Cleaning Venetian blinds slat by slat without spending all day
Slat blinds are a nightmare to dust. Here is the kitchen tong trick to go twice as fast.
Recommended Materials
- Kitchen tongs (BBQ tongs type)
- 2 microfiber cloths
- Rubber bands
- White vinegar (if greasy)
Steps to follow
Step 1
Start by closing the blinds completely to dust the overall surface with a feather duster or microfiber cloth. Do both sides (by turning the slats the other way).
Step 2
To clean slat by slat (the most tedious): take kitchen tongs (BBQ or salad tongs type). Wrap a microfiber cloth or an old sock around each arm of the tongs and secure them firmly with rubber bands.
Step 3
Pinch a slat between the two arms of the tongs and slide from left to right. You thus clean the top and bottom of the slat in a single pass! It's twice as fast.
Step 4
If the blinds are greasy (kitchen) or stained (flies), slightly dampen the cloths on the tongs with vinegar water or soapy water.
Step 5
For fabric blinds (roller or roman): do not rub them vigorously. Vacuum them gently with the brush attachment. In case of a stain, dab with a damp magic eraser or a cloth soaked in soapy water, without soaking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put them in the shower ?
Yes, it's radical for very dirty aluminum or PVC blinds. Take them down, lay them flat in the bathtub with soapy water, rinse with the shower jet and let dry completely (unfolded) before putting back up to avoid rust in the mechanism.
How to whiten yellowed plastic blinds ?
Plastic yellowed by the sun is difficult to recover because it is a chemical alteration. Try hydrogen peroxide (40 volume cream) in the sun, but the result is not guaranteed.
Precautions
- Watch out for aluminum slats which bend easily.
- Do not wet wooden blinds (they warp).
