How to Clean Blinds and Window Coverings
Window blinds and coverings are dust magnets — and one of the most neglected items in Toronto homes. Most people wipe down their counters weekly but haven't touched their blinds in months. Here's how to clean every type properly without damaging them.
Venetian Blinds (Aluminum or Faux Wood)
Weekly dusting: Close the slats fully and wipe from top to bottom with a microfibre cloth or a dusting wand. Flip the slats and repeat the other side.
Deep clean: Take the blinds down and lay them in your bathtub. Fill with warm water and a small amount of dish soap. Let soak for 10–15 minutes, then wipe each slat with a sponge. Rinse with the showerhead. Hang in the shower or outside to dry fully before rehanging — moisture trapped in the mechanism causes corrosion.
Roller and Zebra Shades
Spot-clean with a barely damp cloth and mild dish soap. Never soak roller shades — the fabric can warp or develop water marks. For dust, use a handheld vacuum with a brush attachment on the lowest suction setting. Roll up and down a few times to access different sections.
Vertical Blinds
Remove individual slats by unclipping them. Wipe each one with a damp cloth dipped in warm soapy water. For fabric vertical slats, check the care label — many are machine washable on delicate. Let dry flat or hang before re-clipping.
Fabric Curtains and Drapes
Check the care label first — most fabric curtains are machine washable on cold, delicate cycle. Remove hooks and rings. Wash in a mesh laundry bag to prevent tangling. Hang while slightly damp and they'll fall straight without ironing. For dry-clean-only curtains, a clothes steamer freshens them between professional cleans.
Honeycomb / Cellular Shades
These are the trickiest — the cells trap dust inside. Use a hair dryer on the cool setting to blow dust out from the cells. For deeper cleaning, take them down and dip gently in cool water with a tiny amount of soap. Rinse and hang to dry completely (at least 24–48 hours) before rehanging.
Cleaning Schedule
- Dust blinds: Every 2 weeks as part of your regular clean
- Wipe down slats: Monthly
- Full deep clean: Every 3–6 months
- Curtains washed: Every 3–6 months (or seasonally)
Toronto's winters mean closed windows for months — blinds collect more dust and cooking grease than you'd expect. If blinds are on your to-do list but never get done, Maidless includes blind and window covering wipe-downs in deep clean packages. Book online at maidless.ca.