Cleaning Venetian blinds

I have a hand held tweezer shaped gadget with microfiber pads attached .
Cleans top and bottom of each slat at the same time.

Before purchasing this (I think from kleeneze),
I used 2 old socks one on either hand to clean each slat individually.
One to clean with detergent and water and the other to dry.

I know someone who washes their Venetian blinds in the bath.

I bought a slotted brush but found it beyond tedious so gave up very quickly and ditched the thing. Perhaps it’s my fault - the blind is only 18 months old but is decidedly grimy from the effects of cooking and having the window open a lot. It needs a good scrub but I can’t see how it comes down otherwise I might try the bath!

Using hot soapy water wipe individual slats by putting on an old pair of cotton socks and using them like gloves wipe / wash slats clean.

A bit of a FAFF but it does work. Boring ruddy job mind.

I agree, mind numbing. And it’s the one blind that’s almost impossible to reach without serious contortions and danger to health. Probably why I’ve not tackled the problem sooner

I hate cleaning Venetian blinds but find it easier using wet wipes, takes a little while doing each slat individually but i find i only need to do it every two or three months.

If it's REALLY grimy with grease etc then I suggest a damp cloth with a squirt of toothpaste on it followed by a clean damp cloth. It really works but, depending on the size of the blind, it might be better to remove the whole thing and do it in the bath which will enable the cords to be cleaned too. Before re-hanging, finish by polishing the slats with a spray such as Mr Sheen. That will make future cleaning a lot easier.

I have newish wooden blinds which really show the dust. I'm going to try wet wipes next time. I usually hoover them but it's not very sucessful.

I tilt the slats back slightly so the grot doesn't show

inishowen

Wet wipes will ultimately ruin the finish on wooden blunds unless dried as you wipe. A really good microfibre cloth will remove dust without spreading it everywhere else. I bought a great one costing £2 from a TOFS ( The Original Factory Shop- online or in shop) which is double thickness and used for cars. It cleans glass and wood a treat.

oops! blinds.

Can't understand why venetian blinds so popular - mega dust traps to my way of thinking.

inishowen
I have medium oak colour wooden venetians.I have found that a light spraying of a non silicone furniture polish, don't use silicone, on pieces of old cotton teeshirt or teatowels which you can throw away if you don't want to wash, then wiping over the slats removes the dust and stubborn insect marks giving the slats a new lease of life.My only problem is the sun. Wooden venetians do, over a period of time. tend to fade.

1. Pour a glass of wine
2. Put your favourite record on the stereo, full blast.
3. Get out the socks and other things suggested above
4. Fill a bucket with hot soapy water
5. Climb up the steps and get on with it!

Alternatively: Try again to find out how to take the things down - There must be a way; someone must have put them up somehow! Then wash them in the bath or exchange them for something more practical.

If they are greasy from cooking,use hot water with white vinegar or soda crystals,using any of the methods mentioned.

Jacky b

Oh b----r I have never tried steps 1 & 2 !

1.Take blinds down.
2.Take blinds into the back garden.
3.Open bin lid.
4.Put blinds in bin.
5.Balance lid on top of blinds.
6.Cross fingers that the bin man will empty the bin
with half open lid.
7.Go to town.
8.Look at curtains, roller blinds and roman blinds.
9.Buy whichever you think is best for the position and shape of the window.
10.Take home.
11.Make self and DH coffee.
12.Drink your coffee whilst DH puts up blinds/curtains.
13.Make second cup of coffee to replace DH’s first which has gone cold.
14.Drink second cup of coffee whilst congratulating self that you will never have to try to clean a venetian blind again.

I stand on the draining board and use a spray and two old socks... So much better than the gadget.. Then just chuck them away. Amazingly therapeutic but you need to be quite nimble to get up and down again!!

When I had a house that already had venetian blinds I found the same problem. My solution was to take them down (they were quite easy to take down in those days, I can't say what they are like these days) lay them across the lawn and use a soft broom to gently brush them clean, turn over and do the same to the other side. Let them dry and rehang. Voila

Chuck the blinds away Lilylilo?

Seriously, I have wooden blinds in my bedroom that are very dusty. I have tried lots of methods but there is always a line of dust left which I haven't managed to reach. I am going to try the sock method - thanks to all who suggested it!

I agree, get rid of the venetian blinds. Horrible things. I have lived in my house for 32 years and never felt the need to have a curtain or blind up in the kitchen or at the bathroom window ( both at the rear of the property). However, I do have a large and not overlooked garden with lots of trees at the back to screen it too.

Use the sock method and the wonderful product available in pound shops called Elbow Grease -yes really - it is a brilliant degreaser with little effort I can't be without it now

I had blinds in kitchen we used to take them down and put them in bath of hot soapy water I then used small sponge to clean between slats it was backbreaking so reluctantly I got rid of them and now have roller blinds

I’m with Vampirequeen! Although I love the look, ditched mine for roller blind, far less bother. Lesson learnt.

Thanks ladies, some excellent advice. My blinds are metallic white, not wooden, and the whole house has them but it’s just this one blind that is grubby. They look very smart (apart from the current grimey one) so I’ll persevere and get them clean and try not to let it happen again!