Can you clean blinds yourself? What's safe and what isn't
Updated 1 min read
Yes, you can safely dust, vacuum and spot-clean most blinds yourself. What damages blinds is soaking fabric, scrubbing clear PVC, wetting real wood and using harsh chemicals. For ingrained dirt, mould, grease or cloudy patio blinds, a professional clean is safer than trying to fix it at home.
What can you safely clean yourself?
- Vacuuming any fabric blind with a soft brush attachment.
- Wiping aluminium and faux wood slats with a damp microfibre cloth.
- Dusting real wood slats with a dry cloth.
- Spot-cleaning small marks on fabric with a barely damp cloth, blotting rather than rubbing.
- Rinsing outdoor blinds with clean water.
What mistakes ruin blinds?
| Mistake | What happens |
|---|---|
| Soaking fabric blinds in the bath | Fabric shrinks, stiffening comes out, and the blind no longer rolls straight |
| Scrubbing clear PVC or using glass cleaner | Permanent scratches and clouding |
| Wetting real timber slats | Warping and lifted finish |
| Bleach or strong chemicals on fabric | Fading, patches and weakened fabric |
| Rubbing a stain hard | Spreads the mark and roughens the surface |
| Rolling a blind up while wet | Mould and watermarks |
When should you call a professional?
- Mould spots on fabric blinds.
- Grease film on kitchen blinds that wiping doesn't shift.
- Cloudy or grimy clear PVC patio blinds.
- Large blinds that are awkward to take down or reach.
- Delicate fabrics such as roman and honeycomb blinds.
Questions people also ask
Can I put fabric blinds in the washing machine?
No. Most roller, roman and honeycomb fabrics are stiffened or laminated, and machine washing can shrink or distort them so they no longer roll or fold properly.
What's the best tool for dusting blinds?
A vacuum with a soft brush attachment for fabric, and a microfibre cloth for slats. Feather dusters mostly move dust into the air.
