How to clean blinds: vinyl, metal, wood and bamboo

Step by step

1. 1

   Close the slats and dust one side

   Tilt the slats flat and closed so they form one surface. Run the vacuum's soft brush attachment across them from top to bottom, or use an electrostatic duster.

   Why: Closed slats can be dusted like a flat panel, which is fastest. Dry dusting is safe for every blind material.

2. 2

   Flip the slats and do the other side

   Tilt the slats closed the opposite way and dust again. Then open them and run the duster along the top edges.

   Why: Dust settles on both faces and on the top edges, especially near open windows.

3. 3

   Wipe both sides of each slat at once

   For a deeper clean, slip a microfiber cleaning mitt or a cloth around each slat and slide it from the cord out to the end, holding the slat from below with your other hand.

   Why: Cleaning both sides in one pass halves the work. Supporting the slat stops it from creasing or snapping.

4. 4

   Wash water-safe slats

   On vinyl, plastic or metal blinds, dampen a sponge or soft cloth in water, with a drop of dish soap for greasy film, and scrub gently. Don't soak wood or bamboo.

   Why: Gentle washing removes the sticky film that holds dust without scratching plastic. Water warps and stains wood and bamboo.

5. 5

   Dry each slat

   Follow right behind with a dry, soft cloth before water can drip or spot.

   Why: Drying prevents water spots on metal and keeps moisture out of cords and the headrail.

6. 6

   Optional: polish to slow dust

   A light coat of furniture polish on the slats after cleaning makes later dusting easier. On wood blinds, use it sparingly.

   Why: The American Cleaning Institute suggests this, and warns that too much polish leads to wax buildup.

What your blinds are made of, and what that rules out

Horizontal blinds are slats held by cords and ladder strings, hanging from a headrail with the tilt and lift mechanism. The slats are vinyl or plastic, aluminum, real wood, faux wood, or bamboo.

• Vinyl, plastic, faux wood and aluminum: dust, and wash with water and gentle scrubbing. Plastic scratches, so no abrasive pads.
• Real wood: dust, then clean with a creamy liquid wax that cleans and waxes at once. Water can damage the finish and warp the slats.
• Bamboo: dust only. The American Cleaning Institute says not to wash bamboo blinds.

The American Cleaning Institute's pages differ slightly: one lists water and gentle scrubbing for wood, plastic and vinyl blinds together, while its hard-surface guide steers wood toward wax instead. Water is the bigger risk to wood, so use wax on real wood. In every case, the blind maker's care instructions come first.

How often to clean blinds

Blinds are dust traps. Dust them every week or two, or whenever you vacuum, and wash water-safe blinds when they look grimy or feel sticky, which happens fastest in kitchens and near open windows.

By situation

Caked-on dust and kitchen grease

Dust that won't brush off is usually stuck in a greasy film from cooking. Vacuum off what you can, then wipe each slat with warm water and a little dish soap, and dry. For wood blinds, use the wax cleaner and repeat rather than adding water.

Cleaning blinds in the bathtub

Only for vinyl, plastic or aluminum blinds, and only if the maker's instructions allow washing. Take them down, lay the slats in a few inches of water with a little dish soap, sponge them gently, rinse, and hang them to dry fully before rehanging. Keep the headrail and its mechanism out of the water. Never do this with wood, faux wood with wood components, or bamboo.

Cleaning blinds without breaking them

Support each slat from below as you wipe, move from the cord outward, and use light pressure. Aluminum slats bend easily, and old vinyl gets brittle, so a vacuum brush or duster is safer than wiping for routine cleaning.

Wood and faux wood blinds

Real wood: dust, then a creamy liquid wax, sparingly. Faux wood is usually vinyl or composite and can take a damp cloth, but check the maker's care instructions, since some contain wood fibers.

Fabric shades and other window coverings

These are cleaned like fabric, not slats: vacuum regularly with the brush attachment. See how to clean curtains for washable fabrics.

What not to do

• Don't wash bamboo blinds. The American Cleaning Institute says to dust them only; water warps and stains bamboo.
• Don't soak or wet wood blinds. Water damages wood finishes and can warp the slats.
• Don't use abrasive pads on vinyl, plastic or metal. They scratch the slats, and scratches hold dirt.
• Don't overuse furniture polish. It builds up into a waxy layer that attracts more dust.

Other methods that work

Electrostatic duster

The soft, fluffy fibers slip between the slats and grab dust. It's the quickest routine option and safe on all materials.

Creamy liquid wax for wood blinds

For real wood, a creamy liquid wax cleans and waxes in one step, replacing water entirely.

Caution: Use it sparingly to avoid wax buildup, and test on one slat first.

Stain still there?

The blinds look streaky after washing

Soap residue or water dried on the slats. Wipe again with a cloth dampened in plain water and dry each slat right away.

Dust comes back within days

A sticky film is holding it. Wash water-safe slats with a little dish soap, then apply a light coat of furniture polish to slow the buildup.

A slat got bent

Gently straighten aluminum slats by hand. For creased or cracked slats, check the blind maker's instructions or ask about replacement slats.

Questions

More guides for this room

• How to clean baseboards (painted or stained wood)
• How to clean a couch, including stains and smells
• How to clean curtains, washing them or not
• How to clean a leather couch and leather furniture
• How to clean wallpaper, and wallpaper glue off walls
• How to clean painted walls without damaging the paint
• How to remove water stains and rings from wood and fabric
• How to clean windows without streaks, and remove water spots