How To Clean Vinyl Blinds With Natural Homemade Cleaners

Cleaning vinyl blinds is a job that has to be done regularly in order to prevent dust buildup and stains. However, it is very easy to forget about them and let several months pass before we remember to clean them, usually because something got spilled on the blinds or they simply got too dusty.

There are many products that can be used in order to make vinyl blinds sparkle again, but they are often full of harmful chemicals we may not want to use near pets, children or while pregnant. Luckily, a very efficient and safe way to clean them is to use a few simple household ingredients and water in 5 easy steps. All you will need is some baking soda or soap, a little apple cider vinegar, and an old bed sheet or towel. Soon, your vinyl blind will look new again. With these simple ingredients, you get the lowest price promise when it comes to cleaning your blinds.

Step one: Prepping the vinyl blinds:

Run some very warm water in a bathtub so that the bottom of it is completely covered, along with a few drops of liquid soap or some baking soda. You don’t need very much water at this point. Then, remove all your blinds off the windows and set them, two at a time, in the bathtub. If they are not completely submerged with water, run a little more so that the water covers the vinyl blinds by about an inch.

Step 2: Soaking the vinyl blinds:

Let your vinyl blinds soak for about 5 minutes. The soap or baking soda will act as an alkaline agent to remove any grease which may be present on the blades. If you like, move the blinds in the water with your hand to help loosen any stubborn stains. Homemade cleansers made with baking soda and water are very gentle yet also very effective.

Step 3: Rinsing the vinyl blinds:

At this point, any dirt should be soaked with water and homemade cleanser. You can go ahead and drain the bathtub. Then, using the shower head (one with a slightly strong water jet setting is preferred), rinse off the vinyl blinds not forgetting the top section which cannot be easily cleaned with a duster.

Step 4: Shining the vinyl blinds:

Lay the vinyl blinds flat on an old bed sheet or a similar large piece of cloth, and generously spray them with a mix of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water. Do not worry about the vinegar smell, it will go away very quickly. Vinegar water is a powerful homemade cleanser, and it’s also perfectly safe.

Step 5: Drying the vinyl blinds:

Using a dry towel, dry every blade by hand. Check for any leftover stains. If needed, spray a little more vinegar water on them and scrub them slightly. This will not take long as most of the water will already be absorbed by the bedsheet. You can put the vinyl blinds back up without drying them, but they will be a lot more susceptible to gather dust, and you may end up with hard water stains that will be visible on dark colored blinds.

That’s it! You can now hang the vinyl blinds back up.

While this cleaning process is very quick and easy and will not take more than 20 minutes for a few blinds, it still takes time, and regular maintenance will ensure that you won’t need to clean them more than a few times a year at most. Simply include in your cleaning routine regular dusting of the vinyl blinds. A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment can also be used but is more clumsy and not nearly as effective. Occasionally, you may want to wipe the blades with a cloth sprayed with a little water-vinegar solution as well and make sure to dust them afterward in case some dust got stuck to the water while they were drying.