How to Clean Plastic Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds can attract dirt and dust.

Plastic vertical blinds can become quite dirty without routine maintenance. The advantages of plastic vertical blinds are that you can use most cleaning detergents and dusters to clean the blinds without harming them. If your vertical blinds are stained with mildew, you most likely will need to remove the blinds completely and scrub them down. Routinely cleaning your plastic vertical blinds and keeping them dust-free will reduce the likelihood of having to remove them for deep cleaning.

Things You'll Need

• Duster
• Vacuum with upholstery attachment
• Warm water
• Dish soap
• Gallon bucket
• Washcloths
• Drop cloth
• All-purpose cleaner
• Soft bristle brush
• Garden hose

Instructions

Routine Cleaning

1. Open the blinds and use a duster to remove all surface dust. Use a sweeping vertical motion on both the front and back of each vertical blind. If you have a vacuum with an upholstery attachment, close the blinds and vacuum the blinds from top to bottom. Flip the blinds around and repeat.

2. Fill a gallon bucket with warm water and add 1/8 cup of dish soap. Dip a washcloth in the soapy mixture and slowly work the surface of the vertical blinds, working top to bottom. Turn the blinds around and repeat.

3. Rinse off the vertical blinds with a clean, wet washcloth to remove any soapy residue. If you leave any soapy residue on the blinds it could fade them and even attract more dust.

4. Open the blinds and allow them to dry. Repeat the cleaning process if any dirt or grime remains.

Removal And Deep Cleaning

1. Remove all the vertical blinds. Start at the bottom by removing the plates and chain and work your way to the top by unhooking each blind from the top hooks. Lay them flat on a drop cloth. Be careful not to bend the blinds or damage the hooks.

2. Carry the blinds outside and lay them flat on a patio or driveway. If you can't clean them outside, you can also lay them flat in the bathtub and soak them in a mixture of water and a mild detergent.

3. Spray the blinds with an all-purpose cleaner that is environmentally friendly. Gently scrub the blinds with a soft bristle brush.

4. Rinse off all the vertical blinds with a garden hose. Be careful not to use too much pressure when rinsing off the blinds. The brush should be used to loosen the dirt and the grime and the hose to wash it away.

5. Hose down the area to remove any dirt and grime that came off the blinds, turn over the blinds and repeat the scrubbing and rinsing process.

6. Transfer the vertical blinds to a dry area and allow them to dry. Once they are dry, bring them back inside and hang them back up. Your vertical plastic blinds should look as good as new.

Tips & Warnings

• Before using any cleaner on plastic vertical blinds, test it on a small area to make sure it won't ruin the blinds.

References

• Creating Homemaking: Vertical Blinds Cleaning
• HGTV: Tips for Cleaning Blinds