How to properly wash horizontal and vertical blinds?

How to wash properly: tips and tricks

Just washing the blinds like curtains will not work, most likely you will have to put in a little more effort. Horizontal and vertical blinds, fabric, plastic and metal are washed in different ways. But there are some common features:

• it is necessary to wash the blinds regularly - this is the main secret of cleanliness and maintaining a presentable appearance;
• choose a cleaning agent in accordance with the material from which the lamellas are made;
• antistatic treatment will help reduce the frequency of washing;
• wipe start from the top and move down; remove the slats and hang back carefully so as not to damage the mechanism;
• every time after washing, do not forget to wipe the glass from dust and streaks with a window cleaner, this will help keep the curtains clean.

Features of cleaning lamellas by materials

We have already mentioned that before choosing a detergent to clean the blinds, you should determine the material of the lamellas:

• Plastic. Absolutely not afraid of moisture or aggressive chemicals (except for models with photo printing). To easily and quickly wash the blinds, it is enough to soak them in warm soapy water and rub them with a brush.
• The cloth. They are not as durable, but they can be machine washed. We will explain how to do this correctly in the following sections. For care, do not use aggressive chemicals and abrasives; it is also better to replace the brush with a soft sponge.
• Metal. Contact with water leads to rust, so you need to act clearly and quickly. And so as not to scratch the paint, use a soft brush or sponge.
• Wood. Such models are not intended for rooms with high humidity, therefore it is also not recommended to wash them with water. Perform regular dry cleaning or occasional wet cleaning with special products for wooden furniture. The polish will help to restore freshness to the lamellas.

How easy is it to clean horizontal blinds?

Horizontal blinds accumulate dust more easily and faster. To clean the blinds, they must be removed from the mounts, how to do this depends on the design of your curtains. Otherwise, follow our instructions:

1. Close the curtains.
2. Remove dust with a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth.
3. Remove the curtain from the mounts.
4. Remove the side plugs.
5. Clean the lamellas with a damp brush or sponge.

See the video for more details:

There are special brushes for blinds in stores - they are clips of 3-5 elements. For dry cleaning, you just need to grab a few slats with the device and draw from one edge to the other. An advantage of the invention is that the strips are cleaned on both sides.

Read the next section to find out the fastest way to clean your horizontal aluminum blinds.

What's the fastest way?

You don't have to spend a lot of time to properly clean your blinds. However, you still have to remove the structure from the window.

1. Move the mechanism to the closed position.
2. Remove the shade from the brackets.
3. Hang the removed part over the bathtub.
4. Apply active car wash foam.
5. Wait 2 minutes (or other time indicated on the package).
6. Rinse off with a strong stream of running water from the shower.
7. Wipe the slats dry.
8. Spray with antistatic agent.

The non-contact car wash does not damage paint and metal, but it is not cheap. However, this option is one of the simplest and most effective.

How to clean vertical blinds?

Vertical blinds stay clean longer, but you need to wash them at least a couple of times a year. To begin with, let's take a look at the structure: from above the lamellas are fixed to the cornice, from below - to the guide. As in the case of horizontal ones, for high-quality cleaning they will have to be removed from the window:

1. Set the blinds to closed mode.
2. Vacuum or dust them.
3. Open the side covers.
4. Remove chain and weights.
5. Remove the slats from the eaves.

Roll the fabric strips to make them easier to transport and clean.

You can wash vertical blinds or wash gently - the choice of method and detergent depends on the material.

Fabric slats

There are two ways to wash your blinds: by hand and with a machine.

Manual cleaning.

1. Peel off strips, roll into rolls.
2. Dilute with warm soapy water. Use powder or dishwashing detergent.
3. Soak the planks. The exposure time depends on the degree of contamination - on average 30-60 minutes.
4. Pull out one strip, clean it with a sponge.
5. Hang vertically so that the glass is water.
6. Return the lamellas to their place, assemble the structure.

Automatic cleaning.

1. Peel off strips, roll into rolls.
2. Soak in warm soapy water for 30 minutes.
3. Place the rolls in a pillowcase or cloth bag.
4. Run the washing machine in a delicate setting at a low temperature without spinning.
5. Hang until completely dry.
6. Assemble the structure.

Detailed washing instructions:

Plastic slats

Plastic cannot be machine washed, only hand cleaning is suitable. If the dirt is not heavy, it will not take long.

1. Move the shade to the closed position.
2. Vacuum or dust off.
3. Dilute dish detergent or any other type of detergent.
4. Spread evenly with a spray bottle.
5. Leave to act for 5-10 minutes.
6. Microfiber wipe each lamella, removing the agent along with dirt.

Tip: If dirt remains somewhere, scrub it with a toothbrush soaked in soapy water.

How to wash without removing from the windows?

We have already shown an example of how to wash blinds without removing from the windows, but this method is suitable not only for plastic vertical slats. This way you can clean any blinds at home.

1. Close the planks.
2. Vacuum or wipe off the main dust.
3. Moisten the louver brush.
4. Grab a few slats, run from start to finish.

The brush will need to be rinsed after each pass. If the dirt is heavy, lukewarm water is not enough, add a cleaning agent.

During cleaning, be careful not to damage or break the fragile mechanism.

Life hack: If you do not have a special brush, use ordinary microfiber or office equipment napkins - they will help remove even stubborn dirt.

How to wash vertical blinds right on the window, see the video:

Features of cleaning by type of contamination

We have analyzed what is the difference in care, depending on the material from which they are made. Now you should consider simple ways to get rid of different types of stains:

Nicotine. If the curtains are hung in a room where people are constantly smoking, they will form a yellow coating. The easiest way to return the lamellas to whiteness is to use a car dashboard cleaner. Ordinary soda can handle soot, but you will have to wash it off with the help of a shower. The last option is the usual whiteness. Or any chlorine-based product like the one used to clean plumbing fixtures.

Fat. For plastic or aluminum blinds from the kitchen, dilute 1: 2 vinegar with water. Moisten a soft cloth and wipe the slats with it, the grease should disappear.If that doesn't work, try washing them with chlorine - whiteness or domestos will cope even with a thick layer.

Felt pen. Kids love to paint on a variety of surfaces and blinds are no exception. The easiest way to remove these stains is with regular rubbing alcohol. Nail polish remover, toothpaste, hairspray, or WD-40 grease will also help. Try on an inconspicuous area before using any product to avoid ruining the curtains.

Now you know the basic ways to clean your blinds at home. But the most important advice is to do it regularly, then you can do only with warm water and soapy water, without chemicals.