You've Been Cleaning Your Blinds All Wrong

Perhaps not one of your favorite household duties, cleaning the blinds can be a huge pain depending on how you're going about it. These often-neglected areas of the house can be tough to dust, particularly after you've avoided them for months. Attracting build-up of dust, pet hair, and other debris in your home, your blinds likely deserve a little more TLC. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get your blinds looking almost as good as new.

There are a few relatively simple methods to clean your blinds that are much more effective than a quick monthly dust down. Start with a microfiber towel and a vacuum cleaner with attachments (via Real Simple). It's important to remove the worst of the dust before jumping in with a cleaning solution, because it'll just create a bigger mess. Start by gliding the cloth through each of the open blinds, moving from top to bottom, so you can pick up excess dust as you move further down. After you've dusted all the way down, vacuum any leftover debris on or around your blinds (via Merry Maids). Finally, you can mix a solution of one part water and one part vinegar, and using a sock over your hand, wipe down each blade of the blinds.

If your blinds are particularly soiled or stained, you may want to do a deeper cleanse. If possible, remove the blinds from your windows and soak them in warm soapy water for at least an hour (via Merry Maids). Then, once they're clean, wipe them down with a microfiber cloth before rehanging.

Otherwise, you can buy a specialty blinds cleaner that has individual dusting ridges made of microfiber towels. If you have a tool like this, it can save you time and help you stay on track with keeping your window hangings dust-free. If you still need to spot clean, spray all-purpose cleaner onto a microfiber cloth and wipe through as needed after dusting — avoid spraying directly onto your blinds (via HGTV).

No matter which method you choose, remember to always dust from top to bottom, so you collect more debris as you clean and keep your vacuum cleaner nearby to remove excess dust after you wipe them down. Just these two action items alone can help keep your window space clean and clear.