slats, and are woven either from natural or synthetic reeds.

The only disadvantage they have is that they cannot be cleaned easily. Cleaning mini blinds doesn’t require strength – it requires delicate handling. The following instructions should help clarify how to clean them.

As a first step, you should vacuum-clean them while the mini blinds are still hanging on your window. This process will help to remove excess dust. Next, you should remove the mini-blinds from the window and take them either outside or to the bathroom for a wet wash.

For the liquid washing component, you will need a hose, a clothesline, a bucket and a sponge. Make a mixture of one-part water, to one-part ammonia in the bucket. Gently apply the mixture on the mini-blinds, front and back. Allow the mixture to stand on the blinds for about five minutes, after which you just hose them. Wipe the mini-blinds with a soft cloth and hang them on the clothesline to dry.

To help prevent dust buildup, rub down the mini-blinds with an anti-static dryer sheet.

The above instructions are most relevant for cleaning cloth mini blinds. However, on the other hand, if your mini blinds are made of wood, clean them like you clean any of your wood furniture.

Mini Blinds Info provides detailed information about vinyl, discount, wood, faux wood, custom, and aluminum mini blinds, plus advice on cleaning mini blinds. Mini Blinds Info is the sister site of Wood Blinds Web.