How to Maintain Your Venetian Blinds

Although Venetian blinds are some the most durable blinds today, they do require regular cleaning and maintenance to make sure they stay in condition.

If you want your blinds to work like they should for years, then regular cleaning should be part of your maintenance routine.

The good news is the Venetian blinds are some of the easiest blinds to clean. They’re also one of the most low-maintenance blinds on the market, so you’ll rarely have issues with them during cleaning.

Cleaning Your Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds come in different types and materials, but they all require similar cleaning routines to maintain their condition (with some exceptions, of course). Here’s how to do it:

1. Remove dust. The first step to cleaning Venetian blinds is to remove any dust or debris on the slats. You can use a feather duster or soft, clean cloth for this. Dusting is the one common step for cleaning every type of Venetian blind, whether it’s made of PVC, aluminium or timber. You can also use a vacuum cleaner for this step, although you should make sure to attach a soft duster brush at the end of the nozzle so that you don’t end up scratching the slats.
2. Inspect your blinds. After dusting and removing surface dirt, inspect your blinds carefully to identify any stains or stubborn debris that were not removed by the first step.
3. Remove stains (if any). Use water or an appropriate cleaning solution to remove any remaining stains on the slats. Make sure to use the right cleaning solution for the type of Venetian blinds you have. Timber blinds, for example, require special cleaning sprays or solutions to prevent damage to the wooden slats. PVC and Aluminium blinds, meanwhile, can take water and liquid cleaning solutions better. Some even choose to wash them individually in a bathtub if they’re particularly dirty or stained.
4. Dry properly. If you end up using water or liquid cleaning solutions on your Venetian blinds, make sure that you dry them properly afterwards. Wipe each slat with a soft, clean cloth and let it air-dry naturally. If you removed each slat and washed them in a tub, then make sure you let them air-dry horizontally on a flat surface before putting them back on their racks.

Tips

• Clean regularly. When it comes to maintaining Venetian blinds, remember to prioritise frequency over intensity. Cleaning your blinds regularly (ex. monthly or even weekly) will often do more for them than cleaning them intensively once a year. Regular cleaning will also let you identify and address any maintenance issues with your blinds before they get worse.
• Start light. When cleaning, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Start with light cleaning techniques first (i.e. wiping and dusting) before progressing to more intensive techniques that use liquids and cleaning solutions. Also, if you’re trying a new cleaning product for the first time, try it out first on a small part of your blinds before applying it to everything else.
• Improvise on tools. You can use old clothing to wipe the slats in your blinds. Old socks, in particular, make great dusting tools, allowing you to run your hand through each slat to remove dust quickly and easily.