How do I clean blinds and curtains?
Dust regularly or vacuum with a brush attachment, with horizontal blinds lowered and the slats tilted almost closed, first one way and then the other. Wipe marks with a soft cloth and warm or cold water, never hot, and spray glass cleaner onto a cloth rather than at the window. For curtains, vacuum, then follow the care label: air-fluff for light dust, a gentle cycle if washable.
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By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
Step by step
Read when to stop and call a pro, further down this page, before you start.
Step 1: Check the type and the care label
Identify whether the blinds are wood, faux wood, metal or fabric, and find the maker's guide for blinds and the care label or hang tag for curtains before you use any water.[3]
Step 2: Lower the blind and tilt the slats
Lower a horizontal blind to its full length and tilt the slats almost all the way down, which leaves the overlaps open for dusting.[1]
Step 3: Dust with a soft cloth
Use a soft clean cloth, dust cloth or dusting mitt, then tilt the slats almost all the way up and dust the other side.[2]
Step 4: Vacuum with a brush attachment
Vacuum blinds with a brush attachment, tilting the slats up and down as for dusting.[2]
Step 5: Wipe marks in sections
Lay toweling on the sill and floor, then wipe the blind in sections with a soft cloth or sponge and warm or cold water.[2]
Step 6: Keep glass cleaner off the blind
Spray glass cleaner on a cloth rather than directly on the window, so it does not splatter onto the blinds or fabric.[1]
Step 7: Vacuum curtains
Brush or vacuum curtains frequently to remove loose dust.[3]
Step 8: Freshen or wash curtains
For light soil, tumble in a dryer on air-fluff with no heat; otherwise follow the care label, using a gentle cycle or a mesh bag if washable.[3]
Step 9: Rehang when fully dry
Let blinds and curtains dry completely before you close them up or hang them against the glass.
The short routine
Most of the work is dusting. Dust and vacuum regularly, wipe only what dust will not move, and leave the harsh products on the shelf. What you can safely do depends on what the blind is made of, so identify it first.
Horizontal blinds: wood, faux wood and metal
Start by lowering the blind to its full length. Hunter Douglas's advice for every horizontal type is: "Lower blind to its full length, tilt slats almost all the way down and dust."[1] Then tilt almost all the way up and do the other face. "Not closing all the way allows dusting where the slats overlap."[1]
Use a soft clean cloth, chemically-treated dust cloth, or dusting mitt.[2] Or use a vacuum: "Blinds may be vacuumed using a brush attachment."[1] Work from the top down so the dust falls onto slats you have not done.
For marks on faux wood, Levolor Premier's care instructions are plain: "To wipe your blinds, use a soft cloth or sponge."[2] Use warm or cold water, not hot.[2] "Place toweling on the floor or sill and wipe the blind in sections."[2] Then dry the slats with a clean cloth.
Real wood needs the most caution. Hunter Douglas says: "Protect all fine wood products from exposure to steam, high moisture areas, rain or sprinkler systems to ensure their long life."[1] Hunter Douglas also says ultrasonic cleaning, chemical solvents and scrubbing cleansers will damage wood and faux wood blinds, so do not soak or scrub them.[1]
For its Modern Precious Metals aluminum blinds, Hunter Douglas describes immersing the blind in lukewarm water with mild detergent, but says the method is "Not recommended for blinds with decorative tapes."[1] It also warns not to immerse the headrails of its EasyRise, LiteRise, PowerView, PowerTilt, UltraGlide and Vertiglide systems.[1]
Glass cleaner, mitts and shortcuts
When cleaning any window, spray glass cleaner on a cloth rather than directly on the window.[1] That keeps the spray off finishes and fabrics.
On fabric window treatments, check the fabric before using a dusting mitt. Hunter Douglas warns: "Do not use magnetic cleaners such as a dusting mitt on light-dimming fabrics."[1]
Curtains and drapes
Curtains collect dust like any soft furnishing, and the routine is the same as for blinds. The extension guide says to "Brush or vacuum frequently to get rid of loose dust."[3] Work down the fabric with a brush or upholstery attachment.
For a refresh, curtains that are only dusty can go in the dryer: "When only lightly soiled, freshen them by tumbling in a dryer set on air-fluff with no heat."[3] For more than that, "For heavier soil, launder according to label or hang tag instructions."[3] Follow the label or hang tag rather than guessing from how the fabric looks.
If washing is allowed, protect the fabric. The guide notes that curtains are often weakened by long exposure to strong sunlight, and says to use a "delicate" or "gentle" cycle.[3] "Or, wash them in a special mesh bag or pillow case."[3] When dry cleaning is the label's instruction, "If they must be dry-cleaned, alert the dry-cleaner to any possibility of sun damage."[3] Fiberglass is the exception to everything: "Do not launder fiberglass items in your washing machine or dryer."[3]
Stop and call a pro if
- The blind is motorized. Do not immerse the headrail or wet the motor; follow the maker's guide, or ask a window-covering service.
- Sheers, pleated shades or heavy drapery need deep cleaning. Ask a specialist cleaner whether they have handled your fabric before, and check the maker's cleaning guidance.
- There is mold on the window frame, sill or fabric. Dust and wipe will not solve a moisture problem; the cause needs fixing first.
- Cords are frayed or a blind will not lift once clean. See why blinds will not go up or down.
- The blind or window is out of safe reach. If cleaning means a stepladder over stairs or a tall window, hire someone.
Getting help in Virginia
If the blinds are past cleaning, how much custom blinds cost in Virginia and whether custom window treatments are worth it will help you decide whether to replace them, and how to measure windows for blinds covers the measuring. Browse interiors services or see more interiors answers.
When you are ready, describe the job and local businesses can send written quotes.
Common questions
- How often should I clean blinds?
- Dust them regularly. Manufacturers say to dust regularly with a soft cloth, dust cloth or dusting mitt, and to wipe only when marks are actually there; more often is sensible near a kitchen, a busy road or a pet.
- Can I use glass cleaner on blinds?
- Keep it off the blinds. Hunter Douglas says to spray glass cleaner on a cloth rather than directly on the window, so splatter does not damage the finish or fabric. For marks on the blinds themselves, Levolor Premier says to use a soft cloth or sponge with warm or cold water, not hot.
- Can I soak my blinds in the bathtub?
- Only some. Hunter Douglas describes immersing its Modern Precious Metals aluminum blinds in lukewarm water with mild detergent, says the method is not recommended for blinds with decorative tapes, and warns not to immerse the headrails of several lift and motorized systems. For wood blinds it says to protect them from high moisture, and Levolor Premier says to wipe faux wood in sections rather than soak it.
- Can curtains go in the washing machine?
- Many can, but check the care label first. New Mexico State University's extension guide says to wash washable curtains on a delicate or gentle cycle, or in a mesh bag or pillowcase, and warns that fiberglass curtains must not go in a washer or dryer.
- Is professional cleaning worth it?
- Sometimes, for fabrics you cannot safely clean yourself. For its Luminette privacy sheers, Hunter Douglas lists questions to ask an ultrasonic cleaner, including whether they have cleaned that fabric before and whether the bath water will exceed 90°F, because hotter water can cause oxidation in room-darkening vanes.
Sources
- [1] How to Clean Blinds, Hunter Douglas (window covering manufacturer). Checked October 27, 2026.
- [2] Faux Wood Blinds Studio Collection 2" Cordless: Installation, Operation and Troubleshooting, Levolor Premier (window covering manufacturer). Checked October 27, 2026.
- [3] Care for Fabric Home Furnishings (Guide G-402), New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension. Checked October 27, 2026.
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