How to Maintain and Clean Your Blinds: Tips for Keeping Them Looking Like New

Just installed your new blinds and are dreading the moment you have to clean them? Total Look Blinds is here to help. Properly maintaining your blinds doesn’t have to be complicated which is why we’ve compiled a list of the best tips and tricks to keep your blinds looking as new as the day you got them. 

 

The Importance of Blind Maintenance

Blind maintenance isn’t at the top of anyone’s chores list, It often gets overshadowed by more messy daily tasks. Too many people put off cleaning their blinds only to be confused as to why they’re so worn down. 

Cleaning blinds is a fairly simple and infrequent process that, with a little consistency, will protect your blinds from degradation. But, the benefit of proper maintenance extends beyond appearances. Blinds easily accumulate dust and debris which in turn affects air quality. Dust inhalation has a whole plethora of adverse side effects meaning that properly cleaning your blinds can even lead to you living a longer, healthier life. 

 

Cleaning Methods for Different Types of Blinds

Different blinds have different requirements so it’s crucial to use the correct method. We’ve compiled a list of the best ways to clean dust and debris off the most common types of blinds:

Roller and Roman Blinds

Cleaning Roller and Roman blinds is a straightforward process. First, fully extend your blind to make sure no crevice is missed. Then, using a vacuum with a brush head attachment simply vacuum the surface of both sides. 

In most cases, this is all you’ll need to do to ensure clean blinds. However, if you’ve got a particularly stubborn spot, you can wet your cloth to help gently wipe away any debris. 

Venetian Blinds 

Venetian blinds require a little extra care as their slats can make the cleaning process longer. In order to most efficiently clean them we recommend closing the slats so they lay as flat as possible. You can then wipe them with a microfiber cloth or for those in a rush, a carefully placed vacuum nozzle works just as well. Then, open the slats and spot-clean any parts you may have missed. 

If a cloth isn’t getting the job done you can wipe your Venetian blinds with water and a cleaner. Blinds made of aluminium or PVC work with most mild cleaners but in order to prevent damage to wooden blinds it’s best to use a gentle wood cleanser. 

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are similar to Venetian blinds in that they require extra precision. First, open each slat and gently run a microfiber cloth or vacuum cleaner from the top to the bottom. While vacuum cleaners are effective, it’s important to be gentle when using one because vertical blinds can be more prone to buckling. 

If your blinds require a deeper cleaning, you can remove them and gently wash them with a bowl of lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Don’t forget to wash the headrail with the same mixture as this is where most dust accumulates and it can be easy to miss when you’re focusing on the slats. If the headrail is hard to reach, we recommend investing in an extension pole that you can attach a feather duster or cloth to. 

 

Dealing with Stains and Spills

Lightly cleaning your blinds once a week with one of the above methods is often all you need to maintain their quality. However, accidents happen and sometimes we need a more thorough cleaning. Here are our top tips for removing stains: 

  1. While you can purchase gentle fabric cleaners, dish soap diluted in water often does the trick for fabric blinds.
  2. In a similar vein, while you can use gentle wood cleaners, a mixture of diluted lemon juice and cleaning alcohol can be a good home remedy for stains on Venetian blinds. 
  3. Being gentle is key for blind maintenance, make sure you dab at stains rather than rub them as rough movements can cause wear and tear. 
  4. A diluted vinegar solution works especially well for removing grease and food stains 
  5. Whenever you purchase a stain removal product or create a solution make sure to spot test it. Dab the mixture on, wait ten minutes and if there aren't any adverse effects feel free to continue your cleaning process. 

 

Maintenance Tips for Long-Term Care

If cleaning your blinds sounds like a hassle, there are plenty of preventative measures you can take. While this won’t eradicate the need for cleaning completely, creating good habits is the key to long-term blind maintenance. Here are some of our recommendations: 

  1. Opt for moisture-resistant blinds in your bathroom in order to prevent damage from humidity. If you already have non-moisture-resistant blinds, ensure you have plenty of ventilation to prevent deterioration. 
  2.  While this tip may seem obvious, it’s important to avoid excessive force. By opening and cleaning your blinds carefully you prevent long-term wear and tear. 
  3. Make sure to inspect your blinds occasionally for any damage. By checking for broken or bent slats, loose screws or malfunctioning mechanisms you can ensure any problems are fixed before they escalate. 

