Cleaning your window blinds is an often overlooked task, but fairly simple routine cleaning can keep them looking great for years to come, and help keep your home free of dust. Most blinds are made from either wood or plastic, though fabric blinds are also a popular material. However, blinds of any material can become downright unsightly when neglected, as dust, dirt, dead skin cells, pet fur and more develop into a sticky residue that can be troublesome to remove. Even worse, improper cleaning materials or technique can result in an unpleasant mess.

It's recommended that you clean your blinds every few weeks, or more frequently depending on necessity. Cleaning your windows is also recommended, to prevent transmission of dust and grime onto your newly cleaned blinds, resulting in more time consuming cleaning work.

Directions:

• Before beginning, consult your owner's manual for any special care instructions. You should also spot test an inconspicuous area prior to cleaning.

Light Cleaning Vinyl Blinds:

1. Dust the blinds: Work from top to bottom so that you're no re-soiling an area you've just cleaned. With the blinds in the open position, wipe from top to bottom with a microfiber cloth, mini blind duster or an old cotton sock over your hand.
2. Clean spills, marks or splatters: For light cleaning, mix Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with water at a 1:30 dilution. For heavy cleaning, mix Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner with water at a 1:10 dilution. Clean up any unsightly marks by spraying with your Simple Green dilution and wiping with a clean, damp cloth.

Deep Cleaning Vinyl Blinds:

1. Dust the blinds as described in step 1 of the Light Cleaning Vinyl Blinds directions.
2. Fill your bathtub with a mixture of 1 cup Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner to about 6 inches of warm water.
3. Submerge the blinds in the tub. Allow to sit for 5 minutes.
4. Before removing blinds from the tub, check for any remaining soil stuck to the blinds. Wash it away with a brush, cloth or sponge.
5. Drain the tub and refill with 6 inches of fresh water. Jostle the blinds under the water to rinse.
6. Drain the tub once more, stand blinds on-end and dry with a towel. Leave in the tub to dry thoroughly, or hang in garage or yard to dry completely.
7. Place your blinds back in the window.
8. Spray full-strength Simple Green on any residue clinging to your tub, scrub away and rinse. Bonus: now you've got a clean bathtub!

Cleaning Wood Blinds:

1. Dust the blinds as described in step 1 of the Light Cleaning Vinyl Blinds directions.
2. Mix ½ cup of Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner and ½ cup of water (1:1 dilution). Lightly dampen a microfiber cloth with the cleaning solution. Close the blinds. Starting at the top, wipe across each slat individually until you reach the bottom.
3. Repeat this process with a clean cloth dampened with water.
4. Turn the tilt wand until the blinds have rotated fully. Use the same technique from steps 2 & 3 to apply Simple Green and then damp wipe the other side.
5. Open the blinds to allow them to dry completely.