How To Clean Faux Wood Blinds

Faux wood blinds provide the sophisticated and high-end look of natural wood without the higher costs and maintenance requirements. Knowing how to clean faux wood blinds will help keep them looking their best. Luckily, it’s easy to do.

Dust faux wood blinds weekly with a duster or vacuum brush attachment. Use a microfiber cloth and warm, soapy water for a deeper clean. Unlike natural wood blinds, faux wood blinds are more resistant to warping from moisture and humidity. You can use a water and vinegar mixture if they’re especially grimy. Always use a non-abrasive cleaner and soft cloth to avoid ruining the blinds’ finish.

No matter what type of blinds you have, it’s inevitable that they’ll get dusty and a bit dirty. But if you regularly dust your faux wood blinds, keeping them in tip-top shape is a breeze. If they get a bit gunky over time, you can tackle the grime in a few easy steps.

Use a microfiber duster wand, feather duster, Swiffer dry pad, or even a dryer sheet to dust the blinds. Close the blinds and make sure to move the duster horizontally along the slats, not in an up-and-down motion.

Using a vacuum brush attachment is a great way to get dust from in between the slats of blinds. Aim to vacuum your blinds weekly to eliminate dust and use the lowest setting. Also, avoid pushing dirt and dust into the cords between slats.

If you notice conspicuous spots or stains on your blinds, use a soft cloth and soapy water to clean them. Use a mild detergent or dish soap diluted in warm water and put some of the mixture onto your cloth.

Close the blinds so the slats all face in the same direction, and move the damp cloth across the blinds. Use a dry cloth to dab the blinds dry, then close them in the opposite direction. Repeat wiping the blinds and drying them as before.

If your blinds are exceptionally grimy, you can mix up a solution of equal parts vinegar and water. Avoid using abrasive cleaners, bleach, other chemicals, or scrubbers that could ruin the finish of the faux wood blinds.

If your faux wood blinds are especially filthy, open them, so the slats are horizontal. Take down the blinds and lay them out on a large sheet.

Using your vinegar and water mixture, or a mixture of water and dish soap, dampen a cloth and work on each individual slat. Move the cloth over both sides of each slat, repeating as often as necessary till the slat is clean. As your rag gets dirty, rinse it, wring it out, and reload it with your solution.

As you’re cleaning, spot clean the cord as well using the same solution. Also, always blot the slats dry with a clean microfiber cloth. Running a dryer sheet over the slats before you rehang your blinds can help prevent dust from settling.

Most new faux wood blinds feature a protective coating to help protect against yellowing. But that doesn’t mean all blinds are immune to this phenomenon.

Over time, some faux wood blinds can turn yellow due to high exposure to UV rays, nicotine, or certain cleaners. If you’re experiencing yellowing on your faux wood blinds, clean them using a solution of warm water and baking soda.

Follow a similar method as above, working each slat at a time and using a soft cloth or rag. Once your faux wood blinds are clean, let them dry thoroughly. You can speed up the process by using a fan.

You might come across sites that claim you can easily clean your faux wood blinds in the bathtub. It is true that faux wood blinds are resistant to water, unlike their natural wood counterparts.

Therefore, you don’t have to worry about them warping in high moisture areas. This quality is what makes them a good choice for places like kitchens and bathrooms. However, this still doesn’t mean they can handle being fully immersed in water.

Additionally, immersing your blinds in water could risk damaging the internal parts of the blinds. These inner workings could potentially rust, leading to blinds that don’t function properly. Furthermore, too much water or cleaner could possibly lead to discoloration.

Another method people recommend for cleaning faux wood blinds is using a hose. You would remove the blinds, wipe them down as mentioned above, but then hang them up on a clothesline or over a fence and hose them down.

However, you should avoid doing this with your faux wood blinds. There’s no need to expose them to this much water.

The steps listed above are sufficient for cleaning most faux wood blinds. If you can’t seem to get yours as clean as you would like, you can look into a professional cleaning service specializing in blinds.

Regularly dusting your faux wood blinds once a week is the best way to keep them looking their best. Close slats and use a Swiffer dry sheet or duster to remove dust and debris, moving horizontally along the slats. Vacuuming the blinds with a vacuum brush attachment weekly is also good practice.

If you end up with some stains or extra grime, mix a solution of mild detergent or vinegar with warm water. Dampen a microfiber cloth with the solution and wipe closed blinds, blotting them dry with another cloth. Close the blinds the other way to do the same with the opposite side.

For yellowing blinds, try a mixture of baking soda and water. If the blinds are especially grimy, open them, remove them, and lay them out on a sheet. Work slat by sat to get them clean.

Although faux wood blinds are more resistant to moisture and humidity, that doesn’t mean they’re 100% water-safe. Avoid immersing your blinds in a bathtub or using a garden hose. You could potentially damage the internal parts of the blinds or experience discoloration.