What is the best way to clean horizontal plastic blinds?
Horizontal plastic blinds provide the wonderful convenience of adjustable slats that allow you to control and redirect the level of light that comes in from the outdoors. Horizontal blinds are also a convenient way to provide privacy. The downside of horizontal plastic blinds is the cleaning challenge they present. They can collect a great deal of dust and dirt over time, and the design which provides such convenience can simultaneously cause a hindrance to a thorough cleaning.
Some companies have created specially designed tools made just for cleaning horizontal blinds. The tools are perfectly shaped to go in between each slat for a complete dusting of slat in just one stroke.
If your horizontal plastic blinds are excessively dirty, the best solution might be to take them down and hose them off with a regular garden hose. You can apply a mild detergent to release dirt and grime. Apply the detergent or soap to a small inconspicuous area of the blinds to be sure it won’t cause damage. Wash the blinds with a soft scrubbing brush if necessary. You can also use a high pressure water attachment for your hose and just let the water pressure do the work for you.
It is also fairly easy to clean horizontal plastic blinds with traditional dusting methods if you prefer to do so. To make the job easier, simply close the blinds so each slat lies flat in one direction. Wipe over the surface with a damp rag or feather duster. Reverse the direction of the blinds and repeat for the other side.
That is no fun job, I’ve tried several methods. One is, taking them down, filling the bathtub with washing powder and TSP. Then submerging them in the water, and using a soft brush, cleaning them up. This does the job, but is time consuming. I have also hung them up on my yard fence and used a power washer, to clean them. As you live in an apartment, that’s not much of an option. Depending on how dirty they are, you can buy devices in the hardware store that cleans blinds. If you can afford it, it’s often easier to buy new ones.But if you have several that can be expensive, Good luck.
