Cleaning blinds can be one of the most cumbersome procedures in cleaning a room, especially if we don’t have the right tools or simply don’t have enough practice to remove the grime from the blinds that protect your windows from external contamination. To decontaminate and improve its appearance, we explain how to clean blinds outside. It will not always be easy, because due to their height, many blinds are difficult to access and tend to get too dirty due to gusts of wind. However, we will give you some tips and tricks to make the job easier and leave them looking like new.
Steps to clean blinds outside
If your blind is not removable, don’t worry. To find out how to clean the blinds on the outside without disassembling them, all you have to do is remove the drum that is on top of most blinds. This drum stores the blind when it is picked up, so we can clean the boards or the slats without having to remove the blind from the window. To remove it, consider these steps:
- Climb on a firm bench or ladder.
- With the shutter fully down, release the bottom of the drawer. If it is screwed, remove the screws.
- Remove the lid by pulling down. The drawer is usually well supported, so you should start pushing slowly from the left side, slowly.
- Pull down with your left hand and press up with your right to loosen the lid. If you don’t do it slowly, you can split the lid, so be careful.
- When you have the drum detached, you can take advantage to clean the interior. Wipe it down with a hand-held vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth with the cleaning product you use.
- Go picking up the blind and cleaning each slat inside the drawer. First, vacuum with your hand and remove the rest of the dirt with detergent, soap, or the product you want to use. We recommend using a vacuum nozzle or brush head.
- Once cleaned, remove the cleaning product with a microfiber cloth moistened with water.
- Please do the same with the rest of the blind until it is completely rolled up. Lower it and let it dry before raising it again.
Products for cleaning blinds on the outside
The shutters can be synthetic, PVC (vinyl) plastic, fabric, aluminum, or wood. The latter is much more delicate than synthetic blinds, so they require a different treatment for cleaning. These are the cleaners you can use depending on the material your blinds are made of:
Wood Blinds: Chemical cleaners can damage wood chips, discolor and stain them. Therefore, to wash wooden blinds, it is best to use warm water with alcohol to avoid mistreating them.
Aluminum or metal blinds: to avoid wearing or staining them, it is better also to use alcohol water in the aluminum and metal blinds. If not, look for a detergent specially designed for this type of surface.
PVC Blinds: Dishwasher soap is very effective at removing grime from synthetic or PVC blinds. You just have to mix it with water, and you will see how easy it is to get rid of stains and attached particles. Find out more in our article How to clean PVC blinds.
Fabric blinds: in the case of fabric blinds, it is best to wash them with detergent soap so as not to mistreat the fabrics.
In addition to the cleaning products you will use, it is helpful to have a screwdriver, a hand vacuum, cleaning cloths, and a soft-bristled brush.
To prevent the blinds from getting too dirty, it is advisable to clean them outside at least every 6 months. The internal part is enough to review with a feather duster and a damp cloth each time we clean the windows so that they always look radiant.
If it is easy to reach the windows from the outside, you will only have to use the products mentioned here, and cleaning them will not be a problem. However, if you do not reach them, we will give you all the instructions and tips to clean them safely and effectively.
Tips for cleaning windows outside
Cleaning blinds can be a cumbersome task, but depending on the type of blind you have, you can apply certain tricks that will make your task easier. Never try to clean them on the outside of the window, as there is no need to take risks to clean the blinds correctly. Here are some tricks to clean the blinds that will help you finish faster:
There are some soft bristle brushes on the market if you have Venetian blinds, especially thought for cleaning both inside and out. These Venetian blind brushes feature bristles that can collect dust and clean multiple slats in one pass.
If you want to clean very dirty blinds and the stains do not come out, you can use an equal-parts mixture of water and vinegar. Vinegar is a powerful cleanser that will get rid of the toughest stains.
If your blinds are removable, you can lower them by unscrewing the top rail and closing them before removing them from the window. In this case, we recommend placing them on a large blanket or in the shower to clean them more comfortably.
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