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Over time, blinds and curtains can gather dust, grease, dirty marks and sometimes stains, particularly if you have young children or pets. Some homeowners worry about attempting to clean their curtains and blinds in fear of ruining or damaging them, however, cleaning your curtains and blinds is easier than most think. In this guide, we will give you tips and advice on how best to clean your curtains and blinds depending on the style and material. 

Benefits of Cleaning Your Curtains and Blinds Regularly

By regularly dusting and cleaning your blinds and curtains, you can not only improve and freshen their appearance, but also remove any allergens and bacteria that have built up, therefore reducing potential risks to your family’s health and wellbeing.

According to US scientists, dust contains toxic chemicals called phthalates which have been linked to health problems including asthma, ADHD, early menopause and cancer. Breathing in high concentrations of dust over many years is also thought to reduce lung function in the long term and contribute to disorders like chronic bronchitis and heart and lung disorders.

Although a quick dusting every now and then helps to remove some of the particles, it does not remove all of the contaminants that become adhered to the material due to condensation and greasy vapour from cooking as well as nicotine from smoking, soot, pet hair and other foreign matters. This instead requires a more thorough clean in order to return them to a healthy condition.

How to Clean Curtains

Many curtains have a care label on the inside, so try to locate this before attempting to clean your ctrains and follow the directions given, washing one at a time using the recommended cycle (usually a gentle wool setting with a low spin). However, if your curtains don’t have any care instructions, the best thing to do is to wash them by hand with lukewarm water and a mild detergent.

Once you have washed your curtains, it’s best to wring them out well and hang them back up whilst still damp in order to allow them to dry properly and prevent creases. We advise placing towels and newspaper beneath them to avoid ruining your floor. If you have carpets or your curtains are too close to your wall when drying, it is better to hang them to dry outside on the line (on a dry day) or on a clothes maiden inside in a more suitable room. 

How to Clean Roller Blinds

Roller blinds tend to become less dirty than curtains and other blinds as they are mostly either rolled up or hanging vertically. This means they require less thorough cleaning, however they can become grubby with grease and sticky fingers so you may wish to use a damp cloth and a small amount of washing up liquid to dust and clean them down. Alternatively, you can run a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery (brush) attachment over the blind every now and then to remove any dust. At Aspiration Blinds, we offer a protective stain resistant finish on our blinds to reduce the risk of permanent marking and making them easier to wipe clean.

How to Clean Venetian Blinds

Venetian blinds can be more difficult to clean due to there being a number of slats as opposed to one long piece of fabric. 

Fabric Venetian Blinds

First, you should dust them down with a microfibre cloth or a blind brush which slots into the gaps to ease the process.  If your blinds are dirty or greasy, you should use a damp cloth and a small amount of washing up liquid to wipe them down. 

If you want an extra deep clean, you can gently place them in a bathtub and wash them with a soft brush or non-abrasive sponge in warm water and mild detergent. Adding a small amount of rinse aid to the water can also help to prevent water droplet marks as they dry. For heavier staining, leave the blind to soak for several hours or overnight before cleaning the slats. Once you have cleaned the blind, rinse it thoroughly with cold water and then hang securely outside or over the shower rail to dry before refitting it into its brackets.

Wooden Venetian Blinds

Like any real wooden product, excess moisture can do a great deal of harm to your wooden venetian blinds as they absorb liquid, causing them to expand and warp. This is why advise against using any water or liquid cleaning products when cleaning your wooden venetian blinds and instead recommend using a microfibre cloth or blind brush which slots into the gaps to ease the process. If your blinds are dirty or greasy, you should use a very slightly damp cloth to wipe them down.

How to Clean Roman Blinds

Roman blinds can be cleaned in a similar way to venetian blinds, however, the process is made more complicated as the cords can become tangled more easily. A much simpler method of cleaning your roman blinds is to first use a vacuum cleaner with the upholstery (brush) attachment. Fully open and carefully brush the fabric in a downwards motion, making sure to pay attention to the edges of the blind as they attract the most dust due to being in regular contact with your window sill and frame.

If your roman blind has become stained, first attempt to remove the stain with a clean, dampy cloth, gently rubbing the affected area until the stain lifts. Heavier staining may require a specialist fabric stain remover, however, make sure to always check that the product is suitable to be used on your blinds fabric and follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use it as well as checking any care labels on your roman blinds themselves as they may be dry clean only.

How to Clean Pleated Blinds

Pleated blinds may seem more difficult to clean due to their more awkward shape, however, a quick and easy way to remove dust and other debris that has collected between the pleats over time is by using a hairdryer, though it is worth remembering that this will simply remove the dust from the blinds themselves and blow it out into the air around them. 

To remove the particles more permanently, you can use a vacuum cleaner with the upholstery (brush) attachment gently over the blind on a low suction setting. Brush the attachment over the blind from top to bottom, being careful not to push too hard to avoid damaging or creasing the pleated fabric. If your pleated blinds have any marks or stains, use a damp cloth and gently wipe along the pleats to remove them along with any leftover dust or debris.

How to Clean Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds require less maintenance than most other blinds as the slats hang down, meaning they trap less dirt and dust on their surfaces. These blinds can be dusted down quickly with a microfibre cloth and, thanks to our range of high quality practical materials, they can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth, meaning you don’t have to worry about taking them down in order to wash them. 

If you have a stain that won’t lift with just a damp cloth, then you may wish to try treating it with a fabric stain remover. To do this, first check that the fabric cleaner is suitable to be used on your blinds material and then follow the manufacturer instructions. 

How to Clean Shutters

Wooden shutters are similar to wooden venetian blinds in the way that excessive moisture can be detrimental to them due to the way in which wood absorbs liquids, expands and then shrinks as it dries, leading to warping and poor fitting shutters. 

As a result, we advise against using large amounts of water or cleaning solutions when cleaning your shutters and instead recommend either dusting with a microfibre cloth/blind brush to ease the process or using a very slightly damp cloth to remove any grease or marks.

At Aspiration Blinds, we offer a wide range of blinds and shutters and pride ourselves on our high quality products that provide unrivalled style, exceptional insulation, privacy and simplistic light control. Why not browse some of our range here or get in touch to book a free home visit and design consultation!