How to Clean Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds are a relatively inexpensive means of adding privacy to your windows. Blinds can be purchased in basic colors, such as white, beige, dark green, and sometimes burgandy in most of your local shopping centers. Custom colors and sizes are also available at an increased price, of course. These easy to install blinds look great and can be used alone or with other window dressings.

They look great, that is, until you notice the dust collected on the slats of the blind. But don't despair, you can clean your blinds. It just takes a little time and effort.

It is a good idea to try to clean your blinds in the spring and fall. Hopefully, the weather will be warm enough so that you can do the cleaning outside. You will be able to clean the blinds faster and have much less clean up outside.

All that said, now what do you need to clean venetian blinds? Something to clean them in is naturally the first thing you need. A child's small plastic swimming pool makes an excellent washtub for the blinds. Just fill it with enough water to cover the blinds.

There are several things you can add to the water to help with the cleaning process. Some people will just add a quart or more of vinegar and let the blinds soak. Others will add their favorite cleaning product to the water. Most of the products will help. However, I prefer to just add enough dishwashing liquid, Dawn is my favorite, to create plenty of suds.

An old rag mop makes the best cleaning tool. You can use a sponge mop if you don't have a rag mop, but it will take more effort to clean the slats of the blinds.

Unroll your water hose and keep it close to rinse the blinds off after you have cleaned them.

The last thing you will need is a place to hang or place the blinds until they dry. A nearby fence is a perfect place. Or you could even drape them over the backs of lawn chairs until they dry. Grab a few old towels to hasten drying.

Now you're ready to clean. Close the blinds and lay them in the water. Simply "mop" the blinds. Turn the blind over and do the other side. Then hold the blinds up or hang them over the fence and spray them off with the water hose. Check for any missed spots and clean. Re-rinse and allow to dry thoroughly before hanging back up.

As I said earlier, the Spring or Fall is the best time to clean your blinds. But if you have to clean them inside, the bathtub can be substituted for the swimming pool. A handheld shower nozzle will replace the water hose. Just have plenty of towels to cover all the dripping.

Cleaning venetian blinds is not hard; it just takes a little old-fashion elbow grease. However, the sun shining through your fresh clean blinds will make the effort worthwhile.

Information Sources: ehow.com, Shelia West