How to Wash Wooden Blinds

Dust wooden blinds weekly to keep them looking clean.

Wooden blinds are elegant window treatments that can add a touch of sophistication to just about any room of your home. Manufacturers typically make wooden blinds that are specifically designed to resist dust, which means that you shouldn't have to wash them often. Clean wooden blinds every three to six months to keep them looking attractive and functioning properly. Washing wooden blinds requires just a few cleaning supplies and minimal physical effort.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth, newspapers or an old sheet
• Dusting mitt, old sock or a horizontal blind brush
• Clean, soft-bristled paintbrush
• Liquid fabric softener
• Clean cloth
• Furniture wax

1. Prepare to wash your wooden blinds. Lay down a drop cloth, newspapers or an old sheet to catch any dirt or dust that falls to the floor. Lower the blinds and close the slats.

2. Dry dust the wood blinds. Use a dusting mitt, an old sock or a horizontal blind brush to gently remove dust. Starting at the top, dust each slat individually and then dust the entire set of slats.

3. Clean very dusty blinds with liquid fabric softener. Use a clean, soft-bristled paintbrush about the same size as the wooden slats. Dip the tip of the brush into the fabric softener. Blot the brush with a clean cloth to remove excess moisture. Start at the top of the blinds and wipe each slat from left to right. Dry the slats immediately with a clean, dry cloth.

4. Wash the wooden blinds. Wipe the slats with a barely damp microfiber mitt or cloth. Starting at the top, gently wipe the blinds from left to right. Dry the blinds immediately with a clean, soft cloth. Take care not to get the blinds too wet because excessive dampness can cause discoloration and warping.

5. Polish the wooden blinds. Dab a little furniture wax onto a cloth and lightly rub it over each individual slat. Use wax only on cleaned wooden blinds; otherwise, you'll seal in dirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Wipe the wooden blinds with a dryer sheet about once a week to keep dust away.

• Protect wooden blinds from excess moisture when cleaning windows by spraying glass cleaner onto a cloth instead of on the glass.

• Read the manufacturer's instructions before using water on your wooden blinds.

• Never use abrasive cleaners or harsh chemicals on wooden blinds because the wood might scratch, discolor or warp.

References

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension; Home Furnishings Care-Cleaning and Stain Removal; Shirley Niemeyer; 1987
• Michigan State University Extension; Venetian Blinds -- Care and Dusting; Anne Field; June 2003

Resources

• WindowBlinds.com: How to Clean Window Blinds