How to Clean Blinds: Venetian, Roller & Vertical

Blinds are one of those things you stop noticing until the afternoon sun lights up every dusty slat. They collect dust, cooking grease, insect marks and, in bathrooms and kitchens, moisture and mould. Because they're fiddly, they often get skipped in a regular clean. This guide explains how to clean blinds of every common type: aluminium and timber venetians, roller blinds, vertical blinds and honeycomb blinds. It covers quick dusting, deeper cleaning, how often to do it, and the mistakes that can damage blinds.

Before You Start

Check the care instructions

If you still have the manufacturer's care guide, follow it. Some fabrics, coatings and timbers have specific requirements, and some blinds are not designed to get wet at all.

Gather your tools

- Microfibre cloths or a microfibre blind duster. - A vacuum with a soft brush attachment. - A bucket of warm water with a little mild dish soap. - A soft sponge. - Old towels or a drop sheet. - A step ladder.

Safety first

Use a stable step ladder and don't overreach. Keep cords and chains out of reach of children. Corded window coverings sold in Australia must meet a mandatory safety standard, and loose cords should be secured with cleats or tensioners. If you find loose cords while cleaning, fix them.

How to Clean Venetian Blinds

Aluminium venetians

Aluminium blinds are the most forgiving. 1. Close the slats so they lie flat, facing one way. 2. Dust from top to bottom with a microfibre cloth or vacuum brush. 3. Turn the slats the other way and repeat. 4. For grime, wipe each slat with a cloth dampened in warm soapy water, then wipe dry with a clean cloth. 5. For very dirty kitchen blinds, take them down and wash them in a bathtub lined with a towel, or outside with a hose and soft brush. Dry thoroughly before rehanging so the mechanism doesn't rust.

Timber and faux timber venetians

Real timber can warp, swell or lose its finish if it gets wet. 1. Dust regularly with a dry microfibre cloth or vacuum brush. 2. Spot clean marks with a barely damp cloth, then dry immediately. 3. Avoid soaking, hosing or harsh cleaners. 4. Faux timber (PVC) handles water better than real timber, but check the manufacturer's advice.

The sock trick

Slip a clean microfibre sock or cloth over your hand, grip a slat between your fingers and thumb, and slide along it. It cleans both sides at once.

How to Clean Roller Blinds

Roller blinds are usually fabric, often with a coating. 1. Lower the blind fully. 2. Vacuum both sides gently with a brush attachment, working top to bottom. 3. Spot clean marks with a soft sponge and mild soapy water, dabbing rather than scrubbing. 4. Rinse with a barely damp sponge and let it dry fully before rolling up, to avoid mould and creases. Blockout and sunscreen roller fabrics have coatings that can crack or peel if scrubbed or folded. If a roller blind is heavily stained, check the manufacturer's advice or consider professional cleaning.

How to Clean Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds have long fabric or PVC louvres. 1. Close the blinds and vacuum or dust from top to bottom. 2. Turn them and do the other side. 3. For PVC louvres, wipe with a damp soapy cloth. 4. For fabric louvres, spot clean with a damp sponge. Some fabric louvres can be removed and hand washed, but check the care guide first, as many can't. 5. Clean the bottom chain and weights, which collect dust. 6. Wipe the headrail and track.

How to Clean Honeycomb and Pleated Blinds

Honeycomb (cellular) blinds trap dust inside the cells. 1. Vacuum gently on low suction with a brush attachment. 2. Use a hairdryer on a cool setting, or a can of compressed air, to blow dust out of the cells. 3. Spot clean marks with a barely damp cloth. 4. Avoid soaking them, as it can damage the pleats and glue.

Kitchen and Bathroom Blinds

Blinds in kitchens collect sticky grease, and bathroom blinds face constant moisture. - Kitchen: use warm water with dish soap to cut grease. Aluminium and PVC blinds in kitchens may need a full wash every few months. - Bathroom: watch for mould spots, especially on fabric. Improve ventilation, keep blinds open after showers, and clean mould early. PVC and aluminium blinds suit bathrooms better than timber or fabric.

How Often Should You Clean Blinds?

- Dust: every week or two, as part of your regular clean. - Wipe or spot clean: every few months. - Deep clean: once or twice a year, or more often in kitchens. If anyone in your home has allergies, regular dusting matters more. Our guide to cleaning for allergy sufferers explains how to reduce dust without stirring it up.

A Quick Blind-Cleaning Routine

If you only have a few minutes, focus on the blinds people see most: living room and kitchen windows that catch the afternoon sun. Dust them on the same day each week as part of your regular clean, working room by room from the top of the house down. Then once a season, set aside an hour to wipe slats, clean headrails and check cords and mechanisms. Breaking the job up this way stops dust from building into a big, grimy task.

Mistakes to Avoid

- Soaking timber blinds, which can warp them. - Harsh chemicals such as bleach or abrasive cleaners, which can discolour fabrics and damage coatings. - Scrubbing coated fabrics, which can crack the coating. - Rolling up damp blinds, which encourages mould. - Pulling on slats or louvres, which can bend or snap them. - Ignoring the headrail and window, which leaves dust to fall back onto clean blinds.

Clean the Windows at the Same Time

Once the blinds are clean, clean the glass, frames and tracks behind them so dust doesn't transfer straight back. Our streak-free window cleaning guide covers the method.

When to Call a Professional

Consider professional help if blinds are very large, high or hard to reach, heavily stained, or made from delicate fabric. Blinds and window coverings can be added to a deep clean. Our deep clean checklist shows what a full clean covers, and our house cleaning service can include blind dusting as part of a regular clean.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the quickest way to clean venetian blinds?

Close the slats, dust them with a microfibre cloth or vacuum brush, then turn them and repeat. A microfibre sock over your hand speeds it up.

Can I put blinds in the washing machine?

Generally no. Most blinds aren't designed for machine washing. Some fabric vertical louvres can be hand washed if the care guide allows.

How do I get grease off kitchen blinds?

Use warm water with a little dish soap. For aluminium or PVC blinds, a full wash in a towel-lined bathtub works well.

How do I remove mould from fabric blinds?

Spot clean early with a damp cloth and mild solution, dry thoroughly and improve ventilation. Heavily mouldy fabric blinds may need professional cleaning or replacement.

Want Spotless Blinds Without the Effort?

If you'd rather hand the job over, contact iCleanPro and ask us to include blinds in your next clean.

How to Clean Blinds: Venetian, Roller and Vertical