How To Clean Mini Blinds

It's happened to many of us. A stroll through our local home improvement center has led us to the mini-blinds. Sure they look nice, but who wants to spend a weekend removing dust from them? The good news is, it doesn't have to be this way.

For the Detail Oriented

It may seem obvious, but close the slats prior to dust. Weekly blind dusting is recommended with a lamb's wool duster; lamb's wool naturally attracts dust and can prevent buildup. If lamb's wool is not available a paintbrush can also work. Be sure to place some towels underneath the blinds to catch excess dust. Workahholics might event want to take the blinds down and clean them in the bathtub. To remove the grease from the blinds an all-purpose cleaner can be used. Spray liberally, and here's the key: let the cleaner work for few minutes. Then wipe off the cleaner with a soft cloth. Rinsing the cloth often will make it more effective. To clean the other side of the blinds simply flip it over and do the same steps a described above. Rinse the blinds, by wiping them down with a clean wet towel, be sure to place a towel underneath to prevent a mess. Dry the blinds by nanging them up and drying with a hair dryer.

Quick and Easy

This one's a gem, and it doesn't get any easier: use an old pair of cotton gloves to clean mini blinds. Slip on the gloves, dip your fingers into a solution of 1 teaspoon ammonia and 1 quart of water, then run your fingers through the blinds. Another quick tip: use the vaccuum cleaner hose attachments. You can even do this without removing the blinds. A dryer sheet runned on the blinds will remove the static so dust will not be attracted to the blinds.

Cleaning Mini-Blinds For Parents

This might be a good one to pass off to teens always desperate to earn spare cash. For smaller children, the old gloves should work well. Kids love to help, and even doing a few of the bottom slats (if you're not taking the blinds down) will make them feel like they're doing a good job for you. Some children really enjoy detailed work, but you can make a game out it regardless.