Quickly Clean Window Blinds Without Taking Them Down

Often a forgotten chore, many of us don’t clean our window blinds as frequently as we should.

Of course, we can’t really blame ourselves. It’s not a fun job, and it can be really time consuming, especially if you do it wrong, or wait too long between cleanings.

When left alone, window blinds will collect all kinds of dust and grime, and with time, they’ll become completely coated. This layer of dirt may go unnoticed for long periods, but when the sun hits it the right way, the problem will quickly become obvious. Regular dusting prevents stubborn build-up, but if you let the dust collect for a long time, it may start to glue in place, and cling to both sides of your mini blinds.

If you want to keep your blinds looking good, and avoid any permanent damage or staining, it’s important to clean them regularly. You can make the job pretty difficult if you want to, but you can also choose a fast and effective alternative, and skip the traditional methods.

Benefits of Window Blinds

Mini blinds, also known as Venetian blinds, offer several benefits that make them a popular window covering option for many homeowners and businesses. Some of the key advantages of mini blinds include:

1. Privacy control:

Mini blinds allow you to adjust the angle of the slats, giving you precise control over the amount of light and visibility into your space. You can tilt the slats upward or downward to create varying levels of privacy without completely blocking out the light.

2. Light control:

With mini blinds, you can easily regulate the amount of natural light entering your room. By adjusting the slats, you can direct light away from direct sunlight or angle them to brighten up darker areas.

3. Versatility:

Blinds come in various materials, colors, and finishes, making them versatile enough to complement any interior decor style. They can suit both modern and traditional aesthetics.

4. Cost-effective:

Mini blinds are generally more affordable compared to other window treatment options, such as curtains or custom-made shades. This affordability makes them a practical choice for budget-conscious individuals.

5. Easy maintenance:

Cleaning and maintaining window blinds are relatively straightforward. Regular dusting or occasional wiping down is usually enough to keep them clean and functional for long periods.

6. Space-saving:

Mini blinds are compact and lightweight, making them an ideal choice for smaller windows or windows with limited space around them. They do not take up much room and fit neatly inside the window frame.

7. Energy efficiency:

Depending on the material and style, mini blinds can provide some level of insulation by trapping air between the slats and the window. This insulation can help reduce heat transfer, leading to potential energy savings in both summer and winter.

8. Durability:

Window blinds are often made from durable materials like aluminum, PVC, or wood, making them long-lasting and resistant to wear and tear.

9. Child and pet safety:

Unlike some long corded window treatments, mini blinds usually come with cordless or safety cord options, reducing the risk of entanglement accidents for children and pets.

10. Easy installation:

Window blinds are generally easy to install, and many models come with simple mounting hardware, making them a practical choice for DIY projects.

Top 3 Ways To Clean Window Blinds

Although a specially designed duster is one of the fastest and easiest ways to clean window blinds, and it allows you to do it without taking them down, there are other methods you can use. You may want to get started right away, or you may want to tackle the job without buying anything new, so check out the most highly recommended ways to clean this dust-collecting window treatment below.

1. Use a Vacuum

This method will not work for grime that’s glued in place, but it can offer a quick way to lift off surface dust. A vacuum cleaner will work well, if you have the right one, but many can be too heavy, and some lack the necessary attachments. If you do have a good model, then you’ll have good reach, good coverage, and a fast cleaning speed when you use this technique to clean your mini blinds.

How To Do It

1. To prepare, ensure that you have the correct attachments in place. An extension wand with a brush works best.
2. To do it, position your blinds so they are closed, then use a brush attachment to lightly dust the surface.
3. Once one side is finished, position the slats in the opposite direction, and then vacuum the other side.
4. For best results, work from one side to the other, top to bottom.

If used regularly, this method can be an easy way to maintain clean blinds. It’s safe for all materials, so you can use it on any blinds you have.

The Upside

Using a vacuum cleaner is fast and effective, and you can do it while your blinds are still hanging. When you use one, you’ll be sure that you’re collecting all of the dust, and disposal will be easy. Also, most people will already have a vacuum, so you can get started right away. With the right extension attachment, you’ll have a long reach to make cleaning in all locations easy.

The Downside

You can’t clean both sides at once, and you won’t be able to remove any dirt and dust that’s coated on or glued in place. Also some machines may not be able to do it, and some may be too heavy or cumbersome to use on all windows. When using a vacuum cleaner to dust mini blinds, it’s pretty easy to cause damage if you’re not being careful.

