10 ways to wash blinds quickly and effectively

Any housewife sooner or later has to solve the problem of cleaning blinds. The article provides tips on how to wash blinds or clean them from dirt.

Horizontal slats can be cleaned without even removing them from the window

Read about how you can wash certain types of blinds in this article.

How to wash horizontal aluminum blinds in 4 minutes

If you want to do the cleaning quickly, you need to remove the blinds from the window, otherwise you will have to do a major cleaning, including washing the frame and glass. For the express method, you will need high-quality chemicals for contactless car washing. The good thing about this product is that you are spared the need to wipe each lamella on both sides with a sponge or a special brush.

Removing and hanging an alternative curtain is a matter of one minute. And for active foam, two minutes is enough to dissolve all existing dirt.

The sequence of actions in this case is indecently simple.

1. Switch the curtain to the “closed” mode so that the slats take a vertical position.
2. Remove the blinds from their brackets. To do this, turn the levers to the right to open the latch mechanism. Lifting slightly, remove the curtain rod.
3. Move the slats into the bathroom and hang them above the bathtub.
4. Apply a touchless car wash product to the curtain. Active foam will lift all dirt, including dust, grease and soot deposits within 2 minutes.
5. Rinse off the detergent with clean water using a shower head.
6. Let the water drain and wipe the curtain dry with a microfiber cloth.
7. Spray with an antistatic agent to reduce future contamination.
8. Hang blinds on the window.

The method is good in everything except the price. Car shampoos are quite expensive, and if you don’t have a car, buying such a product just to wash your curtains twice a year can be done with cheaper options. However, you will have to spend much more time cleaning.

Cheap method for cleaning horizontal aluminum slats

To work you will need:

• kitchen sponges;
• glass or dish cleaner (you can use an all-purpose kitchen cleaner);
• pure water;
• microfiber cloths;
• textile gloves or regular socks;
• spray.

1. Brush off the dust from the slats with a dry cloth or soft brush. This is good to do with downy brooms to remove dust. If you don’t have one on your household, you can simply vacuum the blinds while closed.
2. Remove the blinds from the window and soak the slats in warm water. This is convenient to do in the bath. Add a capful of all-purpose cleaner to the water. It is advisable to choose a chemical that does not leave streaks.
3. If there is no place to soak (for example, a shower stall in a super-compact house), then simply moisten the slats from a spray bottle with a cleaning solution and leave for a few minutes, not allowing them to dry out. During this time, the dirt will become wet and peel off from the curtain.
4. Then use a sponge to clean off any dirt from each slats. Rinse off the detergent with clean water and wipe with a dry cloth. Handle thin strips with care as... they may become deformed.
5. Flip the blinds over to the other side and repeat the entire process.
6. When both sides are cleaned, all that remains is to return the curtain to the window.

Features of cleaning by type of dirt

We have looked at the differences in care depending on the material from which they are made. Now you should consider simple ways to get rid of different types of stains:

Nicotine. If the curtains are hung in a room where people constantly smoke, a yellow coating will form on them. The easiest way to return the lamellas to their whiteness is to use a car dashboard cleaner. Regular baking soda can also remove soot, but you will have to wash it off with a shower. The last option is the usual white. Or any product with chlorine, the likes of which are usually used to clean plumbing fixtures.

Fat. For plastic or aluminum blinds from the kitchen, dilute vinegar with water in a ratio of 1:2. Dampen a soft cloth and wipe the slats with it, the grease deposit should disappear. If this does not help, try washing them with chlorine - whitening or Domestos will cope with even a thick layer.

Felt pen. Children love to draw on various surfaces and blinds are no exception. The easiest way to remove such stains is with regular alcohol. Nail polish remover, toothpaste, hairspray or WD-40 will also help. Before using any product, try it on an inconspicuous area to avoid damaging the curtains.

Now you know the basic ways to wash blinds at home. But the most important advice is to do this regularly, then you can get by with just warm water and soapy water, without chemicals.

How to wash blinds without removing them from the windows?