 

Conclusion

By incorporating these tips and techniques into your regular home maintenance schedule, you’ll have better-looking blinds in no time. From spot cleaning to long term maintenance, every small action you take makes a cumulative difference. But, if you’re looking for more professional advice, feel free to get in touch with our expert team. We’ll recommend products, services and maintenance solutions that will solve any niche problem and ensure your blinds are looking their absolute best.

Top Quality Custom Blinds and Shutters

Total Look Blinds has the best and most experienced people in the industry with a combined experience of greater than 180 years within the industry. If we can’t help you nobody can. We offer free help and advice when you ask us to meet with you.
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What Our Customers Say

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Peter Glass
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James B
Lovely blinds with professional service.
Sincere thanks to Laren for your helpful advice and Carl for excellent installation…..much appreciated
Antoinette Cooney
Happy to recommend the service and products provided by Total Look Blinds recently.
Terry did the initial measuring with helpful suggestions. Roger the installer was great and a perfect tradesman to help us ‘oldies’ - no rushing through the job or explanations. Pleased with our vertical and roll up blinds👏
Trudi Stevenson
Total Look blinds were an outstanding company to work with. They installed both shutters and blinds in our home at competitive prices and using high quality materials. Timing and installation were faultless. We are thrilled with the service and the result.
dantay10
Great service from start to finish. Terry measured up and gave us lots of different options. Brent was prompt and thorough. I absolutely love the colour choice we made and hubby is super excited about the remote controlled blinds. Very happy customers here.
Peter McLeod
I enquired about a blind repair. Response was quick and friendly and when I took the blind into the factory to get it fixed, it was done immediately, with a smile and finished within 10min. Very impressive and much appreciated
Louise Kennedy
Total Look Blinds were absolutely amazing to deal with. From prompt and clear communication through to an excellent and earlier than expected fit, I could not be happier. Thank you for such a stress free, professional experience. Will recommend your company far and wide!
Anwar Sadat
Excellent piece of work and commitment from the team to get the blinds delivered and installed on time.
Jayne Steele
Loving my new retro fit motorised blinds, thought would not be worth the $$ in spare room, WRONG do it once do it right , motorised other rooms, should have done it in the first place, no cords ease of use , fabulous
Katie Duffy
Have used this service for my own home and a rental. Quick efficient professional service. Highly Recommend
Kerry Watt
Lanice McMillan
Thank you for your awesome service and flexibility to get quotes on very short notice. Love the roller blinds
John Trotman
We had Total Look Blinds install blinds in our House they were very professional and efficient,from when Terry first measured and Quoted until the blinds were installed,would recommend them for all your blinds and curtains you may need,Thanks again for a great service.
Kambiz Radman
Could not be happier with my new sun screens and blinds, look awesome. The material seems nice and hopefully durable (I'll update you on that later).
"Terry" is a positive Rep who speaks clearly. He measured well but didn't explain some installation details, which confused me afterward. However, "Carolyn" came to the site and explained everything very well. Roger is a professional installer who did a quick and clean job. Thanks "Jo" for admin updates and following up. 101% recommended.
Nerissa Attewell
Excellent service, quick turnaround the whole team were informative and helpful! We love our blinds so much :)
Heather
Excellant product. Very efficient service. Pleasure to do business with. Would recommend Total Look Blinds to everyone.
Alisha Dodds
This is the second time we have used total look blinds and they are amazing! So simple to get a quote, easy ordering process and arrived much sooner than we thought! The installer was super lovely and I will be getting my blinds through this company again!
Parvaneh Karimi Fishani
We had double roller blinds installed in our new house. The price was much more reasonable compared to other shops, and their service was reasonably fast. The staff were friendly and helpful!