2. Use a Regular Duster or a Cleaning Cloth

Be careful when using any-old rag or duster to clean your blinds. Many cloths, feather dusters, and other similar tools will just push dirt around, and they won’t do a very good job at lifting dust off the surface of your blinds. When looking for dusters or rags, be sure to chose one that’s made of a material that attracts dust, or make sure to use the tool in tandem with a spray cleaner that aids in this ability.

When used regularly, this method will work to keep window treatments clean, and it’s also able to remove dirt that’s stuck in place. Some of the annoying aspects of this technique include the short reach you have, the lack of ability to get all surfaces or clean both sides at once, and the possibility of drips and other messes as a result.

How To Do It

1. To use a duster or dusting cloth on your blinds, you’ll have to do one side at a time, and you’ll want to work from the top to the bottom to ensure a thorough job.
2. To prevent the mini blinds from moving as you apply pressure to wipe, place your opposite hand on the back side to stabilize.
3. For regular dust, use the cloth dry, and wipe from one side to the other.
4. For stubborn dirt, add some water or a cleaning solution to help loosen the grime.
5. Be careful to collect the dust and dirt rather than just push it around, or brush it to the ground.
6. One you clean one side, rotate the slats, and then clean the other.

Make a Natural Cleaning Solution

If you need to make an effective cleaning liquid to remove stubborn dirt from your blinds, you can do it with vinegar and water. Just mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water, and then soak into a rag, or place into a spray bottle and apply it that way.

Use Some Bleach

For white blinds, you can use a bit of bleach to brighten the surface after removing all of the surface grime. To do this, simply mix a very small amount (1-4 tablespoons) of bleach into a bucket, tub or spray bottle full of warm water.

The Upside

When you clean your blinds with a cloth, you can finish the job quickly, and get started with very little setup required. Regular dust and stubborn dirt can both be cleaned with this technique, and you can avoid taking your blinds down. Every house will have some sort of cloth or duster that will work, so so investment will be necessary.

The Downside

Using a cloth puts you pretty close to the dirt, and wiping to clean can be time consuming. You won’t ever be able to clean both sides at once, and depending on the exact cloth you’re using, it may be tough to get good results. With a regular cleaning cloth, or a regular duster, you’ll have to be careful to avoid pushing the dust around rather than lifting it up. With a cloth, you won’t have a very long reach, and disposal can be a little tricky.

3. Take The Blinds Down

We know you were trying to avoid removing your window treatments because you were looking for a fast and effective way to complete the job, but if you do take your blinds off the window, you will probably do the best job.

You’ll also take the most time, use the most effort, and make the biggest mess in the process, and that’s why most people are looking for a better option.

If you want to ensure a spotless set of blinds, you may actually want to consider taking them down. This is the easiest way to ensure a thorough job, but it’s also the most work, and the most time consuming. When you take them out of your windows, you can hose blinds down on your driveway outside, or scrub them in the bathtub to get them clean. While removed, you can easily clean all surrounding areas of the frame and sill to ensure a thorough job also.

How To Do It

1. When cleaning, just be sure to avoid using too much moisture on wood blinds, and avoid this method altogether for cloth ones.
2. To wash blinds outside, lay down an old shower curtain or tarp first. Place your blinds on top, and position the slats for easy cleaning. You can use soap and water, or just water to do the cleaning. If necessary, you can also use a mop, soft brush, rubber broom or other tool to aid in scrubbing and washing.
3. Once you finish one side, flip over, or rotate the slats to clean the other side. Hose the off when finished to rinse off any residual soap or dust.
4. Allow them to dry in place before bringing back inside.
5. To scrub blinds in your tub instead, simply fill and then submerge. You can add soap to aid in cleaning, and you can let blinds soak for a period of time to loosen stubborn dirt. Wash with a cloth or gentle scrub brush, making sure to clean both sides.
6. Once clean, remove from the water, shake lightly to remove excess water, then lay to dry on bath towels, shammys or another absorbent surface.

The Upside

When you wash them in your tub, or hose them down outside, you’ll be sure that both sides of your mini blinds are thoroughly clean. You won’t have to worry if you can reach every spot, and you won’t have trouble with any stubborn dirt. It’s tough to get bad results when you clean with this technique, so the outcome will be pretty much guaranteed.

The Downside

This technique requires the most time, and the most effort. You’ll also need the most stuff to get started. You risk damage to your blinds if you get water in the wrong places, so you’ll need to be careful when submerging them. Thanks to all of the water and soap and scrubbing, it’s easy to make a new mess while cleaning the original one, so there may be extensive clean-up after you finish.

