How to Clean Wood and Metal Blinds

We would love it if our blinds stayed as pristine as the day we brought them home. However, as with most things we care for, maintenance is part of life. When learning how to clean wood and metal blinds, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the tips, tricks, and warnings about not ruining your investment. Since our humid Gulf air can cause grime, dust, and moisture to accumulate on blinds faster than in other areas, routine cleaning is essential for their longevity. At All About The Windows, we are happy to share our cleaning tips.

A person's hand cleaning window blinds with a blue rag

How to Clean Wood Blinds

Wood blinds often fall into two categories: genuine and faux. Each offers unique benefits suited to various homes and lifestyles. They also require unique cleaning steps.

Here’s how we’d clean genuine wood blinds:

Close the Blinds: Tilt the slats closed to make it easier to clean the entire surface.
Dust: Use a microfiber cloth, a feather duster, or a vacuum with a soft-bristled attachment to remove dust. Work from the top down to avoid spreading particles to already-cleaned slats.
Spot Clean: For sticky spots, gently buff the slat with a damp (not wet) cloth, then immediately dry to avoid water damage.
Condition Periodically: Every 1-2 years, treat your wood blinds with a small amount of lemon oil or a non-wax wood preservative on a cloth to protect the finish and achieve a beautiful shine.
Clean the Other Side: Tilt the slats in the opposite direction and repeat the process.

Here’s how we’d clean faux wood blinds:

Close the Blinds: Tilt the slats so they’re fully closed for easy cleaning.
Dust: Use a feather duster, a dry microfiber cloth, or a vacuum with a soft-bristled attachment to remove dust and loose grime.
Create Your Cleaning Solution: Mix lukewarm water with a few drops of mild dish soap. For blinds in kitchens or bathrooms, mix equal parts water and white vinegar instead.
Wipe the Slats: Dip your microfiber cloth into the solution. Wring it out so it’s damp, not soaked. Start at the top and wipe each slat.
Dry & Buff: Dry each slat immediately with a clean cloth to prevent water spots or streaks.

How to Clean Metal Blinds

Even though metal blinds tend to be the more resilient option, they still require specific steps for a successful clean.

We would clean metal blinds by doing the following:

Close the Blinds: Tilt the slats fully closed to make the entire surface easier to clean.
Dust: Use a feather duster, a dry microfiber cloth, or a vacuum with a soft-bristled attachment to remove dust and loose grime.
Wash with Soap: Combine a gallon of warm water with a teaspoon of mild dish soap. Use a damp (not soaked) microfiber cloth to clean each slat.
Rinse & Dry: Wipe the slats with a clean, damp cloth to remove soap residue. Then, dry and buff the slats with a clean, dry towel to prevent water spots.

Find More Window Blinds Maintenance Tips Near Mobile, Alabama

At All About The Windows, we are proud to be your local window treatment provider. Whether you’re looking for tips to maintain your new blinds or are on the hunt for the top blinds for your home, we are here to help.

We are located in Mobile, Alabama, and proudly serve the surrounding area, including Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Point Clear, Bay Minette, Foley, Robertsdale, Loxley, Orange Beach, Gulf Shores, and Mobile, Alabama.