The Best Way To Clean Your Blinds, According To An Expert

If you struggle with hay fever, you may think that regular chores like vacuuming the floors and dusting the furniture will do the trick to keep your home free from allergens. But it's easy to overlook one of the main sources of dust in your home: your window blinds. Your blinds can accumulate enough dust to aggravate respiratory problems such as asthma if they're not cleaned regularly. There are a variety of ways to tackle this job, however, some methods work better than others (and some actions might even make the situation worse). So what is the best way to clean your window blinds?

Hugo Guerrero is a certified House Cleaning Technician with Mattressive and specializes in high-quality cleaning services for both homes and businesses. In an exclusive interview with House Digest, Guerrero offers his expertise on the most effective way to keep window blinds clean and free of dust and other irritants. As he points out, "cleaning blinds can be a tedious and time-consuming task, but it is important to maintain their appearance and prolong their lifespan."   

Dusty blinds cause a home to look dull, and opening or closing them can cause dust to spread and settle on the furniture and floor. Before you reach for a wet paper towel, however, think again. Removing dust while it's still dry will prevent you from creating those grimy streaks that are hard to remove. Guerrero suggests, "Use a microfiber cloth or a feather duster to remove loose dust and dirt from the blinds. Start from the top and work your way down, being careful not to bend the slats." Consider wearing gloves or a mask if you're sensitive to allergens, and remove any items that are under the window so they don't become covered in dust.

Guerrero also recommends letting the vacuum do the hard work. "Use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to gently remove any remaining dust or dirt. Again, start from the top and work your way down, using caution not to damage the slats." Open a door or window to let fresh air circulate as you clean, and be sure to vacuum the dust that has settled on the floor when you're finished.

Once you've removed the dust from the blinds, there still might be areas that need special attention. Additional buildup can occur on blinds in the kitchen due to cooking and baking, and bathroom windows can also accumulate excess residue from humidity and bathing products. Guerrero says, "For stubborn stains or spots, use a damp cloth or sponge and a mild cleaning solution. Be sure to test the solution on a small, inconspicuous area of the blinds first to make sure it doesn't cause any damage or discoloration."

If these methods don't clean your blinds completely, Guerrero suggests taking the next step by removing them to clean them separately. "For a more thorough clean, you can take down the blinds and soak them in a bathtub or large sink filled with warm water and a mild cleaning solution," he says. "Rinse them well and hang them up to dry." Following these steps will make an enormous difference in the beauty of your home and the health of those who live there.