How to Clean Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds can pick up grime and dust like nobody’s business, and are notoriously known for being tricky to clean – but fear not! While the best way to clean venetian blinds depends on how dirty they are, as well as whether they’re made from wood or a synthetic material, this guide makes cleaning either type a breeze!

Remember: Test all cleaning products or polishes on a small, inconspicuous patch before going over the whole area to avoid any unwanted effects such as discolouration.

How to Clean Venetian Blinds: Frequent Cleaning

Though it may sound like a cliché, ‘little and often’ also holds true if you want consistently clean Venetian blinds. Regular cleaning will prevent dirt from building up, reducing the need for a lengthy deep clean. Follow these simple steps to make things a little easier on yourself:

1. Tie back the curtains and make sure all other soft furnishings are out of the way.
2. Dust with a light feather duster (an old t-shirt or tea towel works well too).
3. Wipe each slat with a dry cloth to remove visible debris.
4. Apply a bespoke blind cleaning solution – look for one with an anti-static agent to help prevent dust from gathering in future.

Timesaving tip: Instead of going over each slat by hand, use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery brush attachment to avoid scratching the blinds and suck up dust in half the time.

Cleaning Venetian Blinds – Synthetic Materials

One of the best ways of thoroughly cleaning Venetian blinds from top to bottom is the tried and trusted bath method – (of course, the following steps are not suitable for wooden blinds):

1. Detach blinds from their fixing (most modern designs sit on slide-off plastic fittings for easy removal meaning you don’t have to be a DIY whizz and remove the brackets).
2. Fill a bath around a third full of warm water. Add half a cup of biological detergent powder – use a fragranced product to add a subtle scent to freshen up the room.
3. Submerge the blinds and run a cloth over each slat.
4. Leave to drip dry over a shower rail or on the washing line outside if it’s a nice day, then put back up, and you’re done!

Wooden Venetian Blinds Cleaning

Although wooden blinds lend a rustic feel to modern homes, cleaning them requires a more delicate approach. Detergent is a no-no as it could end up warping the wood. Follow these no-fuss steps for a quick, easy clean:

1. Poke a feather duster through each groove to dislodge the excess dust and traverse from left to right to dislodge any dirt.
2. Apply a wood cleaning spray to a soft cotton cloth and run over each slat.
3. For best results, run over the slats once more with a non-wax furniture polish.

Timesaving tip: Instead of using a soft cotton cloth for step 2, apply the cleaning spray to an old sock and wear it as a glove, running your hand over each slat for a handy shortcut!