How do YOU clean your mini blinds/levelors/window shades?
By rx4life
@rx4life (1930)
United States
July 6, 2007 1:46pm CST
I have mini blinds in most all my windows and they are dust catchers for sure...I maintain them with a duster for everyday use...but once or twice a year I used to have a guy that would come in and ultrasonically clean them in his van and the dry and rehang them for a minimal charge...he has gone on to a new business and it is time to clean these things...do you have an innovative way of really getting your mini blinds completely clean? The ultrasonic technique was really awesome...but I can't replicate it...Mini-blind cleaning secrets? Any out there?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
7 Jul 07
The best way I know is to take them down, clean them in the bathtub with hot, soapy water, rinse with cold water from the shower head, then drape them on the fence outside to drip dry. Very tedious, I know, but the only way I know how to get them clean.
I will be watching this post to see if someone comes up with a better, more practical way of cleaning them.
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@rx4life (1930)
• United States
7 Jul 07
LOL...I appreciate your input, Abbey....and I think my "ultrasonic guy" isn't around anymore...boy...isn't it so true that we just don't appreciate a great thing when we've got it!!! I used him as my solution for 5 years..now I have to pay the piper so to speak...and do the same back breaker you describe!!!! Oh, well...I'm still listening for innovative ideas as well as feeling compassion for the rest of us having to spend a week cleaning blinds!!! Why did I choose them for every window in my house? LOL
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
7 Jul 07
I fill the tub with all purpose cleaner bleach and hot water and soak my blinds in it for a few hours then I rinse using my shower on pulsating setting to blast any dust away. Then I hook them up outside to dry out. All my blinds are white though so I don't have to worry about the bleach and they come out looking brand new.
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@rx4life (1930)
• United States
7 Jul 07
Interesting to use bleach...I'll bet it does a good cleaning job..but my concern would be the cords that hold them together...wouldn't they be affected after a while...as in beginning to deteriorate? Maybe yours are made with different materials than mine!!
@vicki2876 (5636)
• Canada
8 Jul 07
Yeah I suppose if you spent a lot of money on your blinds you wouldn't want to use bleach. My were not expensive so I don't really worry about it. I have had my blinds for 4 years, few washing a year and they are still fine. But I wouldn't risk bleach on expensive stuff. Vicki
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
6 Jul 07
Well, I certainly can tell you that I HATE this chore! On a weekly basis, I try to vacuum mine with the upholtry brush! I try to take a damp rag and clean them too...but they always look dusty to me. I had read in a book that the easiest way was to take the blinds down and put them in a bathtub full of soapy water, then hang them somewhere to dry! Sounds like too much trouble for this old girl! I will be following this post for ideas!! Thanks for the great post!
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@lisado (1227)
• United States
7 Jul 07
I would clean them with a Swiffer duster for everyday and if they getting really bad I'd take them down and clean them in the bathtub. I'd use Dawn dishwashing soap and water with a sponge. I'd let them air dry. That is pretty much the only way I clean mine. Is there anyone else that does the same type of cleaning that he did in your area? I've never heard of having them cleaned that way.
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@rx4life (1930)
• United States
7 Jul 07
No one so far but I'm checking into it~~~ it was the best and the weird thing is that after they were in the ultrasonic cleaner they seemed to repel dust for a longer period of time!!! I'm going to attack them tomorrow or later today if I can!!! Dawn would seemingly be a great soap to use..it seems to cut through all kinds of build up!!!
@SmokePiff (436)
• United States
6 Jul 07
yea i cleaned my blinds at the beginning of the summer. took them down and cleaned them with simply green. never knew how back breakin it was. next time i'll stay on top of them and keep them clean year round.
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