An Easy Way To Clean Blinds Without Taking Them Down

Our 2-In-1 Blind Cleaning Tool is a high quality duster that adapts to any type of blind, and it’ll help you save time and effort the next time you clean your window treatments. The instructions that follow will demonstrate how it thoroughly cleans all parts of your window blinds in a matter of seconds. Instead of taking a full day to clean all of the mini blinds in your home, you can use this tool to reduce the chore to a quick and simple task.

What is it?

It’s kind of a funny looking tool, but the odd shape makes it highly effective for cleaning every part of your window blinds, and the area around them. The 2-In-1 tool has a three-pronged microfiber duster at one end, and a large nylon brush at the other.

The plush duster side will glide across any type of blind to lift up, and lock in every spec of dust encountered. When you squeeze, it’ll clamp down to clean both sides at once, and because there’s two slots, you can dust two slats at a time.

2-In-1 Action

Similar dusters have low quality sleeves that don’t remove as much dirt, but they’re also limited because they force you to use other tools, rags, or sprays to finish the job. Thanks to the added brush at the base of the handle on this tool, you’ll have the perfect extra tool to dust behind strings, remove debris from corners, or eliminate dirt from windowsills, and you’ll already be holding it.

No running to get supplies at the last minute, and no need to haul a whole load of cleaning supplies with you as you dust your window blinds.

One simple tool can do the whole job, and you’ll finish quickly without compromising results.

Step-By-Step Cleaning Instructions

If you take your window blinds down, you can clean every slat at the same time by hosing them down outside, or washing them in your bathtub. If you want to avoid removing your blinds, you’ll have to clean them in place, and if you don’t use the best tools and techniques, it’ll be difficult to eliminate the dust from both sides without making a mess, or taking a long time.

1. To dust the slats using our 2-In-1 Tool, prep for the job by making sure the sleeve is clean, and properly installed. Then make sure the windows are ready by adjusting the blinds to the open position.
2. In most cases, you’ll want to use the tool alone, without any cleansers or added moisture. When the build-up is especially stubborn, you can wet the sleeve, or lightly spray the blind surface with water or cleanser to help loosen and remove the stuck-on dirt.
3. To clean slats, simply insert the tool, and then squeeze slightly to apply light pressure.
4. Once in place, just glide back and forth to quickly clean the top and bottom of two slats.
5. Start at the top or bottom of each dirty blind, and continue, up or down, to clean the full blind, two slats at a time.
6. Flip the tool around and use the brush end to clean behind wires and strings, or to dust into corners, remove bugs from sills, and do anything else necessary to finish the job.
7. When dirty, the plush microfiber sleeve is machine washable.
8. Use as an effective and non-toxic tool, or combine with your favorite cleanser if desired.

Why It’s Better

Premium Quality Microfiber:

Unlike other window blind cleaning tools with limited ability, this one features a thick and durable cover that cleans better than the competition. It’ll hold more dust, and it’ll clean more thoroughly with less effort. Your job will be easier because dust will be pulled in like a magnet, and the plush material will lock it in.

Extra-Wide Cleaning Surface:

Skinnier tools take more work to get the job done, and they hold less dust, so you may have to use multiple sleeves, or take multiple days to finish. The wide cleaning surface on this tool ensures a thorough cleaning in just one pass, and because it holds more dust, you can clean more mini blinds with a single sleeve.

Added Dusting Brush:

If you want to avoid carrying around several tools to do one job, or if you just like fast and effective ways to get professional results, then you’ll love this tool. It requires little effort, and it does an amazing job. For any surface that the microfiber duster can’t clean, just flip it over to use the dusting brush instead.

Sturdy Long-Lasting Frame:

Why waste money on flimsy tools that wear easily, and don’t work as well? The commercial grade handle on this window blind duster will provide years of use, with no decrease in performance.

A Premium Quality Sleeve

The microfiber dusting sleeve does the bulk of the cleaning, so quality is important. Lower quality material will not lift dust off the surface, or hold it in, and if it’s not plush enough, it’ll never collected enough dust to finish the job. The picture above illustrates the incredible cleaning power offered by our 2-In-1 Blind Cleaning Tool. With very little effort, the material alone was able to collect an amazing amount of dirt and dust from the surface of the window blinds.

An Adaptive Design

It doesn’t matter if the slats are fat or mini, thick or thin. You can use this tool on any type of window blind, even the vertical ones, and it’s safe and effective on all common materials. Because the handle and duster tip are flexible, you only need to apply light pressure to squeeze down and adapt to different types. Use it on vinyl, metal, or wood, and get the same quality results on Venetian blinds, mini blinds or any other type.

