The Ultimate Guide on How to Clean Vertical Blinds

What you'll need

• A vacuum with a soft brush attachment, or a microfiber duster
• Mild dish soap and warm water
• Two soft cloths or sponges
• A towel to protect the floor

Weekly: a quick dust

Close the vanes so they lie flat, then run a microfiber duster or the vacuum brush from the top of each vane to the bottom. Turn the vanes the other way and repeat. A couple of minutes every week stops dust building up into grime.

Vinyl vanes: wipe clean

1. Mix a few drops of dish soap into a bowl of warm water.
2. Hold the bottom of a vane steady and wipe it from top to bottom with a damp, not dripping, cloth.
3. Follow with a cloth dampened in clean water, then let the vanes air dry before opening them.

For a deeper clean, vinyl vanes can usually be unclipped from the headrail and soaked in the bathtub in soapy water for an hour, then rinsed and re-hung to dry.

Fabric vanes: be gentle

Fabric vanes should not be soaked. Vacuum them regularly and spot clean marks by dabbing (not rubbing) with a cloth and a little mild soapy water. Always test on the back of a vane first. For stubborn stains or very dusty fabric, a professional cleaning service is the safest option.

Don't forget the headrail and chain

Wipe the headrail and the bottom chain with a damp cloth. If the vanes stick when you rotate them, a tiny amount of silicone spray on the track (never on fabric) keeps things moving.

When to replace instead of clean

If vanes are cracked, permanently curled or faded, cleaning won't bring them back. Individual vanes can sometimes be replaced. Or it may be time to update your sliding door with new vertical blinds, cellular shades or drapery. We'll bring samples to your home for free.