THERE are many benefits to vertical blinds, they look stylish, block light and keep heat out in the winter.
But while they're an easy alternative to curtains they are notoriously difficult to clean.
In order to keep them in tip top condition and give them a longer life span it is important to clean them regularly.
Here we reveal the top tips on how to keep your blinds sparkling...
How to clean vertical blinds
Before you start cleaning your blinds, it is important to determine from which material they are made of.
Are there illegal baby names? Surprising monikers that are BANNED in other countries, from Sarah to Thomas
This method works well for fabric blinds, but wooden blinds have their own method. Here's a guide for cleaning Venetian blinds and our guide for cleaning Roman blinds.
You can also put fabric blinds in the washing machine.
Before cleaning your blinds, it's best that you first check the cleaning instructions to make sure that you do not ruin their quality.
To clean your fabric vertical blinds, make sure that you have the following supplies along with some soap and warm water:
- A microfibre cloth
- A vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
- A sponge
- Towels
Once you have all that ready, you can now start following our five-step guide to clean your vertical blinds.
1. Remove the blinds and clean the headrail
First you have to remove the blinds from the headrail and this will allow you to deep clean that too.
Normally the blinds will be attached by hooks to the headrail, so just unhook those and lay them down flat.
With a microfibre cloth, clean your headrail and if you have some silicone spray, feel free to dash some over it.
2. Dust your blinds
Using a microfibre cloth, dust off the blinds laid out flat in front of you.
Move the cloth from top to bottom and make sure not to go over areas you already cleaned or else you'll cover them with dust again.
All about Rachel Nickell who was murdered in front of her son Alex Hanscombe
To make sure that you got rid of all the dust, you can use your vacuum cleaner with the brush attachment.
Run over them with the vacuum clean from top to bottom and make sure that they are all clear of any dust.
One cleaning fan has revealed they uses a pair of socks to clean their blinds. She goes over the blinds with the first sock to remove dust and then applies the second sock which has been dipped in Zoflora after.
3. Wash the blind in water
To wash your blinds with water, you can either do so in a washing machine or else just fill up a bathtub with warm water.
If you're washing your blinds in the bathtub, simply fill it with warm water and some soap or detergent.
Make sure that the soap is suitable for gentle fabrics.
If you have any dirty spots on your blinds, grab a sponge and soapy water and clean them away.
Do not use bleach on your blinds because this might damage the material.
On the other hand, if you're using a stain remover, first test it out on an area which cannot be seen once the blinds are attached to the headrail again, to ensure whether it is suitable to use on the blinds or not.
The stain remover might also come with instructions which will indicate on what and on what not it can be used.
If you're washing your blinds in the, roll them up and dash them in a pillow case first to prevent them from fraying or getting damaged.
Use a washing setting for delicate fabrics - it should not exceed 30 degrees - and also use a gentle washing detergent.
The blinds might also come with instruction on how to wash them in the washing machine.
4. Let the blinds dry
Now that you have washed up your blinds, it's time for them to dry.
Lay them out flat and let them naturally dry and if you want to dry up even faster, you can use a hair dryer on a cool setting to help make the process faster.
Do not hang the blinds or else they might lose their shape and to not even think about putting them in the tumble dryer.
Its heat is too much for the blinds to handle and it can damage them.
5. Hang your blinds again
Once your blinds are completely dry, you can hang them back on the headrail.
Now you have fresh and clean blinds to create a better atmosphere around your home.
How to remove mould from vertical blinds?
It is recommended that you use lemon juice to remove mould from vertical blinds.
Lemon is one of the best natural ingredients for cleaning.
Spray lemon juice or a white vinegar cleaning solution over the moulded areas and clean them over with a microfibre cloth.
This should see the mould disappear from your blinds and leave them looking fresh.
If you're struggling to get rid of stubborn stains, Hillarys' product manager Yvonne Keal recommends rubbing it gently with a damp cloth.