Most of the time is spent wiping the slats on both sides. It will take a few more minutes to remove and hang the curtains on the window. How to optimize the process?

1. Wash blinds without removing them from the window. The procedure for this is almost the same as in the previous version. The difference is that the soap solution must be applied to the slats hanging in the opening, turned to a vertical position. Then they are transferred to the horizontal plane and wiped.
2. Instead of a washcloth, use textile gloves. Wear regular household knitted gloves over rubber gloves. This will allow you to grip each lamella from both sides at once. Cleaning time will be halved.
3. Use special brushes for cleaning blinds. They grab from 2 to 5 lamellas at the same time, and wipe both sides at once.
4. Use highly effective products that quickly and effectively dissolve contaminants.
5. After work, apply car wax or a regular antistatic agent to a clean surface. This will reduce the number of cleanings.
6. Dust or vacuum your blinds regularly.

Cleaning fabric roller shutters

Vertical blinds are a little easier to clean, but these types require more frequent maintenance. The most common type of care is washing. You can wash fabric blinds as follows:

1. Go over each panel with a vacuum cleaner.
2. Remove all strips, disconnecting weights and chains.
3. Roll them into a large roll.
4. Place in a container with a soap solution already poured in.
5. Leave for 15-20 minutes.
6. Rinse carefully, without bending or stretching.
7. Hang to dry.

Fabric strips wash well if you roll each strip into a roll. For this purpose, soaking the canvas in soapy water is suitable.

You should not rub or crush them, as this will deform the material. Machine washing is also not suitable.

Important! If you wash fabric slats, they will eventually lose their special impregnation, which is designed to repel dust.

Wooden slats

Wood does not like moisture. However, a thin layer of varnish or polish makes it easier to care for the surface. Wooden models need to be regularly wiped or vacuumed to remove dust. Dirt from insects and drops of grease can be removed with furniture care products. To speed up the process, use textile gloves or special brushes.

Wax and polish create a thin film that allows dust to float onto the surface without sticking to it. This makes cleaning much easier and saves time.

Useful tips for washing various types of slats

In order to quickly deal with any contamination on the surface of the structure, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. It is recommended to prepare any equipment (disposable napkins, brushes, rakes, gloves, water container) in advance. You will also need a stool or stepladder to reach the top of the bar. An additional table should also be prepared for a container with water.
2. It is recommended to remove dirt from top to bottom. Otherwise, you can only stain the already clean slats.
3. It is not recommended to wash the assembled textile structure, because the lamellas can stick to each other and lose their original appearance.
4. Wood structures are strictly prohibited from being washed with water, otherwise they will absorb moisture and then swell.
5. After dismantling the cornices, it is recommended to thoroughly wash the window, otherwise the cleaning will be in vain.

Wooden curtains can only be cleaned with special products.

Prices for different types of blinds

Blinds

How to wash vertical blinds?

Vertical blinds are made of plastic and fabric. Each case has its own characteristics of establishing cleanliness and order.

Plastic

Plastic models cannot be rolled up and machine washed. They are washed, like horizontal aluminum models, on the window using cleaning solutions.

• Close the curtain.
• Move the slats to the open position so that their ribs are facing you. There should be enough space between the slats so that you can work comfortably.
• Apply liquid detergent from a spray bottle to the front and back of the blinds.
• Use a soft sponge or a special brush to wipe each strip of plastic.
• Using a microfiber cloth or any material that absorbs water well, wipe the blinds dry so that there are no streaks left.

Textile

• In order to thoroughly wash heavily soiled textile strips, it is necessary to remove them from their fastenings and free them from weights and control cords. Stack the slats and roll them into a roll.

• Pour water into a large container (large basin or bucket) and add cleaning agent to it according to the instructions.
• Soak the curtain in the cleaning solution for half an hour so that all the dirt is well soaked and comes off the material.
• Use a soft brush or kitchen sponge to wipe each lamella and remove any dirt.
• Hang the strips over the bathtub to allow water to drain off them.
• After drying, hang the fabric in place by inserting weights.
• Secure the controls and enjoy a clean window.

