How to Clean Wood Blinds

Co-authored by Raymond Chiu

Last Updated: September 6, 2020 References Approved

Wood blinds are a great addition to any window and create a more sophisticated look than the typical plastic, vinyl, or cloth blinds that are available at most department stores. However, unlike other blinds, wood blinds require special care when being cleaned. Luckily, using the right techniques can save you time cleaning your blinds and ensure that they last for the long run.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Dusting Wooden Blinds

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Obtain a feather duster or microfiber cloth. Avoid using rough material to clean your blinds because you can accidentally scratch them. A microfiber cloth or light feather duster are the best tools to use to quickly remove dust from your blinds.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.}
- Microfiber cloth attach themselves to small dirt fibers on your blinds and will pick up particles that a normal rag would miss.^{[2]
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- You can pick up dusters and microfiber rags online or at a hardware store.
2
Close your blinds so they sit flat against your window. Your blinds come with an adjusting rod or rotating drum that makes them open and close. Rotate this to close your blinds completely so that you can target one side of your blinds.
- If you keep your blinds open it will be harder to clean both sides of the wooden slats.
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3
Wipe or dust each individual slat from left to right. Using your feather duster or microfiber cloth, begin to wipe each slat on your wooden blinds from left to right. Make sure that you focus on each slat individually so you can get the best clean.^{[3]
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- If you have vertical wooden blinds, then dust from top to bottom.
4
Rotate the blinds and dust the other side. Rotate the adjusting rod in the opposite direction to open your blinds, so the other side of the slats are facing you. Repeat the process and fully dust the other side of your wooden blinds.
- This quick dusting should take under 10 minutes to complete.
- Wood blinds should be dusted at least once a month to maintain a clean appearance.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing Wooden Blinds

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Fill a bucket with 1-2 inches of warm water. If your blinds have too much built up dirt, a simple dusting may not totally clean them. A deeper clean for wood blinds requires you to use water. Do not mix any cleaners or chemicals with the water.
- The chemicals in traditional cleaners can create stains and streaks that can ruin your blinds.
2
Use a clean sock or soft cotton rag and dab it into the water. Wood blinds that make prolonged contact with water can cause your blinds to spot and warp.^{[4]
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Research source} To avoid this, lightly dab your cloth and wring it out before you use it.
- You only need a little bit of water to dampen your cloth, not totally saturate it.
3
Angle your wood slats to an almost closed position. Positioning your wooden slats to an almost closed position will make wiping each individual slat easier.^{[5]
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Starting from the top, wipe down each slat individually. Using your damp rag, wipe each slat from left to right. Once you are done wiping one side, make sure that also wipe the other side.
- Make sure to scrub harder on areas with stains, using a circular motion.
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Dry each slat individually with a dry rag. Water can warp, discolor, or create spotting on wood blinds. To prevent this from happening, make sure that you get all of the water off the blinds with a dry rag.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Expert Interview. 15 October 2019.}
- You can dry each slat with a microfiber cloth, dry sock, or a soft cotton rag.
6
Angle your slats the other way and repeat. Clean the other side of your wooden slats by angling them onto the other side and repeat the process of wiping them down and drying them.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using Alternative Methods

1
Use a soft vacuum attachment to suck up dust and dirt. Use the same method you regularly would use to dust your blinds, but instead of using a feather duster, use the arm attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
- If you are using a vacuum, anything other than a soft brush attachment runs the risk of scratching or scraping your blinds.
- Use this method if you are low on time and are already vacuuming.
2
Use olive oil and warm water to make wood blinds shiny. You can mix a quarter cup of olive oil in a bowl with warm water to create an extra shine on your wood blinds. Use the washing method but replace the warm water with your new solution.
- Do not use olive oil if your blinds are cracked. The solution may seep past the finish and warp your wood.^{[7]
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Wipe blinds with lemon oil or wood preservative to increase shine. Lemon oil or commercial wood cleaners can clean wood blinds without damaging them.^{[8]
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Research source} If you are trying to achieve shiny wood blinds, you can use products found at a home goods or department store made specifically for wood.
- Lemon oil is the oil that is secreted when the lemon peel is pressed. It is a natural disinfectant.^{[9]
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- You can purchase wood cleaners like Murphy Oil Soap, Orange Glo, and other commercial wood cleaners to keep your wooden blinds safe.^{[10]
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- Remember to always wipe your wood blinds dry after using any cleaner.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you deep clean blinds?

Raymond Chiu
House Cleaning Professional
Raymond Chiu is the Director of Operations for MaidSailors.com, a residential and commercial cleaning service based in New York City that provides home and office cleaning services at affordable prices. He has a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from Baruch College.

Raymond Chiu

House Cleaning Professional

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

In most cases, they shouldn't need more than a brushing or dusting with a microfiber cloth. You can use a little water and vinegar if they're really filthy, but you don't want to overdo it. If you use too many liquid cleaners or too much water, it can soak into the porous wood and cause it to warp or bend. If you're going to use a chemical cleaner, make sure that you spot test it on an inconspicuous portion of the blinds so that you can figure out if it will stain the wood or not.
Question

How do I get greasy grime off of faux wood blinds?

Community Answer

Faux wood blinds may still react poorly to water, but you can use a lemon based wood cleaner to cut through the grease. Use the washing method, but get use a cleaner instead of just warm water.