Vertical blinds are a great choice for your home. However, they are often quite tricky when it comes to washing them. As a result, most people opt for removing their fabric slats and taking them for dry cleaning. However, you can also clean them at home even more easily irrespective of the material they are made of. Vertical blinds can either be washed while hanging or by removing them and washing them. If you want to wash your blinds the following information will come in handy for both hanging and remove blinds:
What you’ll need
You’ll need a vertical blind cleaning tool, buckets, mild soap or detergent, water and towels or drop cloths. Ensure that the detergent you’re using is safe for the material of your blind.
Steps for washing Hanging Vertical Blinds
1. Get the Cleaning tool or make a DIY one
At most janitorial stores, you’ll be able to find a vertical blind cleaning tool. If you don’t, you can make one for yourself.
2. Protect the Floors
Several towels or a tarp can be placed on the floor under the blinds that you’re cleaning. These will help catch drips from the blind, thereby, protecting the floor from the mess coming from above.
3. Add the soap or detergent to warm water
Fill a bucket with warm water and add some amount of mild detergent or soap. You can test a small area of your blind if you aren’t sure of the colour fastness.
4. Get some clean water
The second bucket should be filled with clean water that will be used for rinsing.
5. Saturate the Cleaning Tool
In the soapy water, dip the tool for cleaning until its sponges have reached saturation.
6. Begin cleaning the blinds
As you begin at the upper part of the blinds, ensure that the cleaning tool is placed between two slats and are being pressed together. This should then be slid down all the way to the bottom.
7. Rinse the Cleaning tool sponges
To clean the sponges of the cleaning tool, dip it in the rinse water and then squeeze the sponges out.
8. Dip the back in the soapy water to clean once more
Once rinsed, you should keep the sponge in the cleaning water and clean the blind slats again. If the blinds are too dirty, it will take several such swipes to make them clean.
9. Allow for Drying
The moment you’re through with cleaning the blinds, you should allow them to dry in the air. Alternatively, you may use a towel to dry them by removing moisture and to eliminate drip marks.
10. Clean any existing spots
In case of any areas that are stained, apply a stain remover or a spot cleaner to a soft cloth and use it to treat the stains.
Washing removed Blinds
In some situations, it may be easier to remove the vertical blinds and just do the washing on them before you return them. Fabric made from flexible blinds can be removed and placed in a bathtub to be washed. For the stiff ones, care should be taken to avoid causing any damages to them. Once removed, you can place a tarp on the surface you want to use to clean the blinds or place them in a bathtub. The slats can then be washed with soapy water that’s at a warm temperature using a sponge or a soft cloth. After that, clean water should be used to thoroughly clean them. Each slat should then be cleaned with soft towels before they are returned and hanged and left to dry completely.
Conclusion
Cleaning your blinds can result in many health benefits within your home, as not only does it reduce the dirt and dust in your home. But also prevents unwanted pests creating nests and making an unwanted home within your home.
With these steps, you’ll be able to clean your vertical blinds without having to take them to the dry cleaners and avoid the extra expenditure. However, blinds need to be cared for if they’re to stay clean for longer periods. So, ensure you care for them daily and even weekly.