What products are best to use?

Use cleaning agents and chemicals to wash heavily soiled slats. You should not use them too often, so as not to wash off the protective layer of impregnation. The most common means include:

• baking soda is an affordable and safe remedy. It is suitable for all types of blinds. Used in powder or solution form;
• washing powder - it is effective when washing blinds in a bathroom or a wide basin. The lamellas, rolled into rolls, are soaked in the solution;
• alcohol-based window cleaner - spray on plastic or metal roller blinds, then wipe dry;
• soap - soap napkins and wipe the slats in areas of more contamination. The product is effective and safe in any case;
• stain removers based on fabric type - use preparations with caution. Read the product manufacturer's instructions. Determine if it can be used to clean your blinds.
• bleach - the product is used only for bleaching and cleaning heavy dirt from undyed fabrics;
• aerosols for cleaning car showrooms - special preparations perfectly clean slats and roller blinds made of metal and plastic from traces of nicotine.
• Dishwashing liquid is an excellent and harmless product. It is added to drug solutions to obtain a thicker foam.

How to wash Day-Night blinds

In terms of their structure, Day-Night models are classified as roller blinds and are made from textiles of varying densities. However, due to the fact that they allow you to regulate the light flux like rigid lamellas, we will consider cleaning them in this article.

In order to remove all the accumulated dirt, you need to remove the curtain from the curtain rod and soak it in a large amount of water with the addition of a cleaning agent. This is convenient to do in the bath. Let the chemicals work on the dirt for 15-30 minutes. At this time, you can wash the window and sill.

Carefully, so as not to damage the delicate mesh, wipe the curtain with a soft brush or washcloth. While working, roll the treated area onto the holder bar. Try to avoid wrinkles.

If the product does not need to be rinsed off, simply hang the curtain to dry to allow the water to drain. Otherwise, you need to rinse the fabric well in clean water.

Without waiting for complete drying, hang the curtain on the window. Here it will dry in a straightened state.

Difficulties of cleansing

The numerous advantages of blinds (quick installation, ergonomics, the ability to match the color to the interior) are accompanied by disadvantages due to inconvenience during cleaning.

• They do not absorb dirt and retain dust. This is good: the dust has been wiped off, and the accessory is clean again. But after a month, accumulated street dust sticks to the lamellas (plates), forming a coating. And soot forms on kitchen plastic curtains, and cleaning the device becomes doubly difficult.
• Small parts. Due to frequent rows of plates, good sun protection is ensured. But the slats require careful handling, since they are made of lightweight plastic.

However, difficulties are not terrible if you know the technology of proper care.

Bamboo blinds - what to do

Bamboo is not afraid of dampness. However, sudden changes in humidity can lead to cracking of the reeds. Dust and accumulated dirt can be removed using a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush. Traces of insects are wiped off with a damp cloth soaked in any suitable product for caring for wooden furniture.

Sometimes there are tips to rinse bamboo with a stream of water. Because the stems swell from moisture, the tie cords may become loose after the curtain dries. Therefore, it is better to refrain from showering and bathing bamboo and limit yourself to wet wiping.

Cleaning methods depending on the material

Owners of plastic products are luckier than others, because in this case cleaning will not require a lot of time and effort. Simply wipe the slats with a sponge dipped in soapy water.

The situation is similar with fiberglass products, because they are also not afraid of water. In addition, they can not only be wiped with a wet cloth, but also vacuumed, and even washed.

When cleaning metal products, you can also use aqueous solutions of detergents, and you can easily wash away dirt using a regular damp cloth or napkin.

Cleaning metal panels using a special sponge

It is known that wood is very sensitive to moisture; prolonged contact with water can cause deformation of the product. This is why when cleaning wooden blinds it is best to use little or no water.

Fabric products require a particularly delicate approach. Manufacturers of such products strongly recommend not using water when cleaning, but using exclusively dry mixtures.