Refreshing old aluminium venetian blinds is a good idea if replacing them isn’t an option. Blinds are notoriously difficult to clean so it is easy to put the job off until they require a deep clean.
When you move into a new home or start decorating a room with dirty old venetian blinds in, they can really stand out. Fear not, with a good clean and fresh décor, they will look as good as new again.
There are so many different tips for cleaning venetian blinds. Across the internet you can find tips for deep cleaning stains to light regular dusting. Here are some of the most effective we’ve found.
Prepare the area to clean
Cleaning blinds, even just dusting them, can get messy. If you keep on top of them with a regular weekly dust, they won’t be too bad. However, if you are going to use soapy water, spray or give them a hoover, you will want to clear the area. Move curtains out of the way, take ornaments of the windowsill and make sure you have plenty of space to move around.
For deep cleaning, a good tip is to clean them in the bath or outside. It can also help to have a second person with you for this as it does make it easier to move big blinds around.
How to clean venetian blinds
Best practice for cleaning a blind is to start at the top and work your way down the slats. Clean individual slats by starting in the middle and moving to one edge, then move from the middle to the other edge. Do both sides like this.
What to clean venetian blinds with
Let’s start with what you can use to give your blinds a regular dusting with.
Use a microfibre cloth to clean old venetian blinds
A microfibre cloth attracts and clings onto dust and particles. This makes it a great option for cleaning aluminium venetian blinds if they are mostly dusty. Shake the cloth off when it gets noticeably dusty but do that in a different room or straight into the bin. You don’t want to shake it all back onto the blind.
Invest in a good feather duster
An actual feather, feather duster (still faux feathers though) works really well for a regular dust of venetian blinds. With the feathers sticking out at different angles, you can manoeuvre it around the strings. The long handle will save you standing on a stool if you can’t reach the top.
Get a specific blind cleaning product
There are several layered dusters, pads and cloths available that are designed to fit in between several blind slats at once. These can help reduce the time it takes to give your blinds a quick dust.
Vacuum the dust off the venetian blinds
If your vacuum has a brush attachment, use this to suck the dust right off the blinds. Be careful though, if your vacuum is too strong, it may damage the blinds. Test it first.
A more medium clean to remove grime, requires more than a duster.
Soap and water
Warm, soapy water works so well for so many household chores. Hold the damp cloth, or old sock, around the fingers and thumb (like a sock puppet). Run your hand across the blind slat, cleaning both the top and underneath of the slat at the same time. Once you have wiped the whole venetian blind down, go over it again with a dry cloth.
Vinegar or glass cleaner
Some people prefer spraying glass cleaner or water mixed with vinegar onto the whole blind. If you do this, you will probably want to take the blind down so you can turn it over and do the back too.
If you clean the venetian blind when they are closed, you will miss the top of each slat. Make sure you go back and clean those parts still.
Deep cleaning a venetian blind
For a really deep clean, take the blind down. If cleaning the blind outside put some towels or blankets down to prevent the blind getting scratched. If you decide to clean it in the bath, you may wish to put towels down to stop the blind scratching the bath.
To deep clean a really dirty venetian blinds you will need:
- Hot soapy water
- Non-abrasive cloth
- Dry cloths
- Old toothbrush
- Microfibre cloth
Optional:
- Plastic restorer
Before you get started, try to avoid getting any water in the top mechanisms. They will be prone to rusting if made from metal.
- Using a non-abrasive cloth, give the blinds a good wash and rinse with the shower head/hose.
- For stains on the string use a toothbrush with soap on to give the stained spots a good scrubbing.
- A toothbrush can help you get in any tight spots too.
- Give the venetian blinds a second wash if needed.
- Carefully clean the top of the blind and use plastic restorer to fix any scuff marks you can’t clean off.
- Make sure the blinds are thoroughly rinsed of soap.
- Thoroughly dry the whole blind with the dry cloths, when one gets damp, switch to a fresh one.
- Finally, use a microfibre cloth to grab any remaining dust and reduce static after the drying.
What else helps refresh an old venetian blind?
If the window is dirty, your nice clean blind will look out of place. Give the window, internal frame, and sill a clean before you put your venetian blind back up.
If you can, clean your curtains to really make the area sparkle.
Regular dusting and cleaning does a lot to prevent a massive build up of dirt on venetian blinds. If you’re faced with an old, grimy venetian blind though, it is possible to give it a makeover by cleaning it with the right tools.
Although there are lots of different ways to clean your aluminium venetian blinds, if you would like to replace them with a modern, premium alternative, come to our showroom and see our extensive collection of blinds and curtains.