Cleaning Your Blinds: The Best “homemade” Tools

When cleaning the blinds in your home it is very important to take into account their material, as not all of them can be treated with the same way.

Sometimes housekeeping can drive us crazy; every object, every element and every surface must be treated differently. In this sense, there are specific cleaning products. Cleaning well is a difficult task, but knowing a few tips and techniques will save time and keep your home clean. In this article, we will take a concrete look at what are  the best items you can make for cleaning your blinds.

It is well known that  cleaning blinds is difficult because they have many slits and each blind is made of a different material. Therefore, we will tell you how you can make your own tools  to make cleaning your blinds as efficient as possible.

Our top tips for efficient blind cleaning

Remember: each type of material has its own cleaning

Shades can be made of different materials. Therefore, their cleaning will be specific. There are cleaners for wood, others for aluminum and others suitable for non-corrosive plastic.

• Wood: if you want to avoid having to rinse your wooden blinds, we recommend that you use the same product as that used to clean parquet floors.
• Plastic: The best way to clean plastic blinds is to use a sponge with soap and rub the surface  if it is not very dirty. If, on the contrary, the dirt is soaked up and it is difficult to remove, get a degreaser or dishwashing detergent. Rinse with a damp sponge or cloth and dry the surface.
• Metal: Metal blinds are generally more complicated to clean because the grease remains encrusted and forms a sticky layer of dirt. To effectively clean your metal blinds, mix water and alcohol and rub until the grease is gone. Dry the area well so that dust spots do not stick.
• Aluminum: you can make a mixture from water and a few drops of ammonia. Do not use harsh chemicals such as bleach or the like. Even if on other surfaces, this is very effective, it is to be avoided in the case of aluminum.

Effectively clean your blinds

The blinds have an inner and an outer face. Cleaning both sides is complicated if the window is on a higher floor and we cannot access it from the outside. It’s tedious and we might get frustrated that we can’t clean them properly. Therefore, many people decide not to clean the outer side.

To clean them safely, we tell you which products are the best and what is the most efficient way to clean your venetian blinds. We must not put our lives in danger, that is, it is not even possible to stand on the windowsill to clean them. There are much safer methods.

The key to success is removing the drum cover, the usually wooden structure in which the shutter is rolled up and covers the top of the window. It is usually screwed to the wall, so it is a bit more complicated to remove it. It is nevertheless the safest way to properly clean the outside of your blinds.

Once this part is removed, every section and every visible place must be cleaned. It can be a tedious job or a lot of fun, depending on your perspective. Make sure to dry the awning well so that dust does not come back to stick to it quickly.

Take this opportunity to also clean the recess in which it is stored. There is usually a lot of dust there, but also sometimes insects such as spiders. Don’t forget to clean your window frame, windows and rails.

Have the perfect tools for cleaning your blinds

Cleaning blinds can be a hassle, as it is difficult to access the entire surface. Being nested within each other, there will always be edges that we cannot reach. Here we tell you which are the best products and tools you need to have around the house to clean them perfectly:

• A special brush for Venetian blinds. This utensil consists of a handle and several elongated brushes that can be inserted between the holes.
• A vacuum cleaner: you can use a vacuum cleaner to easily remove dust.
• Microfiber cloths are essential for effectively collecting dust and preventing it from spreading to other corners of the house.
• A multi-purpose cleaner: Versatile industrial products can be very useful for cleaning any type of surface in our home. For this reason, it is always handy to have a bottle on hand.
• Dust rags: Dust rags can be your secret ally in this task. They can be inserted into any slot and remove dust with a simple gesture.

Make your tools at home

You can also create your own tools for cleaning your blinds. Here are some ideas:

• You can connect two sponges with a strong magnet to clean the inside and the outside.
• Tie a microfiber cloth to a stick to reach the highest areas.
• Use a sock that you no longer wear as a dust mitt. It is more comfortable than using a cloth and you will have more mobility.
• Make your own solution for your blinds. Depending on the material, use ammonia, alcohol, or dishwasher detergent. You can flavor it with herbs, essential oils or lemon drops.

Cleaning your blinds: final thoughts

As you can see, the  cleaning your blinds  is not an easy task, although it is not impossible. You just need the time and the dedication. Ask your family to help you to make it more enjoyable: it will be easier for everyone!