I can't say much about the quality of the material since the blinds haven't been installed for long, but we hope they will be as good as the service we received!
Sally Clegg
First class service, products and support from Total Look Blinds. We have asked these guys to come three times as we add more blinds to our home. They look so good and work brilliantly. Really pleased!
Eve O-R
A five star company to deal with, accurate, quick, professional and reasonably priced. Definitely will return. Highly recommended!
David Lim
Vertical and horizontal blinds completed on time. Reliable and great people to deal. Over the years, I have engaged the services of Total Look Blinds a few times and I have always been pleased with the results. I would do it again in the future with any hesitation. Highly recommended.
WYNN RIECHELMANN
Absolutely love our TotalBlinds shutters! They have transformed our bedroom. Service from measure up and quote was excellent and communication with the TotalBlinds team was a pleasure! They took half the time than was quoted by another supplier and although they were a bit cheaper, the shutters are very good quality. Plus they are NZ made! Highly recommend!
Heidi Reid
Great service and wonderful blinds, thanks
Jo in the office was helpful and available Roger was superb with his installation and communication thanks
Grant McFlinn
From first contact with Sales Consultant Lauren to Jo in the office and installer Carl, the entire process was nothing short of exceptional. As for the blinds themselves, thanks to Lauren's invaluable input, they look amazing and are undoubtedly high quality. Thoroughly recommend and will most definitely use again.
Tina Smith
Have used Total Look Blinds for a number of years and always outstanding service. Jo had my blind repair turned around in less than 3 hours. Highly recommend them.
Lisa Fong
Could not be happier with my new shutters - big shout out to Total Look Blinds who did a fantastic job with the measure, manufacture and installation! All done in NZ so would highly recommend!
Erin Corkhill
From Terry's measurements, to Brent's installation it couldn't have been a friendlier or smoother process. The shutters are stunning and I get stopped on the street by neighbours who compliment us on them. Total Look Blinds is a decision you won't regret.
Niall Robertson
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Comes highly recommended. Thank you Team!
Jim Richardson
Total blinds were Totally Professional. Excellent service from measurements to advice given through to the final fitting and the blinds look great! The price was also very reasonable and far better than competitor's. I totally recommended Total Blinds. Thanks! Jim
K R
TLB was recommended by a friend in Auckland who had used them twice. I had blinds installed at my new house in Raglan, excellent quality, service and communication. Highly recommended.
Bhavika n Divesh Kumar
We used Total Look Blinds in 2005 for our family home. After 19 years of wear and tear we needed some parts and couple of vertical blinds track needed fixing. Took a drive to Takanini and was greeted by the office lady Jo who was very helpful and was amazed when she pulled out our 19 years old invoice from their record. The team manage to fix the track within a day and got the parts i needed at a fair price. Highly recommend them if you want quality products and a fantastic after sales service. Great company to deal with 😊
Ant MacLean
Had an old vertical blind that was manufactured by them, that was broken. Excellent cheery and quick repair service and great value too.

Support kiwi jobs stay local. If you buy something NZ made you can get spares.
JOSEPHINE TOK
Awesome Terry & friendly office staff. Great products, prices & prompt delivery. This is the 3rd time using them. 15 years on, still have our records intact. Deservingly an Ace Company:)
Brooke Maber
Really impressed with Total Look Blinds, Terry was great to deal with and very knowledgeable with some great advice when selecting blinds. Great communication from Jo. Since having them installed we have decided on a few tweaks and add ons which they made very easy for us. I recommend you to everyone! Thank you.
Shirley Wensor
Highly recommend Total Look Blinds. Thanks to Carolyn for your extra understanding. Excellent installer also.
Reema Prasad
Total blinds highly recommended good service excellent job very happy using them from 10yrs .
Mark Jeus Buenavista
Great company to deal with. Terry is very knowledgeable. Happy with the outcome of our kitchen windows with shutters. Next project would be shutters in our living room windows. Thanks Total Look Blinds team!
Lia Wongsohardjo
I love my roller blinds from Total Look Blinds, the products are great. They have excellent customer service, the sales, the admin and the installer are amazing. I have bought from them twice for my house in Oteha and now in Orewa where I moved recently. Terry is very expert, kind and helpful, he is a talented salesman.
Melissa Slater
Awesome consultation gave really good ideas and pointers. Quick to manufacture and install. End result is beautiful.
Vicki Landon
Cannot fault Caroline and the team from Total Look Blinds. Very professional and accommodating. Friendly people from the measuring, advice on product and installation. We have used them in several houses and will continue to do so. Highly recommend Total Look Blinds.
Vaughan Ludlam
Excellent product, pricing and service from Total Look Blinds – thanks David, Lauren, Carl & the rest of the team.
Stephen Ball
Very happy with result, beautiful appearance. High quality, efficient and effective at a good price.
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