Your window blinds should be dusted or vacuumed weekly.
You can even use a clean and dry paint brush to brush the dust off.
After a while, your blinds might start to build up dirt. Here are the steps for cleaning dirty blinds.
photo courtesy of Ada Be flickr.com/photos/adambelles/4027901506/Vinegar and Water
You can wipe down your dirty blinds with a mixture of half vinegar and half water.
Rinse your towel occasionally when cleaning.
Bathtub
If your blinds will not rust, consider removing them from your window and putting them in your bathtub filled with warm water and laundry soap, dishwasher soap, vinegar, or general purpose cleaner.
Before putting the blinds in your tub, lay out a large bath towel on the base of your tub so the blinds do not scratch your tub's finish.
Let the blinds soak for 30 minutes then wipe them clean. Hang to dry.
Garden Hose
Another option is to remove your blinds from your windows and bring them outside.
Put them on the ground in the closed position.
Use a gentle spray to hose the dirt and dust and nasty stuff off your blinds.
You can then wipe stubborn spots down with a cleaner of your choice.
After cleaning one side, flip over and clean the other side. Hang to dry.
Fabric Softener Dryer Sheets
After your blinds have been cleaned, wipe them down with fabric softener dryer sheets to minimize the dust from sticking in the future.
Window Blind Cleaner Duster Brush
You can use a specialty window blind cleaner brush to help you in cleaning your blinds.
These brushes are very inexpensive and can do a great job for weekly cleaning.
Warnings
If you have older blinds, check them for lead paint prior to cleaning. If they have lead paint, dispose of them properly and purchase new blinds. Do not attempt to clean them.
Before cleaning any blinds, clean an inconspicuous place first to make sure the cleaner and cleaning method do not damage your window blinds.
These cleaning methods are for blinds made of metal or plastic. Do not clean fabric, bamboo, or wood blinds using these methods.
Do not use bleach to clean your blinds since the bleach can eat away at the fabric cords and cause them to break.
Make sure to change your air filters regularly to minimize the dust in your home that would get on your window blinds.
