Home Cleaning Cleaning How-Tos How to Clean Blinds How dirty your blinds are will determine the best cleaning method. By Caylin Harris Caylin Harris Caylin Harris is a freelance writer, stylist, and crafter with over a decade of experience in the media industry. She is a regular contributor to magazines like Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Rachael Ray Every Day, Good Housekeeping, and Parents. Served as craft producer for season three of the Emmy award-winning TV show, Naturally, Danny Seo. Whether she's working for editorial or brand clients, she loves helping people learn new and exciting information about all aspects of their homes and lives. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on February 22, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article How Often Considerations Microfiber Cloth Deep Cleaning How to Remove Stains From Blinds How to Keep Blinds Clean Longer FAQs Project Overview Working Time: 20 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Skill Level: Beginner Estimated Cost: $10-20 Like windowsills, light switch plates, and ceiling fan blades, it's easy to forget about cleaning your blinds. Then one day, you open them and notice the build-up of dust and other debris. Thankfully, this oft-forgotten task isn't so bad if you're strategic. Regardless of what your blinds are made of—plastic, aluminum, wood—here's how to clean blinds the quick and easy way. The 17 Best Places to Buy Blinds for Every Style and Budget Getty Images/AndreyPopov How Often to Clean Blinds The longer you wait to clean your blinds, the more dust you'll have to deal with. As a general rule, try to clean your blinds every one to two weeks to keep dust from building up. Try to work in cleaning your blinds when you dust, so you'll get in the habit of doing it. Also, dust blinds before you vacuum or sweep, so you can remove the dust from your home rather than simply spread it around. Getty Images/Timnewman Considerations Before You Get Started A special cleaner like the Hiware Blind Duster, isn't necessary but can be helpful if you're staying on top of your weekly cleaning. It will save you time by allowing you to clean multiple blades at once. What You'll Need Materials Cleaning Microfiber cloth Vacuum and upholstery attachment Deep Cleaning Screwdriver (optional) Dish soap Microfiber cloth Removing Stains Microfiber cloth White vinegar Clean sock Instructions Getty Images/Brizmaker How to Clean Blinds With a Microfiber Cloth The method you'll use to clean your blinds depends on how dusty or dirty they are in general. A simple wipe-down with a microfiber cloth is a good place to start. Close Blinds and Wipe With a Cloth Start by closing the blinds and gently wiping them down with a microfiber cloth, moving from the top of the blind down. (For horizontal blinds, wipe from side to side.) It helps to hold the bottom of the blind in your other hand so it's pulled out from the window. Open Blinds and Wipe Again Adjust the blinds to open them, and run the microfiber cloth over them again. Then close them the opposite way and repeat. Vacuum Debris With Attachment Vacuum up any dust and debris with your vacuum attachment. Getty Images/Liudmila Chernetska How to Deep Clean Blinds For very dirty, sticky plastic blinds, remove them from the window for a deeper clean. Mix a Cleaning Solution After dry dusting the blinds with a microfiber cloth, mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Dip a Clean Sock in the Solution and Wipe Blinds Pull a clean sock over your hand and then dip the sock into your cleaning solution. Wring it out until the sock isn't dripping wet.With the sock covering your hand, use your fingers and run them over each blind blade tightly. Dry Leave the blinds open to dry thoroughly. Depending on the season, you may want to keep the windows closed while your blinds are drying. Spring and summer could blow in pollen, causing blinds to become dirty again. Getty Images/Pashapixel How to Remove Stains From Blinds As a general rule, you don't use water to deal with dust. Dry dust first with a microfiber cloth that will catch the dust. Adding water to a dusty surface tends to make a bigger mess. The exception is if you have stuck on dirt or stains. In that case, you'll need to create a cleaning solution. Here's how to handle stains: Fill a Bathtub With Soapy Water After dry dusting the blinds in place, mix hot water and a few drops of grease-fighting dish soap in a tub. Remove Blinds From Window and Submerge in Tub Open the brackets that hold the blinds in place, then use a screwdriver to lift the hinged side off. Pull the blinds out from the brackets and place them in the bathtub. Wipe Blinds With a Sponge Clean each blade individually with a soapy sponge. Take care not to miss the edges, which can get very dusty. Drain and Rinse Let the soapy water drain and rinse the blinds with clear water until no suds or residue remains. Dry and Replace Hang the blinds outside or dry them with a microfiber cloth. Then, replace them in the window. Getty Images/Carlina Teteris How to Keep Blinds Clean Longer To keep your blinds cleaner, give them a quick wipe with a duster every few days, especially during pollen season to avoid a quick build-up of dust and other debris. Keeping the other areas of your home clean and dust-free will also contribute to less dust on your blinds, so be sure to vacuum and dust your furniture surfaces frequently. If you'd like to cut down on frequent cleaning, don't spray air freshener, hairspray, or any sticky spray near your blinds—it can cause residue to build up over time. Frequently Asked Questions Can you clean blinds with dryer sheets? You may have heard of this cleaning hack on social media, and it can work—but with a few caveats. Yes, the static attraction will pull up the dust, but it might also leave residue from the fabric softener that's often in dryer sheets. If you do want to use a dryer sheet, make sure it's an old one you've already sent through the dryer cycle. Can I use cleaning vinegar on wooden blinds? Vinegar is fine for faux wood blinds, but steer clear of using vinegar to clean real wooden blinds. Instead, dust regularly and remove stubborn dirt or stains with a wood cleaner. Use a damp (not wet) microfiber cloth to wipe them down. How do I know when it is time to replace my blinds? Depending on the quality of your blinds, they tend to last up to 10 years. But over time, your blinds may be looking a little worse for wear. If any of the slats are warped or broken or if the cords are yellowed or frayed, it's time to invest in a new set of blinds. 13 Places You're Forgetting to Dust in Your Home—But Need to ASAP