Gather your tools
The amount of dust and grime on your mini-blinds will dictate the method that will give you the best results. However, to make your job easier, it helps to have the right tools on hand before you begin.
Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
Whether for upholstery or hardwood floors, a vacuum brush attachment works well as a mini-blind dust busting tool.
Microfiber cloths or a microfiber mini blind duster
You’ve probably seen this tool online or at the store. It covers multiple blind slats at one time, and can be found either online or at your local big box or hardware store.
How to use a microfiber mini-blind duster
Open up the blinds and starting at the top, run the duster along the slats, then once you’ve reached the bottom slat, use your vacuum cleaner attachment to pick up fallen debris and dust.
Using a microfiber cloth
Close the mini-blinds to expose the concave side of the slats. Starting from the top and working your way down, use the microfiber cloth to wipe each slat independently.
Then, tilt the wand so that the convex side of the slats are facing you and repeat the process, starting from the top and working your way down.
Finally, use the vacuum brush attachment to pick up any fallen dust and/or debris.
Cleaning heavily soiled blinds
If your blinds have become heavily soiled you’ll need to do more than dust and vacuum them…you’ll need to wash them.
Once they’ve been dusted and vacuumed, remove your blinds from the window and soak them in your bathtub, filled with warm water. Let them sit for at least one hour, then remove them and wipe off any remaining dust with a microfiber cloth.
Hang them outside to air dry or wipe them down and rehang them back in the window.
How to clean your mini-blinds while they’re still hanging
To avoid leaving your windows uncovered it’s possible to clean mini-blinds without removing them.
Here’s how:
- ⬥ Open your blinds and extend them as far open as they will go.
- ⬥ Pull the bottom away from the window to access the bottom slats that aren’t normally opened. Place the slats so that they’re horizontally positioned and not touching each other.
- ⬥ Next, using the brush attachment, vacuum loose dust off of the top and bottom of the slats.
- ⬥ Mix a ½ gallon of warm water with an ounce of antibacterial soap (e.g. dish washing soap), dip a clean cloth into the mixture and squeeze out the excess.
- ⬥ Then wipe one slat at a time, front and back, by pinching it between the dampened cloth. Be careful as you work around the support strings in each mini-blind.
- ⬥ Rinse out the cloth as needed. Then repeat the process for each slat as well as the valance and top bar.
- ⬥ Clean the pull strings by closing the blinds as tightly as they will close to expose the maximum length of string possible. Then, dampen a clean white cloth with warm water and bleach and run it over the strings until they’re clean.
Finally, once you’ve thoroughly cleaned your mini-blinds, make it easier on yourself by routinely dusting and vacuuming them…you’ll be glad you did.
