Introduced in the early ’70s the Venetian blinds were predominantly used in office buildings. Throughout the years, their unique style and better light control made them a popular choice for home use too. Today, Venetian blinds decorate millions of homes worldwide, providing privacy, style, and luxury. Coming in a variety of colors, materials, and finishes, these popular blinds are the perfect addition to every window. And have we mentioned that they reflect up to 95% of the sunlight?
As with anything else in your home though, you need to clean Venetian blinds on a regular basis. This is a pretty straightforward procedure and there is no room for panic. Yet, you need to know how to do it in the right way, otherwise, you risk damaging your lovely blinds or leaving them half-way cleaned. This is why we have created this easy-to-follow and detailed guide on cleaning Venetian blinds. So, let’s roll our sleeves up and get started!
Different ways of cleaning Venetian blinds
The cleaning process for the Venetian blinds differs depending on factors, such as material and frequency of cleaning. For instance, aluminum or plastic blinds allow for wet or deep cleaning, whereas the Venetian blinds made of wood require gentle care and the use of a specialized Venetian blind cleaner.
As to the cleaning frequency – light cleaning is required once a week or fortnightly, and deep cleaning needs to be done once every few months. So, let’s have a better look at the different ways of cleaning Venetian blinds, by starting with the light clean.
How to give Venetian blinds a light clean?
In order to keep your lovely Venetian blinds fresh and shiny, you need to give them regular light clean. Ideally, this should be done at least once a week or fortnightly at most, depending on the amount of dust your home collects. This will not only maintain your blinds in perfect condition but will also save you precious time and effort during the deep cleaning chore.
All you need to light clean Venetian blinds is a duster and a cloth. You may also use the vacuum cleaner, provided that it has a setting for lowering the suction power and a soft attachment. During the light cleaning, you need to make sure you cover both sides of the slats, and not just the one facing the room. Here are the steps of light cleaning Venetian blinds:
- Lower the Venetian blinds and close the slats completely to allow for an easier clean;
- Provide an easier and safe working environment by pulling the curtains away, removing any objects from the windows, and using a stepping stool if needed;
- Check for any visible stains or debris and remove those using a paper towel or microfiber cloth. For that step you might need a Venetian blind cleaner, depending on the severity of the stains;
- Start dedusting your blinds by using a fine duster or dry cotton cloth. Alternatively, you may want to use a cotton glove instead of a duster or a vacuum cleaner with the right attachment;
- Cover each slat starting from the middle and moving towards the sides. Once you have dedusted all slats from one side, turn around the blinds and repeat the process. Don’t forget to clean the cloth or duster often during the procedure.
How to deep clean Venetian blinds?
Regular light cleaning is ideal for keeping your blinds in a sparkling condition, but in the long run, it is simply not enough. In order to make the most of your Venetian blinds, you need to give them deep cleaning too. Luckily, this should be done once every few months, so it does not require much effort or time over the year.
Having said that, not all Venetian blinds allow for a deep clean. The ones made of aluminum, PVC, or other water-proof materials are good to go, whereas the blinds made of wooden slats must be excluded from this type of thorough cleaning. It is also worth mentioning that deep cleaning requires the Venetian blinds to be removed from the window, which is why the process is more time-consuming than a light cleaning. So, let’s get started!
- Take your Venetian blinds down by undoing the side brackets of the headrail. Beware that removing Venetian blinds may require checking the manual of your blinds and using a screwdriver;
- Cover the bottom of your bathtub with a cotton towel and position the blinds on top of it as flat as possible. Make sure you keep the headrail outside the water to avoid unwanted damage. If the slats are too long, you may want to gently fold them, so they can fit in;
- Fill in the bathtub with warm water until the blinds are fully covered, and add a liquid detergent, such as dish wash. To boost the power of the detergent, you may add a bit of vinegar to the water;
- Let the Venetian blinds soak for at least an hour or two, depending on the amount of dirt accumulated. For slats that are covered in a lot of grime, you may want to soak them overnight;
- If you think soaking is not enough, you can use a mild brush or a sponge to remove stubborn spots. Use gentle movements so you don’t scratch the blinds;
- Rinse the slats with clean water to remove the detergent. Handle with care to avoid damage;
- Hang the blinds until fully dry and put them back on the window. If you are in a rush, you may want to use a dry cloth to speed up the drying.
Final thoughts
Venetian blinds are a lovely accessory to every window, giving your home a sense of style and luxury. These types of blinds come in many colors and materials, but just like any other piece of furnishing, they collect dust and need cleaning.
In order to keep your blinds fresh and sparkling, you need to light clean them once a week and give them deep cleaning once every few months. Even though it might sound like a tedious task, cleaning your Venetian blinds is not such a big deal. All you need is the right cleaning materials and the know-how. Hopefully, this article has managed to take care of the latter.