linara white vertical blinds the height of the room next to a desk with plants on top

How to clean Vertical blinds

Written by Yvonne Keal

Product Management specialist

Written: 18/12/2019

Updated: 16/03/2023

Easy ways to keep Vertical blinds clean

The louvres of a Vertical blind simply hang down, so they don’t trap dirt and dust very easily, which means they need very little maintenance to stay looking good. Follow our handy guide to help keep yours in pristine condition.

 

Here, you'll learn how to:

- Use the right technique and cleaning product to keep your Vertical blind in the best condition

- Clean the headrail of your Vertical blind

- Make sure the louvres continue to glide smoothly, using a silicone spray

- Correctly take down and rehang your Vertical blind for more thorough cleaning

Watch our step-by-step guide

Our easy to follow guide gives you plenty of simple cleaning tips and techniques to keep your Vertical blinds looking great for longer. Take a look to learn more.

How to clean Vertical blinds without removing them

Simple cleaning methods

Our blinds come in a range of practical fabrics, including soft and rigid PVC, which is very easy to wipe clean simply using a damp cloth. 

Vertical blinds made from fabric should be regularly vacuum cleaned to keep them free from dust. Use the soft upholstery brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner and move gently from top to bottom. 

 

lady with blonde hair using a thin sponge to clean a white vertical blind

How to remove stubborn stains

If your Vertical blind is in a high usage area, such as a kitchen, you may find that you need to clean it more frequently to remove stubborn stains.

If a stain won’t lift easily with a damp cloth, or there's a build up of condensation and you notice mould on your Vertical blind, you could try brushing with a stiff brush or treating it with a fabric stain remover. Simply rub the affected area with the stain remover according to the manufacturer instructions. However, be aware that there is a chance that the treated area may look significantly lighter than the rest of the blind.

Cleaning your Vertical blind headrail

The headrail, which is where the operating mechanism sits, can gather dust and will also benefit from an occasional deep clean. Carefully unclip each of the louvres from the headrail brackets for easy access and wipe the headrail clean with a damp cloth.

You could also squirt a drop of silicone spray into the headrail, to keep the mechanism well lubricated and make sure the louvres continue to glide smoothly.

Use the spray sparingly and avoid contact with the blind fabric so that it doesn’t become stained

 

For a more thorough clean

There’s no need to take your Vertical blinds down to keep them looking great but it’s really easy to unclip them from the headrail if you need to. Follow the simple steps below to make sure you’re handling your Vertical blinds in the right way.

Unclip and remove the louvres

Unclip the chains from the bottom of louvres (the Vertical panels) and slide out the weights

Remove the louvres from the headrail by holding each one at the top, tilt to 45º and pull the clip out of the hook

Remove the plastic hangers in the top of the louvres

Wipe the louvres clean

Lay the louvres individually on a flat surface

Using a mild detergent, gently wipe each one from top to bottom with a slightly damp, soft cloth

Be cautious not to scrub the louvres too hard, as this may cause threads and scuff

More stubborn stains should be treated with a specialist stain remover, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Be aware that there is a chance the treated area may look significantly lighter than the rest of the blind

Once you’ve cleaned all the louvres, give them a rinse with luke-warm water and dab any excess water off with a towel

Re-hang the louvres

Replace the weights back into the bottom of the louvres

When the louvres are completely dry, replace the top hangers and clip the louvres back on the headrail

Finally re-attach the chains at the bottom

Alternative cleaning methods

There are some methods of cleaning Vertical blinds that we do not recommend for your Hillarys product.

For example, using a washing machine or tumble dryer, or submerging the louvres for a long amount of time in the bath could damage the fabric, so should be avoided.

Choose an alternative cleaning solution such as those explained above to keep your Vertical blind looking it's best.

Take good care of your Vertical blinds with our how to…cleaning guide. We give you our top tips on how to clean your vertical blinds. 

Clean vertical blinds with a cloth
View Vertical blinds

Vertical blinds need very little maintenance to stay looking good, as the louvres simply hang down so don’t trap dirt and dust easily. And because our blinds come in a range of practical fabrics, including PVC, they are very easy to wash clean simply using a clean, damp cloth which means you don’t have to take them down to keep them looking great. The only part of your blind which may need more attention is the headrail which is where the operating mechanism sits. This can gather dust and will benefit from an occasional deep clean. 

Cleaning your Vertical blind headrail

    1. To clean your headrail, you should carefully unclip each of the louvres from the headrail brackets so that you can get easy access to the underside of the headrail. 

      Cleaning the headrail of a vertical blinds
      View Vertical blinds

    2. Once you have removed the blind, simply wipe the headrail clean with a damp cloth. Then simply click your blind back into place.
    3. While you are cleaning your headrail, you could also squirt a drop of silicone spray into the side rail which is where the winding mechanism sits. Silicone spray will keep the mechanism well lubricated and ensure its smooth operation. Use the spray sparingly and avoid contact with the blind fabric so that it does not become stained.

How to clean stubborn stains from your Vertical blinds

If your Vertical blind is in a high usage area, such as a kitchen, you may find that you need to clean them more frequently to remove stubborn stains. If you do have a stain that will not lift easily with a damp cloth, then you could try treating the stain with a fabric stain remover. To do this, simply rub the affected area with the stain remover according the manufacturer instructions. However, be aware that there is a chance that the treated area may look significantly lighter than the rest of the blind.

 

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