How to Clean Vertical Blinds Fast

Last update: 6 days ago

Like everything in your home, blinds need regular cleaning too. Whether you have horizontal or vertical ones, you should make sure they are always up to their cleanest condition. Vertical blinds are found in most homes because they offer more elegance and design versatility than horizontal ones. They are functional, stylish and convenient way to cover large windows and glass doors.

Vertical blinds are mostly made from fabric and vinyl. In this post, we talk about how to safely dust and clean both materials. Keep in mind that cleaning vertical blinds that are fabric requires more attention. So without further ado, learn how to clean vertical blinds the easy way.

How to clean vertical blinds without removing them

If we’re being honest, this is the one you’ll use most of the time. Taking blinds down is a faff. Hooks, clips, that one slat that refuses to cooperate… not worth it for a regular clean. The good news? You can get them looking much better without touching the fittings. Just a bit of patience, decent technique.

Step 1: Close the blinds fully

Start by closing the blinds so they’re all facing the same way. You want one flat surface, not a row of flapping strips doing their own thing.

It makes the whole job quicker. You’ll cover more in one go. Less chance of missing random patches that only show up later when the sun hits.

Step 2: Remove loose dust first

Before you even think about water, deal with the dust. Seriously. This part matters more than people think.

Use a microfibre cloth, a duster, or the vacuum with a brush attachment. Work from top to bottom. Always. Gravity’s already doing half the job for you.

Hold each slat lightly as you go, especially if they’re fabric. Stops them bending, twisting, looking like they’ve had a bad day.

Skip this step and go straight in with a damp cloth… you’ll just smear everything around. Turns into a grey, streaky mess. Worse than when you started.

Step 3: Wipe down with a damp cloth

Now you can use a cloth. Slightly damp. Not dripping. Not “just rinsed and couldn’t be bothered to wring it out” damp.

Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid. That’s enough.

You can wipe each slat one by one, or wrap the cloth around and clean both sides at once. The second option’s quicker, feels oddly satisfying too. Just don’t rush it. This isn’t a race.

Step 4: Let them dry properly

When you’re done, leave the blinds open. Let air move around them.

This bit gets ignored all the time, then people wonder why they’ve got streaks or that slightly musty smell. Moisture needs somewhere to go.

If the room feels a bit damp, open a window. Even a small gap helps. Or stick the fan on for a bit. Makes more difference than you’d expect.

Cleaning fabric vertical blinds

Have you ever wondered what’s the best way of cleaning your blinds? As a general rule, it’s recommended that you regularly vacuum your fabric vertical blinds. By doing so, you will minimise the need for cleaning them with water and soap, unless there are some smears and stains that need to be taken care of.

Vacuuming your fabric vertical blinds

Vacuuming fabric blinds is simple and can be done without removing the blinds. Support each blind with one hand from behind and run the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner from top to bottom on each side. You can also use a duster if you have one.

Wiping the blinds

If you only need to do a gentle wiping, you don’t have to take down the blinds. Instead, get a ladder or a stable chair so you can reach the top of them.

Here is how to proceed:

1. Soak the microfibre cloth in warm water mixed with dish soap.
2. Squeeze the cloth until it’s almost dry and then wipe each blind from top to bottom.
3. Do this side by side, or simply wrap the blind with the cloth and use both hands to simultaneously clean both sides of the fabric.

Cleaning vinyl vertical blinds

Cleaning vertical vinyl blinds is no harder than cleaning fabric ones. You can clean them while they hang, or you can take them down. You need to be careful, however, not to pull them too harshly from their clips, because you may break them.

To remove dust from vinyl vertical blinds, use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and gently go from end to end with it. The other way is to soak the microfibre cloth in warm water and wipe the blinds.

Vinyl isn’t a porous material so dust comes right off with little to no effort. Even stains from accidental spillage or whatever they may be would come off easily. With a little bit of elbow grease from your side, stubborn and nasty stains can be quickly eliminated.

We may even say that cleaning vinyl blinds is easier than fabric ones. There are fewer things to consider so you shouldn’t worry that anything will go wrong in the process.

Additional tips for cleaning vertical blinds:

Cleaning vertical blinds with vinegar – does it actually work?