A Bonus Brush

The dusting brush addition to the handle is incredibly useful. Although the main tool works quickly to eliminate all dust it encounters, there will, inevitably, be areas that it can’t get to. For all of the spots behind strings, near hardware, or in other tight spaces, just use the soft nylon to brush them clean. By taking advantage of the combo aspect of this tool, you will save time, and you’ll also guarantee that every spec of dust is removed from all parts of your window.

Clean Corners and Other Tight Spaces

No portion of the mini blinds, or the surrounding window frame will be off limits. The long bristles on the brush will remove dust and dirt from the corners of windowsills, deep grooves, inside the frame, and much more. Safe, but effective, the nylon bristles will lift up, and pull out, dust and debris from every spot that other tools can’t touch.

A Fast and Effective Tool

The above picture shows a set of window blinds that have just been cleaned. It only took seconds to accomplish, and we cleaned only the left half in order to show how effective the tool is. Notice the thick coating of dust that darkens the slats on the right side, and the brighter, dust-free surface on the left side that was cleaned. Unlike rags and other quick methods, this one does the job quickly and thoroughly.

No dust will be left on either side of your window blinds, and it’ll only take you a few minutes to clean each window in your home.

Before and After

No matter how dirty your window treatments are, you can quickly clean them with professional level results. You won’t need to take them down or use soap and water. You can thoroughly clean your window blinds while they hang. The image above shows a set of blinds before and after cleaning.

Prevent Dirt and Dust Buildup

Want to avoid this job altogether? If you help them to stay clean longer, you’ll be able to save time and effort because preventing window blinds from getting dirty can help you maintain a clean and tidy living space while reducing the frequency of deep cleaning. Here are some tips to keep your window blinds cleaner for longer:

1. Regular dusting: Make it a habit to dust your blinds regularly using a microfiber cloth, duster, or a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. Dusting prevents dust and debris from settling and building up on the blinds.
2. Keep windows closed on windy days: Windy days can bring in more dust and dirt from outside, which can settle on your blinds. Keeping windows closed during these days can help minimize the amount of dust that accumulates on the blinds.
3. Avoid smoking indoors: Smoking indoors not only affects indoor air quality but also leads to the buildup of nicotine and tar on your blinds. If possible, smoke outdoors to prevent these substances from staining your blinds.
4. Keep pets away: Pets can shed fur and dander, which can stick to blinds. Keep your pets away from the windows or use pet gates to limit their access to window areas.
5. Clean hands before touching: If you touch the blinds with dirty or greasy hands, you’ll transfer oils and dirt onto the slats. Make it a habit to wash your hands before touching the blinds.
6. Cooking precautions: Cooking can release grease and airborne particles that may settle on the blinds. Use exhaust fans while cooking to help minimize this, especially in the kitchen.
7. Use air purifiers: Air purifiers can help reduce airborne dust particles and allergens, which can ultimately help keep your blinds cleaner.
8. Close blinds during windy or stormy weather: Closing the blinds during windy or stormy weather can prevent dust and debris from entering your home and settling on the blinds.
9. Regular cleaning of surrounding areas: Regularly clean the area around your windows, including window sills and frames, as these areas can contribute to dirt and dust buildup on the blinds.
10. Clean spills and stains immediately: If any spills or stains occur on the blinds, clean them immediately to prevent them from setting in and becoming harder to remove.
11. Fabric softener sheets: To repel dust and keep your blinds cleaner for longer, wipe them down with a fabric softener sheet after dusting.

By following these preventive measures, you can significantly reduce the frequency of deep cleaning and extend the time between thorough cleanings of your window blinds.

It’s easy to clean window blinds without taking them down, but if you want to do the best job, you may want to stick with traditional methods and good old fashioned elbow grease. For those that would prefer speed to overall effectiveness, using the tool mentioned above will certainly allow you to quickly clean all sides of your window blinds, and you can leave them right where they are.

Got a better way to clean window blinds? Use the comments section below to share with everyone else.

Did you try one of the techniques mentioned here? Please share your results. Good or bad, we would love to know how it went for you.

Tip Contents

• Benefits of Window Blinds
• Top 3 Cleaning Techniques
• An Easy Way To Clean Blinds
• Step-By-Step Instructions
• Why It’s Better
• Prevent Dust Buildup

Products Mentioned

• 2-In-1 Window Blinds Tool
• Static Duster
• Super Shammy
• Dusting Cloths
• Rubber Broom