Short answer? Yes. It works. For everyday cleaning, it’s usually all you need. It cuts through light grease, lifts dull patches, deals with those slightly grimy edges that show up out of nowhere. No harsh chemicals, no fuss.

If your blinds just look a bit tired — not filthy, just… off — vinegar sorts that quickly. Mix it with water, give things a wipe, and you’ll see the difference almost straight away.

You don’t need to overthink it. Half vinegar, half water. That’s it. Stronger doesn’t mean better here. Just makes the smell sharper and the whole thing a bit unpleasant.

Speaking of the smell — yeah, you’ll notice it at first. But give it a bit of time, open a window, and it fades. Usually quicker than you’d expect.

One thing though — always test a small patch first. Especially with fabric blinds. Most will be fine, but every now and then you get one that reacts badly. Better safe than staring at a faded strip you can’t unsee.

Where vinegar falls short is with heavier jobs. Deep stains, built-up grime, anything that’s been ignored for months… it won’t magically fix that. At that point, you’re better off with proper cleaning or a full wash.

Still, for a quick freshen-up without dragging out loads of products, it’s hard to beat. Simple, cheap, does what you need.

How to clean vertical blinds mould

Mould on vertical blinds catches people off guard. One day everything looks fine, next thing you notice a few dark specks creeping along the edges. It’s usually worse near windows or in rooms that feel a bit damp — bathrooms, kitchens, anywhere air doesn’t really move. Ignore it, and it spreads quietly. Not dramatic, just stubborn.

The trick is not to panic and go at it like you’re scrubbing a burnt pan. That’s where people make it worse. Mould doesn’t need force. It needs a bit of patience.

It’s also worth stepping back for a second. Mould doesn’t just appear for no reason. It’s usually down to moisture hanging around too long. Condensation on windows, poor ventilation, that sort of thing. Fix that, even slightly, and you’ll stop having to deal with the same annoying spots every few weeks.

Spot-cleaning your blinds

This is usually rare but it happens. It’s easier to spot-clean vinyl blinds than fabric ones, but don’t worry as both types can be washed. Again you’ll need warm water, dish soap and a microfibre cloth.

To remove spots from vinyl vines, first, wipe the entire area. Then using the microfibre cloth and soap, rubdown the spot. Since vinyl isn’t porous, the spot should come off easily and no residue from it or the water will remain.

But to spot-clean fabric vines, you shouldn’t rub the spot, only dab it. Use soap, water and a microfibre cloth or a sponge to dab the spot. When you think it’s done, wash the soap with another clean wet cloth. Again, only blot the spot.

Can you clean vertical blinds in a washing machine?

It really comes down to what your blinds are made of. Some fabric ones will handle a washing machine just fine. Others… not so much. You take them out and suddenly they’re creased, warped, or just not sitting right anymore. Vinyl blinds are a definite no. Don’t even risk it.

If you’ve got fabric blinds and they feel fairly sturdy, you can give it a go. Just don’t treat them like a normal load of washing. Keep it gentle. Cold water, low setting. Nothing aggressive.

Take off any weights or chains. Easy to forget, but they can knock around inside the drum and cause damage. Not just to the blinds, but to the machine too. Not a fun surprise.

Skip the spin cycle if you can. It sounds harmless, but it twists the slats in ways that are hard to fix. You end up trying to straighten them for ages, and they never quite look right again.

And whatever you do, don’t put them in the tumble dryer. Heat will ruin the shape. Seen it happen — they come out looking like they’ve had a bad day. Let them air dry instead. Hang them up or lay them flat somewhere with decent airflow.

Even when it works, this isn’t something you’d do often. It’s more of a last resort when the blinds are properly dirty and nothing else has worked.

How often should you clean your blinds?

Well, dusting them once every few months and one annual thorough cleaning should be enough for both materials – vinyl and fabric.

However, you also have to consider where the blinds are located. For example, blinds that are in your kitchen where various smells are constantly present may require more frequent cleaning than the ones in a low-traffic area.

It also matters if you have pets, children, or someone in your household is highly allergic to dust. In such cases, you may want to clean them thoroughly a few times per year.

Takeaways

DIY